How to Use TaiJi (Tai Chi) For Push Hand

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How to Use TaiJi (Tai Chi) For Push Hand (tuishou)
This is an amazing fighting skill.
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We would like to invite all of you to join our forum at basks.com/forum . It is important we share our experience and discuss the best way to learn Taiji. We don't want to lose the traditional martial arts treasures, we want to improve them by developing better skills and enabling better learning. So please join our forum at basks.com/forum We plan to ask Master Byron Zhang to answer some questions through the forum. If you have your own youtube video, you can post it at the forum, and hopefully either Byron or other people can give you some useful feedback. Subscribe to our channel, more videos are coming soon.

[@MindandQiR1]

This has got to be one of the most valuable videos on tai chi in all of youtube!

[@andrewsolomon3265]

How Shifu Zhang explains the principles of Tai Chi is very clear, precise and enlightening. Thank you.

[@Tony-jr5mj]

Better explanation than anybody else I’ve seen on KZbin .Hard for a lot of people to understand without actually doing it with good teacher who doesn’t add mysticism to their teaching.love to see some other techniques in your system cheers!

[@GeniusAsian]

Glad you liked it! Thank you for taking the time to share, your comments will also help other viewers.

[@olivervandal8645]

This teaching is pure gold. Thank you so much.

[@GeniusAsian]

thank you for taking the time to provide feedback.

[@Ph0en1xRides]

When you explain TaiChi movements as quantities of yin and yang which must balance overall, it is helpful. What the mind is doing during a push hands match is not known otherwise. The mind is the part that sees what needs to be added, whether yin or yang, to make a whole balanced sum. Cool. It could take many many years of practicing a small set of movements to learn that one skill of adding the proper yin or yang. What happens if your opponent attacks with yin and yang already in balance?

[@byrontripp5074]

Good question! It’s depends on the level of understanding. Since there is no clear measurement of yin and Yang it’s always have smaller yin Yang combination. As long as opponents center of balanced yin and Yang can not meet the center of smaller scale balanced yin and Yang of defense party, the opponent body mass will be spin off

[@rich3419]

Nice demonstrations. The basic principle is to move the whole body as if it was a unified wave of water. To do this, it must feel like a unified internal wave if peng energy.

[@geromino2007]

To my experince with very powerful tai chi teacher, it indeed exists. But Tai Chi uses also physical aligment and psychology to acchieve it's goals, so it's not clear cut. But if you are playing with master who sometimes switches his intention on/off you can feel the change in the quality of power. Even though the physical contact stays the same. The chi becomes in class very real thing that people can sense and talk about and make same observations, that makes it real thing to work with.

[@JessicayuYC]

Thank you so much for your amazing teaching!!!!

[@gjijbuis1]

Have been looking at these video's quite a few times. Since I noticed that more and more bits and pieces were falling into place with each rehearsal, I experienced how well the depth of this art is conveyed here! I am a fencing teacher (sabre), who has always been interested in translating Taichi principles into our field. Years ago I have been learning Taichi myself for that purpose, but only now with the help of these video's at last it is starting to become a success. E.g. we found a way to use Peng and Lu, but especially the explanations about 'using the mind' have a great application in sabre fencing too! People begin to loosen up more and more on the strip, their actions tend overall to become more playful and richer in content. What strikes me the most is that everyone is enjoying it immensely (exactly like you can notice in these video's as well) ! As for 'using the mind' (which some of our university trained students find a little hard to swallow) it is easily accepted as it is explained that it produces the necessary images to incorporate the use of the creative power of the right hemisphere, which works on images for its activation. But what's more: It also appeared to us that the use of these images seems sometimes to be so powerful as to effectively even 'freeze' an attacker, who seemingly experiences the danger (that is not really there) of a timely counter or a seeming parry. Is this due to an (unconscious) communication between the left hemispheres of the opponents? Do you experience this in Taichi as well?

[@KelGhu]

You should watch Adam Mizner toying around with a US fencing champion. It's in the documentary called "Power of Chi" with Morgan Freeman.

[@GeniusAsian]

currently only local class is available. If you are remote, you may check out the premium video contents.

[@Rajj854]

This is a superb video. This is Taiji.

[@nreyest]

at 4:27, while demonstrating sending the pressure to the ground, the fact that when the pressure disappeared the teacher had to quickly put his lifted foot forward to avoid falling forward, shows that his root was not completely correct ... in application, this is a tactic that people will use, to give you pressure and the suddenly release it, so you lose your balance forward, and if you fall for it, you failed. Nice use of An energy later.

[@unpolishedpearl3769]

Pushing with one leg is not the standard Tai Chi or Tui Shou posture ^^ the teacher is just demonstrating that the guy's pressure is being used to the advantage of rooting the teacher, hence if the guy moves in the demonstration, he has to adjust his body.

[@gosukiwi]

This guy is legit. Does he do seminars?

[@byronzhang1684]

Federico Ramirez thank you!

[@cleopatra862]

May I kindly ask where you are teaching at? Plus, when is your next seminar? I am interested in learning this movement. Thank you.

[@byronzhang1684]

Agree! 求生武者。and I love to learn other one's understanding. Could you post some of your video, i can learn some from you, thx

[@CottonBoxer]

this has made much clearer things that i have only partly understood. xie xie Sifu

[@GeniusAsian]

certainly, if you practice.

[@TommyDaTuber]

Why no class information or contact information on his website?

[@MrJingQiShen]

I’ve been standing on one leg, holding the ball, for 9 days now. Let me take a brake and ask some questions…. ☺ Have “awareness” of every part of your body! Easier said than done! How do you train to have the “awareness”? Standing meditation? How many years of standing meditation does it take to have awareness? The tai chi form helps to have awareness too? What about cultivating the “qi” in the dantien that a lot of teachers talk about? The “qi” in the dantien has no relevance here?

[@unpolishedpearl3769]

Ok, awareness comes through practicing TaijiQuan and TuiShou (obviously). And yes, meditation can help. Once you seriously start to practice, then you should feel the benefits and if you're not, either you're practicing it wrong on your own, or it's time to get a real teacher. From the sounds of it though, I think you've never had a teacher and have only used the trusty interned to "self-educate" and now are thoroughly confused? TaijiQuan and QiGong are not the same thing. Qigong has it's focus on health/medicinal purpose, is subcategorized under traditional Chinese medicine, and is catered to target different ailments. TaijiQuan, like I said, is for cultivating an awareness of yourself in space, time, movement, and increasing harmony between body, mind and universe (it has a spiritual aspect rooted in Taoism). Obviously too, it will have health benefits of different kinds, stress-relief is one, another are benefits similar to those of practicing a sport (you can't really get good cardio from TaijiQuan though, but you can with TuiShou). You can't get benefits of sport activity from practicing QiGong. TuiShou is a direct product of TaijiQuan, so it's not related to QiGong, but using Qigong will benefit your focused output energy when you want to use power. So, to conclude, TaijiQuan and Qigong are complimentary but not the same thing. TaijiQuan/TuiShou doesn't target your Qi, but if does benefit it indirectly. To get health benefits from TaijiQuan you don't need QiGong, although QiGong will benefit your TaijiQuan and TaijiQuan will beneit your Qi. Note: Taiji is a term Westerners use to describe TaijiQuan - they've dropped the "Quan" for some reason. If your speaking to a Chinese person about TaijiQuan you should include the "Quan" or they won't know what you're on about, since Taiji on it's own means "ultimate/supreme". Rude and condensending tone in your comment btw.

[@mrvgranfield]

all this is like a big ball as he pushes on the top you rotate the bottom of the ball uprooting him

[@MrJingQiShen]

I do qigong, yeah, love doing it! But find a teacher is hard...Byron Zhang is in Fremont and he speaks mainly Chinese! How does everybody feel about the much-maligned Master Cheuk Fung? I will have to buy a car and change my life schedule to get over to SF but it is closer than Fremont and Master Fung speaks English all of the time in his class it seems. My Chinese is..zero zip nada! I recently found Sifu Mark Rasmus on KZbin but he's in beautiful Thailand ! Should I pack my bags & move there?

[@dharma_star]

Hi,so what did you wind up doing? Master Fung is great.He teaches in S.F. and Palo Alto.I'll be in Thailand this winter, as I go there frequently.Take care.

[@Bluedragon-co4kb]

@Genius Asian how do you use the mind to fill up the yin portion? Can a beginner do this or do you need to have trained for a long time before you can do it without being taught or having guidance? And is this a specific yang Tai Chi application or is this part of a push hands drill or application?? Thanks in advance :-) one other thing is the filling up of the yin portion a chi projection?

[@GeniusAsian]

IMHO, it is hard for a beginner to understand it. I think a beginner can "pretend" to understand it. But you need to constantly think about it while you practice it. One day, all of the sudden, you will get it. Then you will realize that you did not understand in the begging, but that is the process, you are not doing anything wrong.

[@Bluedragon-co4kb]

Genius Asian I'm learning yang Tai Chi in New Zealand :-)

[@LifeForceChannel]

Nice

[@brianaheartsyou]

Does this really work

[@duchuynh7948]

where is this sifu locate?

[@GeniusAsian]

bay area california

[@GeniusAsian]

bay area california

[@mnuhn6107]

SUKA👍

[@outofthebox7]

Actualy he did "use his arms" at 0:51, look at his elbows and even if he wouldn't by keeping them tight by his side he is still using his shoulders connected to them and his body, as well as the the body of his opponent that was with parallel feet and could easily be pushed back.. It has nothing to do with "mind" as he explains it, he is just trying to make it "deep". It is pure mechanics, and yes mechanics need you to think in order to be applied. He knows what he is doing I just disagree with his explanations.

[@unpolishedpearl3769]

He is channelling the weight from the leg that goes through the body and then to the arm, he's not using *just* force from the arm. That's the point. When your body is sensitive and you use your whole being to push in the right way (in this case just even expanding your arms slightly), instead of use just one limb segment, it makes a huge difference. Have you practiced TuiShou or TaijiQuan application before?? You'd know if you did - and that only after you "got it". This kind of awareness and movement is not something that comes very naturally, because here your body is relaxed to the maxium and using the least amount of power, where most actions your do in your life tend to use tension an localized power output. Does it make more sense?

[@outofthebox7]

@@unpolishedpearl3769 no need for explanations, see my comment again. Mechanics. No lies.

[@LUDIN-]

WUSHU

[@GeniusAsian]

push hand is similar but not exactly the same as wushu

[@alancwwong]

why did they wear jeans/shirt to learn a sport or Kungfu ? weird.

[@franzarner2990]

Very good but you still lean

[@GeniusAsian]

Thank you for taking the time to provide feedback.

[@proudzerzurancitizen]

soft boys

[@GeniusAsian]

tai chi or tai ji looks soft but it is not

[@samfu1268]

more talking than action.

[@GeniusAsian]

Sam Fu what kind of action would you prefer to see in this basic training and explanation (we can always add more if there are demand)? Please also check out many of our other videos for different actions.

[@sugengsaefulloh619]

very nice, I studied tai chi 10 years, but I just understand it now, and it turns out it worked, thank you master

[@TheFajingMove]

Thank you, this is a really good video! I hope to see more as I like the way you explain principles.

[@sniperdoc8404]

Excellent video! Thanks for posting! Not many explain proper use of Taiji. Who is the teacher? What style Taiji? Yang?

[@byronzhang1684]

Hi Li chen, I am open to learn more detail of your explanation of relaxation and hand circle. For my understanding relaxation is tool to get whole body coordination, and hand circle come from body circular move, so hand move is the last effect from body. Do you agree?

[@MyOkman]

thank you ...... amazing ! you can use those rules in life.... not just in fighting ....

[@GeniusAsian]

+MyOkman thank you for your comments

[@byronzhang1684]

MyOkman thank you!

[@PekorKungFu]

I loved this video! Excellent teaching and in a friendly, relaxed, non-mystical way :-))))

[@carmelotaichi]

Does anyone know if Zhang Laoxi is still teaching and where he is teaching?

[@kongfuwang]

Very useful skill. More shaolin than Taichi through. As internal martial arts, using same skill inside of your body with "jing" or force shall be best. I am in Silicon Valley too, would love to demo everything I said to everybody. No fee.

[@CottonBoxer]

can you explain how it's more shaolin than taiji skill. will you share with us via youtube videos please. i'm in maryland on the east coast. most things that are explained well, i can understand and implement in time with practice. supplementing it with actual video allows me to do it better though. thanks

[@kongfuwang]

Hi Cotton, for Taichi, it is not about the force regardless using the force from whole body or part of body. Be relaxed is very necessary but it should be NOT used to produce more force. For Taichi, you want to be able to sense and use other one's speed, acceleration and even body balance force. If you can tell third one, you need no force to move people easy.

[@GeniusAsian]

Other can chime in, my own opinion. It depends on your level. An analogy: Primary school tells you the world consists of only solid, liquid and gas. Middle school says molecules, high schools says atoms. College tells you that all your teachers lied about atoms & that quarks are the basic element. Primary school teaches you to only believe what you see, but college tells you electron can act either as wave or particle; not only you can’t see electron but also you can’t be sure its locations.

[@flaubercamara6051]

E por isso que quando esses caras são desafiados passam vejame ,vcs não estao vendo que isso nao funciona?

[@sarahpeel4402]

Do you have another upcoming workout like this?

[@igoranuchin4423]

I like all videos with lessons of master Byron Zhang.

[@byronzhang1684]

Igor Anuchin thank you!

[@GeniusAsian]

visit the website for more info. Thank you for your interest

[@OhioShaolin]

Wonderful. "losing his mind"

[@GeniusAsian]

specifically which part of the explanation did you think is wrong?

[@GeniusAsian]

Byron Zhang, check basks.com site for more info.

[@ridwana9936]

Thank you for the great explanation. I always wonder why some people said that the silat i learned is so similar with Taichi push hand, and now I know why. The explanation are completely different but the principal way of how you should move the hand, upper body and lower body is a perfect match.

[@sniperdoc8404]

The awareness doesn't come from meditation JQS... it comes from practicing with a teacher and learning proper technique just like the teacher in this video explains. Awareness is first in how to properly move and second how to feel an opponents force and then thirdly to neutralize it properly. Most Taijiquan teachers fail to explain this. Practicing on your own, you will have a hard time learning even the patterns themselves correctly. I recommend finding a good teacher. Qi cultivation [cont'd]

[@OoOo0ooOo0oOoo0oOoO]

Sure! There are a few different Chen lineages, the two I know of are disciples of: -Chen Zhenglei -(Byron Haney Hartman-Stanford) -Chen Qingzhou -(Tony Wong; Schedule-chenfamilytaiji/classlocation) -(Yan Li; -Peninsula Jewish Community Center) Here's some additional stuff for folks in other areas: taichichen/chenresources_chenlinks Feel Free to ask if you need more info! 再见 zài jiàn!

[@sniperdoc8404]

Qi cultivation is for health of body and mind, and it helps with being able to perform the patterns of Taijiquan without tiring, i.e. a body with good and unimpeded energy flow. But in my opinion it doesn't have much to do with executing the actual movements and gaining some sort of super-power Star Wars type force-push. That being said, practicing Taiji without some form of Qigong, will give you a very limited experience and view of Taijiquan. Taijiquan is also a dynamic movement meditation.

[@8KILLSTEP]

if u're a sensible person u can guide urself to find that energy, but im still not sure if this really exist,or is somehing that we create... by the way i think that taiji is really genius like the people invented it and i dont think they lied about it,we have only to practice and search 4 it.

[@sniperdoc8404]

From the sounds of it he speaks English very well. I know a lot of people that are highly dedicated to a martial art that have moved to their teacher's location to learn. If you feel that Master Byron Zhang really grabs your inspiration and passion, or any other master for that matter, I would recommend the move.

[@WanderingFreeSpirit.]

LOL, i do not think there is right or wrong, everybody has his own understanding and using of Taiji. I personally teach my students a different way to handle the same situation, and that works too.

[@byronzhang1684]

Hi tan, feel so great full to have same interest people get together and try dedicate ourselves and take responsibility to inherit this real art. I would love to meet him if I have chance.

[@GeniusAsian]

Bay Area, California, USA

[@CharlieChenNanaimo]

wrong explanation, It is only the circle of the hand and relaxation to transfer the force from the leg.

[@GeniusAsian]

So to answer your question of the existence, I can only say some higher level people have the experience, I personally am at lower level, my science background trained me not to believe it. But it does not mean it does not exist.

[@unpolishedpearl3769]

Heyyy, I'm a scientist too! My favourite delineation of science is called "non-linear" physics.. where science cannot but admit to knowing very little and to the limits of it's tools! But unlike you, science taught me to treat it as but a tool, not a belief system. To make science into a belief, to believe it has proven all phenomen and limit yourself from rationalizing new phenomena using it's tools is your own mind's limitation. Speaking of minds, actually the brain and conciousness is one of science's greatest unsolved mysteries

[@GeniusAsian]

@@unpolishedpearl3769 yes, agree with you. Science allow us to repeat experiments with predication, that is why I use science in tai chi: kzbin.info/www/bejne/gp-lgWZ9ZrN1ja8 However for a lot of things, there are things unexplained or not yet to be explained, then it does not hurt to let old explanation pass to the generations until we have some definite scientific explanation.

[@lamtaichi1195]

用意不用力, 真太極! 難得ㄧ見的老師,鼓掌!

[@GeniusAsian]

+Cann Lam thank you. 谢谢

[@byronzhang1684]

corgLLC 謝謝！

[@byronzhang1684]

LAM Tai Chi 謝謝！

[@8KILLSTEP]

I THINK U'RE RIGHT,but it dont kno if it's really the point of the question

[@locstaxingyi]

Sifu Byron Zhang is the real Deal :). Thanks for the video.

[@OoOo0ooOo0oOoo0oOoO]

There are a lot of high level Chen Taiji folks in the Bay Area...

[@TommyDaTuber]

corg So where is the "local class"? Any details or is this a secret society?

[@MrJingQiShen]

Would you be so kind as to share names of these Chen folks?

[@advadhuta]

Excellent instruction. Superb! Thank-you.

[@MichaelWebber]

You've got to practice wresting (Chinese or Western) or judo or Brazilian jiu jitsu, some serious contact sports, to test your push hands. Not that you would use actual push hands techniques, but hopefully the "push hands feelings and principles" would inform an outer manifestation of pushing, pulling, shoving, deflecting, inserting in the already-there physical forms. I think Brazilian jiu jitsu is an especially good candidate for outer training due to its gentleness (relative to the others) and emphasis on reading and anticipating. That having been said, conventional push hands is an absolutely essential part of tai chi, imho, but it's not nearly as common as I would expect. The basic drills: single hand, two arms, steps, 4 corners, not the rough-housing that passes for push hands competitions in KZbin videos of matches. Here in Asia I see tons of students doing myriads of sets (family lineage sets, National forms, sword forms, fan forms, more sets I haven't heard of) but _no one doing push hands drills._ What's up with that? For some reason park students seem to believe push hands leads to getting pushed on the ground, when the way we practiced in Venice was drill, drill, drill and occasionally show someone where they were losing their base by tipping them a little. I really think push hands is good for internal development, but all too often neglected, on the one hand, or placed on an impossibly high metaphysical pillar, on the other hand.

[@markdonovan1540]

@Michael Webber Well said. I totally agree with you on the second part, but not sure why it's even necessary to 'test' push hands against something that is not push hands. After all, it's just a drill, it's not meant to be an actual fighting skill in itself. Obviously, if a practitioner wants to do that with a Jiu Jitsu opponent, no doubt it would be interesting to some people. My experience in push hands helped me to develop some key aspects to Tai Chi practice by working with the energy of a partner. These are sensitivity (or listening), yielding (or song/relaxation - not butting in), sticking, sinking, turning the waist, roundness etc. Although form practice should work on these same principles, the push hands is the 'test' for what you think you might be doing correctly in the form. Push hands itself doesn't need a test, other than lots of practice - daily if possible. You need to find good partners, a variety of Tai chi practitioners of different levels of experience, size etc, who are not trying to 'win a competition'. It should be respectful, without egos and provide good energy and intent for the other to work with (and not just be moving backwards and forwards and having a chat about the weather.....). But a smile and spontaneous laughter is always good to lighten any excess seriousness. You can be a bit more sneaky and slippery once you develop a good connection and mutual respect with your practice partner.

[@cosmshaman]

what is the name of this teacher? he is great.

[@antonioventurini2678]

Semplicemente naturale come il centro del Tao da dove si vede il wu wei !! Grazie MAESTRO

[@韩子玄]

the video is really good . thx for share

[@kingofaikido]

He is right!

[@ctchiu888]

Where is the class taken?

[@8KILLSTEP]

i am also a taiji practician ,after watching this,my question is, DOES CHI EXIST,OR IT'S ONLY PHISICS ,DYNAMICS FORCES?

[@unpolishedpearl3769]

Read the book www.amazon.com/Rise-Shine-Awaken-Energy-Alchemy/dp/1934170259 and you will understand it.

[@dl6596]

Great perception

[@ytb460]

Brilliant.

[@Ginkung]

Good !

[@lamtaichi1195]

謝謝

[@cleopatra862]

now...thats tai chi

[@byronzhang1684]

Bella Angelina thank you!

[@byronzhang1684]

Would love to learn from you, how can I meet you please advise

[@Tank1]

There is a sifu in china zhan jiang called fong wai. He teaches in the park in zhan jiang he knows alot of real internal stuff. Would be interesting if you could meet him if you go china. There isnt any need for rotation or forms very direct. I am not small and pretty strong he pushed me out with a cigarette packet and no damage to the packet. Very similar to the stuff you teach real internal stuff. Not just fake tai chi dancing many sifus teach today.

[@Tank1]

How is your sifu bryon? I watch alot of tai chi videos i fidn yours very impressive because i see you know the real internal stuff.... not many tai chi practicioners seem to know real tai chi these days shame much is lost. If you go zhan jiang maybe see if fong wai can exhange knowlege with you its good to always learn more from each other.

[@SteveMe21685]

Tank1 100% agree with everything you’re saying. Everything has become a washed down commercialized version of something very real

[@lamtaichi1195]

想請教老師是那一派的楊式? 鄭曼青氏?

[@GeniusAsian]

+Cann Lam 老師很欣赏鄭曼青，有很多是自己积累的， 老師的老師 是王氏水性太极： kzbin.info/www/bejne/hqOZoq2arNSprac

[@sugengsaefulloh619]

ferry good, i need to pracktek this