Comments on: Taiji and Martial Arts

By: Strike Wong

Strike Wong — Wed, 07 Nov 2012 06:45:00 +0000

Dear Sifu Don Tow,
Really enjoyed this article. Have been waiting to see an article in English that explains and analyzes the aspects of combat and Taiji quan. I appreciate your hard & diligent work in expressing & presenting your view on Taiji for health, fitness, and self-defense. Thank you so much! Will tell the people in my Taiji community about your website and will quote you often! Great job!

Yours truly,
Taiji Boxer Wong

By: lan

lan — Sun, 12 Sep 2010 17:46:50 +0000

My Taiji (Tai Chi) master said that pushing hand exercise was letting you learn to relax and redirect the opponent’s force to the side way until you sense a good opportunity to use his/hers force to strike back.

By: Don

Don — Thu, 08 Jul 2010 05:11:14 +0000

Yenquen,

Push Hands is used in Taiji because relatively speaking it more closely simulates a combat situation. It involves two people in a 1-on-1 situation, instead of involving just one person as when doing the Taiji forms. Yes, one also needs to be relaxed during push hands so one can sense the opponent’s movements and at the same time make it more difficult for the opponent to sense your movements. If one practices push hands a lot, then one will also be more relaxed when doing the Taiji forms.

By: yenquen chen

yenquen chen — Wed, 07 Jul 2010 23:24:56 +0000

Hi Don,

I enjoy the article very much. You mention to relax the body so you can sense your opponent’s motion, I am thinking is that part of the reason Push Hand is used in taiji? Push hand seems teach you to feel the opponent’s movement so you can deal with the incoming attack?

Yenquen