Tai Chi Push Hands: The Martial Foundation of Tai Chi Chuan

by Jwing-Ming Yang, David W. Grantham

Overview

Push Hands is the “other” part of tai chi that makes your practice a true living art

Tai chi push hands practice is a necessary next step for tai chi practitioners who wish to make their art come alive. Push hands practice requires two people to engage in a variety of “light touch” moving and walking routines. By practicing these movements, practitioners begin to develop tai chi’s sensing, listening, and yielding skills. Combined, these skills are the first step for developing your tai chi as a martial art.

The Dao De Jing classic reminds us that knowing others (an opponent) is important for knowing ourselves. By develop tai chi push hand skills, one begins to obtain a profound sense of feeling of your own body and mind. This ability aids greatly in regulating and controlling body, balance, health, perseverance, compassion, and overall spirit.

It is no mistake that tai chi offers a lifetime of continued learning and progress; the goal is a deep understanding of yourself and your role in nature.

In this book, you will learn

• The theory of tai chi pushing hands
• Tai chi qigong foundation practice
• Tai chi jing (power) practice
• Two-person stationary push hands practice
• Two-person moving push hands practice
• Tai chi rollback and press push hands practice
• International standard push hands routine
• Two-person free style push hands
• Martial art applications in tai chi push hands practice

Dr. Yang reminds us “tai chi chuan was created based on the martial applications which were used for self-defense. Every movement of tai chi chuan has its unique martial purpose. Without this martial root, tai chi chuan practice will limited to a dance, lacking a deeper meaning or a deeper feeling.”

This book is complemented by two companion videos sold separately.

• Tai Chi Pushing Hands 1 - Yang Style Single and Double Pushing Hands
• Tai Chi Pushing Hands 2 - Yang Style Single and Double Pushing Hands

Available wherever DVD and Streaming videos are sold.

Product Details

ISBN-13:	9781594396465
Publisher:	YMAA Publication Center
Publication date:	11/01/2020
Sold by:	Barnes & Noble
Format:	eBook
File size:	26 MB
Note:	This product may take a few minutes to download.

About the Author

Dr. Yang, Jwing-Ming is a world-renowned author, scholar, and teacher of tai chi chuan. He has been involved in Chinese martial arts since 1961 and maintains over 55 schools in 18 countries. Dr. Yang’s writing and teaching include the subjects of qigong, kung fu, tai chi chuan, massage, and meditation. He is the author of over 35 books and 80 videos. Dr. Yang, Jwing-Ming teaches and resides at his YMAA Retreat Center in Arcada, California.

David W. Grantham began his martial art training in 1989 and holds certificates as coach instructor and chin na instructor from YMAA International Schools. David is an airline pilot, author, and tai chi teacher. He teaches at the Hunterdon Wellness Center in Clinton, New Jersey. David Grantham resides in Hunterdon County, New Jersey with his wife, and two children.

Table of Contents

Chapter 1: Theory of Taiji Pushing Hands

1. Introduction
2. About Pushing Hands
3. Taiji Pushing Hands Training Contents
4. Rooting, Uprooting and Centering
5. Yin and Yang, Insubstantial and Substantial
6. Six Turning Secrets of Taijiquan

Chapter 2. Taiji Qigong Practice – Foundation

1. Introduction
2. Rooting
3. Centering (Central Equilibrium)
4. Heng and Ha Sounds Qigong
5. Martial Grand Qi Circulation
6. Taiji Ball Qigong
7. Taiji Yin/Yang Symbol Sticking Hands Training

Chapter 3. Taiji Jing Practice

1. Introduction
2. Injury Prevention
3. Basic Jings for Taijiquan Pushing Training
4. Coiling and Spiraling Training
5. Listening and Following Training
6. Controlling Jing Training
7. Borrowing Jing Training

Chapter 4. Single/Double Pushing Hands Training

1. Introduction
2. Stationary Single Pushing Hands
3. Moving Single Pushing Hands
4. Stationary Double Pushing Hands
5. Moving Double Pushing Hands
6. Peng/Lü/Ji/An International Double Pushing Hands

Chapter 5. Taiji Rollback/Press Pushing Hands Training

1. Introduction
2. Small Rollback and Press
3. Large Rollback and Press
4. Mixed Rollback and Press Training
5. Cai/Lie/Zhou/Kao International Routine
6. Free Style Moving Pushing Hands

Chapter 6. Examples of Martial Applications in Taiji Pushing Hands

1. Introduction
2. Kicking in Taiji Pushing Hands
3. Striking in Taiji Pushing Hands
4. Wrestling in Taiji Pushing Hands
5. Controlling in Taiji Pushing Hands

Chapter 7. Conclusion

Appendix

Translations and Glossary of Chinese Terms

Index

Editorial Reviews

After reading the book, I realize the brilliance of the authors and highly recommend this book to anyone who either wants to learn Tai Chi Push Hands or deepen their knowledge of their practice of Tai Chi Chuan.

—VioletLeeTaiChi.com

From the Publisher