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considerable amount of dedicated pushing hands practice is necessary to achieve
the sensitivity and skill required.
Please remember that you must have reached a competent level of skill in the
fixed step, pre-set pushing hands exercises before you try free-style pushing
hands. To begin the practice of free-style before acquiring relaxed skill will
hamper your training. Once you have begun to use brute strength to achieve
your goals in pushing hands it will be difficult to stop. Ultimately, this will
hamper your progress in acquiring tai chi's soft skills.
There are two types of free-style pushing hands.
Free-style fixed step
In this competitive exercise, both players face each other in their on-guard
stances. Any pushing, pulling or unbalancing tai chi technique may be used, but
no striking or attacking of the face or vital areas is permitted. Each tries to force
the other to lift or move their feet, thus scoring a point. During these competitive
exercises, every technique of pushing hands will come into play, and the seven
basic concepts have to be used effectively to prevent loss of balance and of points.
The use of the word 'competitive' in this instance should not be interpreted in
the common sense, i.e. of avidly trying to defeat one another. It implies being
more actively engaged with a training partner. Training sessions are always
accompanied by a great deal of laughter and boisterous good humour, as both
male and female students of all ages vie with each other. Students who do
become too competitive tend to be the ones who are pushed and pulled all over
the training area, much to their frustration. The more experienced and skilful,
who have given up trying to win and have 'invested in loss', use the overt
aggression of their partners to unbalance them and ultimately defeat them. Once
frustration gives way to realisation that aggression alone will not succeed, the
over-competitive student gives up competing and invests in loss. Age should not
be a barrier: with practice the skill and sensitivity of constant training can allow
older people to neutralise and subdue their younger and stronger partners. Like
all aspects of tai chi, competitive pushing hands can be as gentle or as robust as
you wish, to suit all ages and levels of ability.
Free-style free step
In free step free-style, throws, sweeps and freedom of movement are added to
the fixed hand techniques. At the outset of free-style training, simply accept the
fact that you will be thrown to the ground and be pushed out of the area. Accept
it and know that by slowly learning the art you will ultimately gain great skill and
fulfil your potential. Others will resort constantly to the use of physical strength -
let them. In the long term they will not succeed in these subtle skills. Invest in
loss!
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Rules
The following are the rules of the United Kingdom Tai Chi Chuan Association
only. Other associations have different rules.
1 A prescribed matted area 10-15ft (3-4絤) in diameter is to be used. Judo
mats are the desirable medium.
2 The soles of the feet are the only part of each person's foot that is allowed to
touch the ground. Any other part of the anatomy touching the ground will count
as one point to the other person.
3 A person stepping out of the area will have one point awarded to their
opponent. A person being pushed out of the area with one clean push will have
two points awarded to their opponent. Relentless pushing to drive an opponent
out of the area will not score.
4 Forbidden areas of the body to hold or grab in any way are the head, neck,
groin and all joints.
5 Striking in any way is forbidden.
6 A throw will count as acceptable if it is completed successfully in one action;
two or more attempts will not be allowed.
7 No contact with the torso is allowed during a throw, other than the arms or
shoulders, which may touch the opponent's torso at any time. The thrower's leg
may touch the other's leg during a contest in order to accomplish a throw.
8 Sweeping throws with the legs are acceptable as long as the sweep is
accomplished at the first attempt. Unsuccessfully 'hacking' the leg is not
acceptable.
9 The match should be conducted on the most friendly terms.
10 Forcing an opponent to the ground with brute strength will not score.
11 During a competition, a contest will last two minutes. In addition to the
points scored with throws and pushes, a 'skill mark' will be awarded by the
judge(s). (This skill mark will be out of ten points.) A competitor demonstrating
very high levels of soft skill, executed with little external force and making total
use of the opponent's force, will be awarded ten points. At the other end of the
spectrum, a competitor who uses only brute strength, with no thought of skill or
any of the stated principles of tai chi, will be awarded zero points. In between,
one to nine points will be awarded accordingly.
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(In reality, a skill mark of ten will rarely be given - this would indicate total
perfection of tai chi skill. The skill mark is there to encourage competitors to use
and acquire refined technique and to dissuade the use of brute strength and
unrefined technique.)