Program

Push Hands and San Shou Workshops Overview

Our Push Hands and San Shou (Chinese free fighting) workshops are designed to deepen your understanding of Tai Chi’s martial aspects, focusing on sensitivity, leverage, timing, and self-defense techniques. Here’s a detailed breakdown of each component:

1. 5 Styles of Push Hands (3 days)

Push Hands is a practice in Tai Chi where two practitioners work together to feel and respond to each other’s movements. During these three days, you will learn five different styles of push hands, each emphasizing different aspects of movement and reaction. These styles include:

• Fixed Step Push Hands: Focuses on sensitivity and reacting to the opponent’s movements while maintaining a rooted stance.
• Moving Step Push Hands: Introduces the challenge of balancing movement and sensitivity, allowing practitioners to use footwork and positioning to avoid being pushed.
• Single Hand Push Hands: A one-handed practice that helps develop both offensive and defensive techniques while learning to blend with the opponent’s force.
• Double Hand Push Hands: A more advanced practice that builds coordination and timing between both hands and the entire body.
• Dynamic Push Hands: Incorporates rapid changes in energy, requiring quick reflexes and body awareness to neutralize the opponent’s force.

2. San Shou and Applications (2 days)

San Shou is an essential component of Chinese martial arts, often described as “free fighting” or “stand-up grappling.” In this two-day workshop, you will explore the following:

• Techniques of San Shou: Learn effective striking, grappling, and takedowns.
• Practical Applications: Understand how to apply Tai Chi principles (such as yielding and redirecting force) in real-life self-defense situations.
• Combining Tai Chi with San Shou: Apply the concepts of Tai Chi, like soft force and sensitivity, to more aggressive martial techniques in a controlled, real-world context.

3. Self-Defense (2 days)

This workshop provides hands-on training in Tai Chi’s self-defense techniques, focusing on practical skills that can be applied in any situation. Over two days, you will learn:

• Defensive Movements: How to use Tai Chi principles to deflect and control incoming attacks.
• Energy Management: Techniques for redirecting an opponent’s energy while staying calm and centered.
• Practical Applications: From breaking free of holds to countering strikes, these skills are tailored for real-world scenarios.

Whether you’re a beginner or advanced practitioner, these workshops will sharpen your martial arts skills while deepening your understanding of Tai Chi’s internal martial applications. You’ll develop not only physical strength but also mental clarity, sensitivity, and fluidity in your movements.

By integrating Push Hands, San Shou, and self-defense techniques with Tai Chi, you will take your practice to the next level and gain practical, real-world skills in martial arts.