This is a nicely made video about Tai Chi Push Hands: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=S0ZSTWEYihA Some quick observations: 1) I quite like the emphasis on feeling where the opponent is during push hands instruction - I think this is bang on. 2) "Sensei Seth" correctly identifies very quickly that push hands competitions are very, very, similar to Sumo. … Continue reading “I tried Tai Chi and it’s not what I expected”
Push hands
The number 1 mistake people make in Tai Chi push hands and how to fix it
I got to meet up with a local Tai Chi instructor recently, and it was a good chance for me to do some hands-on work in push hands. One of the things working with somebody else at Tai Chi, as opposed to the endless solo practice that mainly makes up the art, brings up is … Continue reading The number 1 mistake people make in Tai Chi push hands and how to fix it
Three views of yi (intent) in Tai Chi Chuan (Taijiquan)
Photo by SplitShire on Pexels.com I'm writing this as a kind of follow up to my previous article on 3 views of qi in Tai Chi. That article contained the 3 different things I think people really meant when they talk about qi in Tai Chi. This article aims to do the same thing with … Continue reading Three views of yi (intent) in Tai Chi Chuan (Taijiquan)
Don’t try
One of my poetic/literary heroes, Charles Bukowski had “Don’t try” written as an epitaph on his tombstone. To many people he was simply an alcoholic, womanising, bum who pissed way his talent, but I bet Charles Bukowski did more honest days work in his life than a lot go his critics ever did. Writing was … Continue reading Don’t try
Park life
Friend of the Notebook, Byron Jacobs, who lives in Beijing, recently posted a video giving a glimpse into the martial arts culture found in Beijing parks. You can see people doing all sorts of martial practices, like calisthenics, chi kung, Tai Chi, sword and push hands. Byron comments: "Beijing’s public spaces and parks have been … Continue reading Park life
The future of push hands
I think push hands is completely flawed as a competitive sport, which is why it ends up as a shoving match, but somebody (Jet Li?) is trying to change the rules to make it work better as an Olympic sport…. So here it is! It's essentially more like wrestling, which is probably a good thing … Continue reading The future of push hands
Two recent stories
I'm still using this blog for posting my ideas and blog posts, but I've decided to start putting a few new stories onto my new Medium page. I'm using Medium as a place to post more polished articles. They're basically my better blog posts that I've tidied up a bit and made more coherent. Here … Continue reading Two recent stories
Stop fighting in push hands
I don't really enjoy push hands. I used to, I used to enjoy it much more when I saw it as a medium for exploring arm locks, takedowns, wrist locks, throws. In short, when I saw it as a way to practice techniques. I used to love it. In more recent years I've reframed my … Continue reading Stop fighting in push hands
Brush Knee Twist Step: Tai Chi application and style comparison
Brush Knee Twist Step (called "Walk obliquely with twist step", which was probably its original name) is a fundamental movement in all Tai Chi styles. Chen Zheng Lei performing "Walk obliquely with twist step": The Yang style Brush Knee looks like a slightly simplified version of this. Here performed by Yang Jun, grandson of Yang … Continue reading Brush Knee Twist Step: Tai Chi application and style comparison
How to get better at push hands
Today's Tai Chi tip is all about how to get better at push hands simply by adjusting your posture. Push hands should really be an exercise in which we get to test our ability to absorb Jin from an opponent and project it into an opponent as required, to uproot them. It shouldn't devolve into a … Continue reading How to get better at push hands
The Tai Chi Notebook 