Push hand is a design that coexist with form practice. When doing it right, push hand exercise can help student to understand the physics applied in Taichi. The beneficial results such as:

1. The students learn how to perform correct postures by applying what they have learned from the form exercise.
2.The students experience the dynamics of his form. The form practice no longer just a dance or stretching, but the circles with meanings.
3. The student test his ability in free form push hand and experience the freedom when his body response to the various patent of circular movements.
4. The student will learn the power of Taichi from control and accuracy.
5. Enjoy the happiness of sharing.

On the other hand, if involve incorrectly as most of the people doing today, it will mostly end up some none beneficial results such as:

1. The instructor don't know the difference between teaching and showing. The students can only experience the frustration that he could not expect.
2. The instructor and student can not extinguish the teaching, learning relationship from challenging. They always turn to the later mode.
3. Even worse, is the trust or love between instructor and student being deteriorated by these unintended event.

To help us to avoid the bad part and take full advantage of the push hand benefit, I list the progress and purpose of this training for both instructors and students:

1. Static load Path sustain.
2. Dynamic load path dragging.
3.In random circles to examine Ying and Yang, Rigid and Soft.
4. Energy sensing and punctuation.
5. Accomplished level.

Follow these guide line, student can practice push hand with his teacher or classmate to check if he can apply what he had learned within this controlled combat situation. Then he will come back to correct what it is wrong or strengthen what it is right. From this point of view, push hand like an experiment procedure that can refined his Taichi skill.

 

Chen Style Push Hand start in the form as this picture. Two side use right and left leg at same side. Touch each other.

This is a 'Liu' and 'Ji', the left person try to attract the other lose his balance. At the same time, the right person stop at his border and waive to his right to counter.