Steve James wrote:It is accurate to call it "da lu push hands" because what they're doing combines both. I.e., it combines the tui shou hand and stepping methods with the da lu hand and stepping method. Imo, it eventually looks spontaneous and not simply a rehearsed pattern.
The difference in the two is what you are practicing
The two stepping patterns taugh before Ta lu
Involve 3/3 stepping and 3/2 stepping
One partner taking 3 steps forward while the other takes 3 back or 3/2
These exercises can either be straight back and forward or either person change angle at any time
But they use the 4 primary energies
What differs in Ta lu is the use of the 4 suplimentry energies and the adjustment from being lead off line
Both can be done simultaneously but you should see both or what is the purpose
As with San shou
Every time one person does not move in a pure and combat efficient manner the other should break from the set capitalise on his partners error and attack
Return to either pushing or Ta lu when the time is right resume the set
Doing this you might not get past move one on either side
But this is the point of training
As for pushing in the different styles I have never seen anything in Wu /Chen or any other that I have not learnt in yang
Some schools have either not learnt the full set or dropped them because they feel it can be container in 1 or 2 exercises