I started learning push hands in 2003 in New York after 5 years of Yang style (modified short form) and Zazen, but had to stop my studies almost right away. 20 years later now I live in the Sunshine City! and am so pleased to see you teaching this here.
Interesting observations that help open up the possibilities of this sublime practice. There are all kinds of push hands demos, examples, competitions, training videos online. What I have noticed is that there are some players that say their form of doing this is correct and everyone else is wrong. Maybe there are aspects that could be considered 'wrong' in the sense that they don't adhere to Tai Chi principles, but these principles are often interpreted differently. I'm not a fan of the more pushy-shove competition style, that looks more like wrestling to me. But maybe it's because I wasn't taught that way of doing it, which influences my opinion. Different people want or expect different things from Tai Chi as well as push-hands. I guess you have to find what best suits you at the time.
Same thing with us in Choy Li Fut Kung Fu. The beginner drills seems simple, and after you get experienced, you get to play with them and you see how much you can do with them. It's definitely a "Wow" moment.
I think Tai Chi would reach a greater audience if there weren't so many metaphors. If there was a common language used amongst teachers our students would make better progress. No two teachers I am aware of use the same terms to describe what's occurring. Everyone says that there is no mystery to it, but only to relax and you'll understand. I am slow, no pun intended, but after forty-five years and I still don't understand nei gong. Perseverance furthers I am told. Laoshr #60 Ching Yi Kung Fu Association
I’m with you. I think that generations of teachers and students have assumed that they understood the lessons, and this lesson always fails. In the old days, I suspect that martial artists had a more scientific approach, and we need more of that now. My favourite teachers are those who continue to assume that they don’t fully understand. They thrive on the exploration of the mystery. People need to know the ecstasy of epiphanies, where one does not necessarily see the whole truth, but recognizes the error in one’s previous understanding.
Ian Sinclair fans: The section about "I'm on your feet, now you're on my feet" is explained more fully here; "The person with the feet wins" ruclips.net/video/NpVN3rIVn-c/видео.html
I started learning push hands in 2003 in New York after 5 years of Yang style (modified short form) and Zazen, but had to stop my studies almost right away. 20 years later now I live in the Sunshine City! and am so pleased to see you teaching this here.
Let’s do lunch.
Sounds great, I fb messaged you ☺️
Interesting observations that help open up the possibilities of this sublime practice. There are all kinds of push hands demos, examples, competitions, training videos online.
What I have noticed is that there are some players that say their form of doing this is correct and everyone else is wrong. Maybe there are aspects that could be considered 'wrong' in the sense that they don't adhere to Tai Chi principles, but these principles are often interpreted differently. I'm not a fan of the more pushy-shove competition style, that looks more like wrestling to me. But maybe it's because I wasn't taught that way of doing it, which influences my opinion.
Different people want or expect different things from Tai Chi as well as push-hands. I guess you have to find what best suits you at the time.
Same thing with us in Choy Li Fut Kung Fu. The beginner drills seems simple, and after you get experienced, you get to play with them and you see how much you can do with them.
It's definitely a "Wow" moment.
Great explanation. Thanks!
I think Tai Chi would reach a greater audience if there weren't so many metaphors. If there was a common language used amongst teachers our students would make better progress. No two teachers I am aware of use the same terms to describe what's occurring. Everyone says that there is no mystery to it, but only to relax and you'll understand.
I am slow, no pun intended, but after forty-five years and I still don't understand nei gong.
Perseverance furthers I am told.
Laoshr #60
Ching Yi Kung Fu Association
I’m with you. I think that generations of teachers and students have assumed that they understood the lessons, and this lesson always fails. In the old days, I suspect that martial artists had a more scientific approach, and we need more of that now. My favourite teachers are those who continue to assume that they don’t fully understand. They thrive on the exploration of the mystery. People need to know the ecstasy of epiphanies, where one does not necessarily see the whole truth, but recognizes the error in one’s previous understanding.
Ian Sinclair fans: The section about "I'm on your feet, now you're on my feet" is explained more fully here; "The person with the feet wins" ruclips.net/video/NpVN3rIVn-c/видео.html
Thank you.
Casper? Are you here?
'parce que c'est interne'