Push Hands and Sparring classes are help during the same session at Wu Dao. We believe both arts to be essential to the training of martial artists. Both Kung Fu and Tai Chi are martial arts. Training in basic techniques and forms serves as the building block for real-life combat if it becomes absolutely necessary. Push Hands and Sparring create the simulated situations in which martial artists can learn to execute techniques in an interactive environment. Students then take lessons learned into their individual practice.
Push HandsPush Hands is the two, or multi-person, training practice of internal Chinese martial arts. In Tai Chi, the forms practice is usually done alone, with an internal focus on one’s own structure and energy flow. In Push Hands, two people face each other with the intent of pushing the opponent off balance without using excessive force while maintaining oneÕs own balance.
This training improves the Tai Chi practitionerÕs discernment of one’s own and others’ weakness and strength, balance and counterbalance, structure and direction of force. Ultimately, it helps to develop the martial artistÕs proficiency in Tai Chi as well as overall capabilities.
SparringSparring is the practical application practice of Kung Fu. At Wu Dao we focus on using the traditional Kung Fu training techniques in sparring sessions in order to gain a full understanding of the movements and applications.
