Ok, so it's up for discussion so here goes....Wow, so many things to comment on here.
I'm gonna refer to guy on left as demo student and the white shirt guy on right as the sifu
1) I know the stomping done by the student is a matter of opinion by some people here, but I maintain it's still NOT necessary.
Student is just WAY over doing it...just watch at ~ :30 seconds into it...complete BS not necessary. If he really needed to move he could just casually step back or to the side without the dramatics.
Sifu gets pushed back himself and does a soft step backward with his right foot at 2:14 or so... NOW THAT is more like it.
2) Question, what is the sifu saying to the tall blonde at 4:20 ? You won't jump because you don't have "........."
What did he say????
Truth is.... she hasn't drunk the cool aid yet.
3) Then the sifu says, "what happens if you don't jump?" and proceeds to imply that the blonde would be struck by his right hand at 4:26.
REALLY...i'm mean REALLY!??? So unless she jumped and gives up her base (her root) her center ...she would not be able to defend it? Common people be serious!!!
- The sifu then tries to explain how his students ball of energy is connected (unlike hers) and that's why. The problem with this is obvious... it means that if you don't react a certain way it doesn't work. If you're not trained in the Taiji way of structure it will not work i.e....BS again.
4) IF ANYTHING it should be,
- the more you are trained in Taiji and understand how it works, the better you should be able to counter and defuse attacks like this WITHOUT jumping.
- the less you know about Taiji or understand how it works it just sucks for you
5) ok 5:00 - 5:10 The sifu is saying, "so in a fight":
- I'm keeping in mind his discussion is about Taiji Skills...The title says "Push Hands..." Afterward at 6:15 the sifu demonstrates simple peng lifting his arms up on the blonde.
- My comment about how he demonstrates it's use in fighting is that what he's doing is NOT SOLEY a Taiji Skill. I.e. the Sifu's right arm attacks with "Bing Geng" (whipping power) across the student's bridge and this type of energy is learned in other styles like Choy Li Fat or Hung Ga and such. NO big deal.
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IMO, attacking like that is not what makes Taiji worth practicing...yes I realize that is my opinion
For a demo... in the same exact example, IF I HAD TO BE THE ATTACKER and the student is holding his left arm like that:
1) I would reach out with my right hand quickly and smoothly to Hook or Pluck to control his arm(properly) .... and perhaps attack with my left hand.
2) It now depends on how he reacts to my left but I would follow his counter into his own downfall. I realize that it's far more passive aggressive but IMO it better represents why I do Taiji.
3) I don't particularly feel that Taiji is best used for smashing through bridges....instead, In the right places a little bit of patients can go far.