PushHands

From Simreal

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Push Hands

Practice Forms

• Single-Hand
• Double-Hand
• Double-Hand, four phase
• Walking
• Free-Style
• Moving

Rules

• Bow to each other
• Assume bow stance
• The goal is to push opponent off balance and to make opponent take a step, while you do not
• Both feet on the ground
• Contact is above the waist, above the sash
• No grabbing hard
• No sudden movements
• No hitting (unless agree in advance)
• No chin na (unless agree in advance)
• No biting, kicking, etc.
• Move at 5 mph
• When pushing-hands with a female, be careful about where you have contact
• Don't wear jewelry that hangs down (loop earrings) or that has sharp points or edges; don't wear watches
• Don't talk

Drills

Sticking drills

One-hand sticking: You and your opponent each use one hand (e.g., your right and his left) and one has his hand on top of the other's hand, both with palm facing down. The hand on the bottom ìleadsî and the other person's hand follows.

Double-hand sticking: Same drill, except both hands used by both persons. The person leading leads with both hands.

Double-hand alternate: Same drill, but one person has one hand on the bottom leading and the other hand on the top following.

Listening drill

Two persons each use one hand, palm facing each other. One person leads, and pushes hard, soft, releases, with top of hand, bottom, side, etc., and the other person mirrors the exact movement so that the hands should appear to never move.

Principles

Push-hands Principles (C.K. Chu's book, pp. 53-57)

• Posture: head suspended; straight back, but not rigid; sink down, tuck pelvis

• Waist-twisting: twisting waist is to push-hands what flicking the wrist is to snapping a whip; twist begins with the waist while hips still face forward

• Footwork: feet flat on floor; don't lift; when need to move front foot backward, lift heel first, not toe; when pushing, front knee directly above foot, hips facing forward, weight throughout foot bbut more on heel

• Balance: always be aware of your center, and always listen for your opponent's center