PUSH SERIES #3: Small Tricks People Will Try

Above: Frame from the micro video below, illustrating how to use yinjection (real Tai Chi power) to bypass a common defensive technique.

NOTE: If you haven’t yet read the full text intro to the first clip in this mini-series, at the original Push Series #1 post, please do so before continuing here. Links in this series:

Push Series #1

Push Series #2

It’s interesting to consider the role of technique. Is it worthwhile to spin up special moves that could be effective on some players and give you an advantage? Resounding NO! Techniques, though much prized and indeed central to many arts like BJJ, are the kiss of death in real Tai Chi. Even though, or indeed especially because, they’re often quite effective. Problem is they are still physical. At least in my brand of work, we’re trying our best to transcend the physical. And if you find techniques ‘working’ for the immediate situation, it will only delay you arriving at the final (almost impossible) goal of total transcendence of the physical realm altogether. Here we aim high!

Today’s micro-clip shows a trivial example. The large gentleman here is a very experienced martial artist. Just for fun, he was working something I often encounter while dealing with experienced Wing Chun people (though others try it too, such as this large, highly skilled Karate veteran and instructor). It’s hard to detect visually though, if you aren’t feeling the interaction for yourself.

This technique entails simply placing their arms underneath yours, lightly without pressing or pressuring you at first. Then, when you start to push, they’ll simply lift their arms and billow your push upward into airy nothingness. I show him doing this to me, as a demo for the other student.

The problem with this trick is that it depends on some degree of physical tension or strength in the other person’s push. I show that mode, and he deals with it easily. But that kind of power push isn’t real Tai Chi. Real Tai Chi pushes aren’t strong like that. They are super light, mostly mental yinjection (as discussed in my book JUICE Taiji Energetics). So when you do a real Tai Chi push, well, no can defend.

I know it looks kind of fake. How can it be that easy? You’ll want to yell at him “Why don’t you fight back? Why do you lose balance?” Rest assured it’s real and there’s nothing he could do (well, see my long Intro in Push Series #1, of course he could flip the board by headbutting me or something, but we’re working kuzushi and sensitivity drills here ok? Real in the terms of the activity, which is not scripted or faked. I’d have zero chance against this guy if I used strength on him (as shown in the clip). Only real Tai Chi yinjection has any chance. These guys would not be taking their whole weekend and paying hundreds if they weren’t trying to figure out real Tai Chi here.

Enjoy the very short micro-lesson and demo in the clip and transcript below: