We have begun to explore the Yangjia Michuan Taiji Tuishou (Push Hands) exercises in our Saturday intermediate class. Wang Yen-nien taught the complete set of 15 exercises at the NYCYMT sponsored 1996 Workshop, which took place at the West Side YMCA and at Mercy College in the Summer of 1996. With help from others, and Master Wang’s permission and encouragement, I was able to document the event and have made the videos available for those who wish to study and learn Yangjia Michuan Taijiquan. As we begin to practice each exercise I will post corresponding links for study. There will most likely be ads that come up, which I have no relation or connection to, as these videos are on my YouTube channel. This blog/site will remain ad free.
Exercise 1 (Part 1 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 an 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:
One of the reasons to practice Push Hands is to develop the confidence, softness and skill to receive a push and to become fully prepared for any push. Being pushed can be interpreted as aggressive and threatening. Also, many practitioners are fearful* of being injured.
*Wang Laoshi instructed usto take away the fear in the heart and not be afraid to relax. The more we relax the less the partner can do with us. Like a tree, push it and it straightens up again. It returns to its neutral position. Imagine catching a ball. We use a round movement to catch and return. If a straight movement is used to catch the ball , then the force will bounce us back.
Additionally, in the Push Hands practice we work on many of the elements found in the form such as yielding, turning and controlling the waist*
* Think of the body as a ball. The center is the Dantian, the waist is the key. If you want to get the ball rolling it comes from the Dantian area. The phrase in the classics has the meaning, how can you make the Dantian your center?? You need to turn the body so as not get stuck. The skill is in the waist. We need to practice how to turn, how to keep the center and how to make the body whole.
In the practice of the basic exercises, we learn to use a soft hand* to gather information about our partner. We start to feel where there is resistance, tension and stiffness. These are naturally the places to push.
*Hands must be lively, light and listening as well as working together. As soon as the hands meet your partners start to change and use listening energy (Ting Jing) is crucial. Do not just stand and wait to be pushed. Use one hand then the other to channel energy. Try not to use both hands to push. Lively hands, rotating, sticking and constantlychanging. Use the body to listen to your partner’s hands. Always looking for his center point. Allow the hands to rise and to make contact with the pushing hand. The hands should not be dead but constantly listening and transforming. Hands do not move alone.
They are constantly transforming.