How to practise Tai Chi Techniques - Retreat to Pull Down

Pull Down is an innocuous technique, never looks like much and whilst not lethal, like so many martial arts techniques, it is definitely effective.
Like any technique it has to be used in the appropriate moment for the right attack.
If you try to practise any of the techniques shown here, always start slow and only try them if you already have experience with martial arts techniques training.
Be safe
Good luck with your training.

[@markdonovan1540]

A nice bit of Muay Thai knee in there! Easy does it, those type of applications can hurt! I recently learnt an "application form" from my teacher, which has a lot of knees and elbows. I'm still in the stage of getting more of a feel for it, but I've never tried it with anyone yet. The risk of injury is quite high when using knee and elbow techniques in applications training.

[@spinningdragontao]

Yes indeed, knees and elbows are intrinsically powerful, they don't need a big movement lead in to use them. Always start slowly, speed is not a skill. Thanks for your kind comment.

[@spinningdragontao]

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[@huzhuiwei]

in the form... is this snake creeps down to golden rooster on one leg?

[@spinningdragontao]

In the Lam short form this is Retreat to Pull down to chop opponent with fist to Golden Cock Stands on One Leg. So yes and no. Snake Creeps Down could be substituted in here but it comes in later in the form so it's nice to have the practice of a different technique available. I hope this answers your question.

[@spinningdragontao]

Just to add to my previous answer; in the Guangping /Kwonping Yang Long Form Snake Creeps Down does indeed preceed Golden Rooster /Cock but the previous move to that is single whip. I'll be adding the full Long Form in the spring.

[@huzhuiwei]

@@spinningdragontao question answered, many thanks!

[@Vroomfondle1066]

Not bad, but I can't help but notice there doesn't appear to be any kind of crotch focused attack with this technique....

[@spinningdragontao]

You are right in this classical version the kick to the groin is not shown. Such an attack is in the many variations that exist hidden in the form. Probably the reason for this is Chinese cultural modesty. Thanks for your comment.

[@Vroomfondle1066]

Relieved to hear that it's there in spirit! Is there perhaps a secret form demonstrating how to deflect, enter and strike the family jewels from every conceivable angle?@@spinningdragontao

[@spinningdragontao]

@@Vroomfondle1066 There is so much of Tai Chi that is hidden in plain sight. The secrets of Tai Chi are all self secret; by this I mean that they reveal themselves through good tuition and persistent training. One could be told everything about Tai Chi and how it works but that academic understanding doesn't enable one to do it. With each level more opportunities of action reveal themselves. When faced with a well trained opponent the groin area is often well protected by one means or another because we all know from a very young age that area is vulnerable and especially in training. However, other areas may present as better targets which open the door to your chosen target. It's all there, it's just waiting for the practitioner to find it.