Push Hands... Isn't.

Most people think that the core of a martial arts system is its forms, but in fact the core of any sophisticated martial art is gong to be its sensitivity drills. This is where all the pieces of technique become fused with your instincts in a useful way.

In the Daoist arts, which tend to specialize in structural manipulation, the drills are usually called Tui Shou, of "Push Hands." In these drills, you are learning to find the weak points in your opponent's structure and defenses, usually their centerline, in order to offbalance or break them. (This is called "Breaking the Circle," and is one of the sources of my school's name.)

In the art of Taijiquan, we aren't actually doing this. At least until we reach the higher levels (much higher than most practitioners ever reach), we are focusing on the other half of the equation: redirecting our opponent's straight line so it doesn't affect our centerline. So we're not really practicing pushing: Our partner is certainly pushing, but that's when it's "our turn" to practice our yielding.

Personally, that is why I don't participate in Push Hands competitions: They focus on the wrong part of the training. I think the established rules inhibit good practitioners from responding with yielding to the aggressive, double-weighted attack style that often wins these tournaments.

The Five Hammers of Yang Taijiquan, Part 2: The Straight Hammer

1.
正捶
Zhèng Chuí
Straight Hammer

The Straight Hammer thrusts forward in a straight line.


Examples of movements with Straight Hammer in them:

Step Up, Deflect, Parry, and Punch


Examples of applications:

Face push:

Pushing the head backward destabilizes the spine.









Arm drag:

Pulling the elbow behind the spine destabilizes the upper body. The punching mechanics help to break the opponent’s structure.








Hip push:

Pushing on the hip folds the body.









The next installment will outline the Horizontal Hammer

The Five Hammers of Yang Taijiquan, Part 1

The Five Hammers are an important part of Yang Family Taijiquan that are often overlooked. Every time you see a fist in the public form, you are seeing an opportunity for one of these techniques. This is the first in a series of articles outlining the Five Hammers.


The Five Hammers are:

1. 正捶
Zhèng Chuí
Straight Hammer

2. 横捶
Héng Chuí
Horizontal Hammer

3. 栽捶
Zāi Chuí
Plant Hammer (“Plant Punch”)


4. 降捶
Jiàng Chuí
Dropping Hammer


5. 提捶
Tí Chuí
Lifting Hammer


There is a whole form devoted to learning these techniques, called the Wise Hammers form. I'm releasing a book on this form in a few days, available from Lulu.com and my website, and there is also a VCD of the Imperial Yang version of this form. Plum Publications sells it under the title "Wisdom Fist." (I have no financial connection to Plum Publications, but I love what they offer. Google them.)

It’s important to understand that while on the surface these seem to be simple punches done at different angles, they are actually much more than this.

The word “Chuí” is a word commonly translated as “punch.” However, it includes a number of techniques that we wouldn’t consider to be punches, such as hammer fists. It also doesn’t include a number of techniques that we would consider punches, such as jabs. What’s the difference? This word means “to hammer,” or “to pound into.” A “Chuí” technique is one that uses striking mechanics, but hits with enough force to move whatever it hits. Jabs, for example, work by trauma to the nervous system: They aren’t designed to physically move the opponent.

So the purpose of a “Chuí” technique is to use the mechanics of striking to move something. That’s a deeper understanding, but there’s more. While each of these techniques is shown with a fist, they don’t have to be a punch. A lot of them are much more likely to be done with the elbow or the palm in a real fight.

On an even deeper level, they don’t even have to strike anything. This will be explained further on in the series.


The next installment will outline the Straight Hammer.

The Syllabus of the Indoor Yang Style, Part 2

Here is the first part of a more detailed list of the main forms of the Indoor Yang Style.

1. The Large Frame Form, 大架拳 (Dà Jià Quán)

This is the first form you learn. It is composed of much larger movements and is focused on training your body for the art.

2. The Old/Medium Frame Form, 老架拳 (Lăo Jià Quán)

It is said that this was the original form that Yang Luchan practiced. Who knows? This form is the skill training form. It is smaller than the Large Frame and more detailed.

3. The Small Frame Form 小架拳 (Xiăo Jià Quán)

This is the combative frame. It is much smaller than the Medium Frame, and the movements look the way they might in a fight. The Wu style seems to be built from this frame.

4. The "Long" Form, 太极长拳 (Tàijí Cháng Quán)

This is the form that teaches us to break free from the structure of the forms. Each of the movements is designed to dovetail into each of the others. Focus is on using the movements in new and unusual ways: Doing Lu with Cai energy, for example.

5. The Post-Heaven Methods, 后天法 (Hòu Tiān Fă)

This is actually more of a Xingyi (Hsing-I) form. It teaches explosive strikes that can be used after the yielding entry that is the style's specialty. A lot of people get angry when they see Xingyi and Bagua in Yang Style, but Yang Luchan was a comprehensive martial artist and saw the need for a complete style.

6. The Little Nine Heavens Form, 小九天 (Xiăo Jiŭ Tiān)

This is the escape form of the system. It's mostly a Bagua form. It deals with fast footwork and "Seven Stars", or clashing.

7. The Wise Hammers/Wisdom Fist 智捶 (Zhì Chuí)

This form is a more direct, combative, almost "short" form that focuses on the 5 Hammers.

8. The Pressure Point Striking ("Dim Mak") Form

This form is usually taught last of the eight main forms. Not because it is "secret", but because it requires learning all the pressure points and their relief points. The form itself simply teaches quick chops and thrusts that can be inserted within other movements. It doesn't have the same importance that pressure points have been given in some other schools. Dianma (Dim Mak) doesn't mean "Touch of Death." It means pressure point.