Two-person drills are an integral part of Tai chi training and provides a stronger foundation that goes beyond just doing the tai chi set and warm ups
These partner drills, a.k.a. Push Hands, which play an essential role in internal system development and understanding, will enhance your listening and feeling skills. What is energy flow is a crucial component to Tai Chi. , the many push-hand patterns we do cultivate more emptiness where two energies become one
If the certainty and the countless benefits of doing push-hands are unequivocal, then why is it dominated by men and only a small percentage of women engage in the push-hands program and practice?
During my training visits to Taiwan Taipei with Sifu Chen, I met up with various other Tai Chi groups and participated in a hand full of open Push Hands forums.
What I noticed was that many of the female Tai chi practitioners I met did not participate in Push Hands practices and drills. There seems to be little interest in this valuable tool for Tai Chi training
One of the reasons female Tai Chi practitioners had no interest in Push Hands was that it was too aggressive and too much physical force.
Participants choice of Tai chi way of life was to cultivate a calmer demeanor, gentle and soft , and not to have this practice with a competitive mindset that is focused on winning & losing , which is counter productive to what Tai Chi represents
At Arm Bridge Tai Chi, everyone is encouraged and participates in 2-person drills. We choose not to use the word push hands because of the word “push,“ which gives it the interpretation that there is physical applied force in this practice.
Rather, we have choreographed 2-person drills to help us understand and develop Song & release , rooting & equilibrium and sticking & connection
Two-person drills teach one how to deal with pressure with a calm mindset.
Your partner is directing energy in an attempt to disrupt your balance, to clutter your ego, and to fasten your breathing during 2-person drill patterns. With diligent practice and applying Tai Chi principles, one will learn how to yield and receive energy and maintain the flow of Chi in equilibrium.
At Arm Bridge Tai Chi in-person classes , there is no aggression; there is no competition; instead, the direction is to connect to opposing energies to become one through mutual cooperation and honest feedback
Some of the common two-person drills practiced:
Song Chum
Commencement drill
3% give and return
Root2Root catch
Open chest cavity drill
Rebounding energy drill
Double Lok Kua drill
We pay close attention to avoid and be aware of “ FRCT” in 2-person drills, which is what happens often
Force
Resistance
Cluttered mind
Tension
Characteristics of two-person drills include, but not limited to, feet soft and gentle, proper alignment, calm heart & body , applying JFM , Emptiness, listening & feeling energy , closing the gap , yin & yang , etc.
Our own practice of tai chi form and solo drills will internally change as a direct result of our positive experience in 2 person drills.
Wayne