Bhassler wrote:I've got lots of stories like that about getting my ass kicked. The point being, at a base level this type of push hands can build important skills that lead to other really nice skills, but once folks start training specifically to win the drill, it becomes less useful for fighty stuff and doesn't show much about actual ability.
I could as many others offer similar stories.
I do find it interesting and would agree that within the context
of a training drill to gain understand specific skill sets it can be a very good practice
once one understands the practice. Something that the poster "Appledog" has spoken about.
I read many here seemingly to try to include things in the "practice" trying to fix something
that it would seem from my POV they really dont understand nor really do and then label it as
"push hands" is it?
Small story:
While in peace park TW, I pushed with a westerner who happened to be there with a group.
we started and suddenly he went for a single leg take down which didn't work. Kinda funny as I was looking at him
asking him what he thought he was doing.
He mentioned "this is push hands I can do this" I said ok.
try it again out side of push hands. He tried it again it didn't work, I showed him why it didn't work and how
this might not be a good idea to do on a taiji practitioner. He smiled we went back to pushing, he got tossed around a little
and seemed to enjoy it.
I claim no skill, my point being that some may not develop any skill if they dont understand the skiills
their supposedly trying to develop through the practice.