push hands play

[somatai]

a recent video of some of our training.....it has been a long time since i have had an opportunity to train regularly with another in push hands, Chris has made great progress during this time, and I continue to learn from our play. It is amazing how imperative a good training partner is to map this stuff out.....this is just a bit from a 2hr session and prior to my having a big ah ha moment....anyway hope it is useful to some

[XinKuzi]

Video private?

[somatai]

sorted thanks

[XinKuzi]

That was fast!

Edit: Looks like fun! I agree, a good training partner is important... and hard to find at times. In my experience, not a lot of CMA people are willing to put in the time with a partner to develop these skills (especially outside of "class" time). One of my best training partners moved to China last fall to teach English; still trying to fill that void. Thanks for sharing your work.

[somatai]

just took the click of a button

[shawnsegler]

Derek is fun to push with. He's a tricky bugger and strong as hell.

Best,

S

[NoSword]

Derek:

Curious to hear your thoughts on PH as it relates to your XYLH training. I have never formally studied taiji, only picked up bits here and there in parks and from friends. Nor do I particularly feel the need to do so. But PH, especially the fixed-step variety, has provided me with some of my biggest ah-ha moments and I put it right at the center of my whole MA training. Do you think that playing PH meshes well with studying CMA other than taiji? If so, why don't more people in other arts do it? Should taiji and taijiquan theory have a privileged place amongst PH players?

I was thinking about this as I watched the "water taiji" guy in a recent thread...watching his body and hearing his explanations resonated strongly in my own body, but all the talk about the 4 jins left me cold...is it necessary to talk about PH in these terms? I'm certain taiji purists will say that it is, and will cling to their own interpretations of taiji theory...not saying they're wrong, just that I personally find a lot of value in practicing PH without playing a form or thinking in taijiquan terms.

Who else here plays PH without adhering to a traditional curriculum?

AK

[somatai]

@No Sword

It has been interesting to connect the two and took a little bit, but I now see all 10 of the shapes and availability of those shapes in free play and how they move in ad out of each-other it is very cool.

I think it is useful to do both formalized drills and free style. I would also say there are different intents one can play with ust like in the shapes themselves. It seems to me that as teh body changes teh angles and opportunities emerge and over time the whole thing becomes very fluid but also very strong and structured.....fwiw

[Bao]

I liked the clip. Good work and thanks for sharing and caring.