Pushing Hands (Tui Shou)

Pushing Hands is an exercise in which two practitioners twine each others hands to train their tactile response. While practicing partners should comply with the basic Tai Chi principles of sticking to each other without being separated, moving freely and flexibly, neither separating nor making forcible contact, rotating the body smoothly, using skill rather than force, redirecting the opponents force and striking at the weak points. Combining the basic techniques of grasp, catch, kick, punch and lock, partners practice warding off, deflecting, pushing, pressing, trampling, throwing, elbowing and leaning to obtain a sensitivity of knowing the enemy’s intentions in advance and making quick decisions of how and where to attack or defend.