oragami_itto wrote:... Keep them moving and off balance, run them into a wall, put them on the floor, whatever. From the approaches to taijiquan that I've most frequently seen I don't think many people get to the footwork that really unlocks this skillset. Need at least the Da Lu. The apparently all-but-lost two-person yang form maybe. Freestyle moving step push hands, definitely....
Yes, indeed. Also including (by mutual consent, of course, and being careful with each other) the option of throws and locks, and then also strikes. So you know whether you're twisting yourself up with incorrect stepping, or staying free in all directions.
For me, steps in freestyle tai chi should as much as possible emerge almost 'by themselves' from the work with the kua and waist, the sinking and turning, which are emphasized and practiced in fixed-step push hands. Or which should be practiced, at least. Then, stepping to create space for yourself or to provide additional neutralization doesn't turn into retreat; stepping into the opponent's space to do whatever you need/want to do doesn't turn into throwing yourself against the opponent.
oragami_itto wrote:And damn but if between knee surgery and COVID I haven't played push hands since November 2019. This is an outrage.
That's a lot of cold turkey
. I hope your knee recovers enough and Covid eventually subsides enough for you to play again soon.
I've been very lucky over the last year or so: two good training partners living close by. Meeting regularly in the park, in T-shirts or wrapped up warm. And always with masks until we all got our jabs.
Sorry if this is getting OT...