PUSHING HANDS

Various forms of Pushing Hands are taught throughout the syllabus at Great River T'ai Chi. Pushing hands is the part of T'ai Chi that allows us to work on the principles in relation to another person. From sticking, right through to the more advanced partner work, we develop a collaborative approach to learning in a non-competitive environment.

Through fixed-feet pushing hands we learn to stand our ground using softness rather than striving to overcome someone or something else through brute force. Through stepping partner work (wabu, ta lu, san shou and free style) we learn to discern when a step is needed to maintain our central equilibrium rather than doggedly holding on to the patch of ground we stand on.