The essence of Tai Chi push hand kung fu

[Same Trick]

Sure, I’m certain they were the terrors of the city park.

If we talk of Shanghai the era of 1930-40’s the city was vibrant and wild, mobsters, warlords, kingpins and Taiji players, anything could happen to anyone

 

[Wing Woo Gar]

If we talk of Shanghai the era of 1930-40’s the city was vibrant and wild, mobsters, warlords, kingpins and Taiji players, anything could happen to anyone

My Sigung grew up in Canton in the 1930s. I’ve heard stories.

 

[windwalker099]

This article beaks push hands as a practice into groups labeled “circles”
Outlines what push hands is


The story of Wu-style Tai Chi's arm-traveling and pushing hands inherited by Pei Zuyin

"6. The term “pushers” is misleading

The term "push hands" first appeared during the Qin and Han Dynasties. "Push hands" was mentioned in the explanation of the technique of playing the straight-necked pipa in "Explanation of Names, Explanation of Musical Instruments".

"Push hands" was mentioned in the "Zhou Li, Autumn Officials Master of Ceremonies" of the Han Dynasty when talking about the gesture of bowing. In modern times, the term "push hands" appeared in Tai Chi. Yang Luchan went to Beijing to teach Tai Chi in the palace.

Because the people in the palace at that time lived a luxurious life, were weak, delicate, and could not endure hardships, in order to increase their interest in practicing boxing, Yang Luchan used a rope to surround a circle, and two people practiced pushing each other in the circle."

Push hand competitions

"7. A Push Hands Competition that Made Mistakes on Top of Mistakes

Push-hands competitions gradually emerged in the middle and late last century.
At that time, our Wu-style Tai Chi masters did not approve of it.

The most basic requirement of Pan Daobi training, which is based on the concept of Tai Chi fighting, is relaxation.
Only by being highly relaxed can one achieve high sensitivity.

The above two points cannot be measured by competition."

 

[windwalker099]

The story of Wu-style Tai Chi's arm-traveling and pushing hands inherited by Pei Zuyin

Categorizes the practice into groups “circles”

"Ping" and "Kang" circle. This circle has the largest number of people. Many people in this circle do not practice Tai Chi. They spontaneously organize themselves to play Push Hands corners and organize exchanges and competitions in other places. They are very active and have a lot of fun. What they play has nothing to do with the concept of Tai Chi.

"Talk Hands" circle. Most of the "Talk Hands" are older. They are knowledgeable and can quote classics and talk eloquently. They can use the Taoist Book of Changes to explain a simple mechanical concept from Yin and Yang Bagua to the Yellow Emperor's Internal Classic of Traditional Chinese Medicine, from acupuncture points to the emptiness of Buddhism.

“Lingkong Jin” hitting circle. They use spirit, intention, and qi to hit people, and can also fight against multiple people alone, using the “Lingkong Jin” of spirit, intention, and qi to knock down multiple people. They only play with their own disciples and do not fight with strangers (so they cannot withstand double-blind tests).

The “Jiangshou” circle and the “Linkong Jin” circle have a common understanding that they Putting "force" and "strength" in opposition, "force" seems to be external force, while "strength" is internal strength, hidden strength, and advanced strength of Tai Chi.

 

[windwalker099]

The story of Wu-style Tai Chi's arm-traveling and pushing hands inherited by Pei Zuyin

The last two of the three circles mentioned above, the "talking hand" circle and the "air strength" circle are better than the "carrying hand" circle in that they can make a small-scale "force transfer" and "carrying pole force", but if they encounter gravity and strong force, they have no way to solve it, which is why they are afraid of people in the "carrying" circle.

Although people in the above three circles are said to be playing Tai Chi push-hands, strictly speaking, they are just having fun outside the circle of Tai Chi concepts.

Reading it, others can figure out where they might be or use it to understand where others might be using it as a guide.

An interesting article—what points do you agree or disagree with?

My practice involves "凌空劲" (Volley Jin) through the teachings of my teacher.

In the article, it mentions:

"but if they encounter gravity and strong force, they have no way to solve it, which is why they are afraid of people in the 'carrying' circle."

Did not find this true within my teacher's group, although I understand how someone outside a group, might feel this way about other groups.

agree with this statement

The most basic requirement of Pan Daobi training, which is based on the concept of Tai Chi fighting, is relaxation.
Only by being highly relaxed can one achieve high sensitivity.
The above two points cannot be measured by competition."

"Ping" and "Kang" circle. This circle has the largest number of people. Many people in this circle do not practice Tai Chi.
They spontaneously organize themselves to play Push Hands corners and organize exchanges and competitions in other places. They are very active and have a lot of fun. What they play has nothing to do with the concept of Tai Chi.

Found this to be true; it does provide a good way to test one's work in a format that most people are familiar with.

However, a problem for some their training for the format tends to become quite specialized, ingraining many bad habits and neglecting other key aspects of fighting that one should know to make it effective.