Exercise 1 (Part 2 of 2) – Spiral Up, Left and Right
We have been publishing Mark Linett’s Tuishou notes from his time learning from Master Wang in Taiwan. I will be publishing the final installment, # 4, shortly. Meanwhile, here is a second excerpt I came across as I was checking the text for errors due to translation from the original format. It is a suitable companion to the video and will help students better understand the tuishou journey.
Tuishou Notes Excerpt:
Basic Exercise #1 Zuo, You Zhuan Yao (Hou Tui) Twist the Waist From Left to Right (The body’s center stays on the back leg when pushing)
The first movement is one of the most frequent pushes we either give or receive. When receiving a push remain balanced and stable while turning the waist, keeping your center and weight on the back leg, slowly rising with the push and relaxing the lower back.
In this exercise, it is important to remember to rise onto the rear leg so that the front foot is both empty and relaxed. Relax the Achilles tendon and the ankle. Relaxing and emptying the front leg also makes it easier to turn the waist and more difficult for your partner to sweep the front leg.
When pushing in this first exercise, start from the down position and slowly rising and turning the waist, relaxing the shoulder and having the Yi (mind intent) of expressing energy with the hand. Maintain a connection from the foot to the palm of the pushing hand and softly push with as little hard strength as possible. The push is mostly done with the palm of the hand and the fingers serve to gather information about your partner. Gently and softly feel whether the partner is turning or if he is resisting your push. If you feel any resistance or if he separates (moves on his own) from your hand then this is a moment of opportunity to either continue the push or to use the opposite hand to push. Feel what kind of response you are getting from your partner.
If you are the defending partner, maintain your root and control the turning of the waist; then yielding and warding off the push will not present a problem. Use the legs and the waist to help yield to the push and relax the shoulder as you receive the push.
If there is tension or resistance, this will give your partner a place to push. Try not to offer any place of resistance. Since your partner is rising his/her push will obviously be in upward direction. Be aware of how he/she is using the pushing hand. Is his/her hand soft and listening to your movements? Isthe push high on the shoulder or is it on a straight line into the chest/shoulder area? If it is a straight line push, it will be more difficult to yield to it. If your partner is pushing up, then spiral up going along with his push; the movement originates from the waist. If he/she is skilled he may push in two or more directions in the same push. First pushing to the shoulder in an upward direction and then pushing down and to the side. Try not to break off from his/her hand (lose contact), but listen (Ting Jing) and understanding the direction and force of the push.