Supple Tai Chi Push Hands Competition

Supple Tai Chi Push Hands Competition

The art of Tai Chi Chuan (太極拳) embodies the philosophical logic of Laozi and Zhuangzi’s wu wei (無為) and the principles of yin-yang (陰陽) transformations in the I Ching (《易經》). To enable the application of Supple Quan Jia (鬆柔拳架) in push hands techniques, the following foundation has been established:

The Judges’ Committee of the Chinese Tai Chi Chuan Association (中華民國太極拳總會) developed the competition format based on key Tai Chi classics such as the Tai Chi Classics (〈太極拳經〉) and Tai Chi Treatises (〈太極拳論〉). It incorporates the training methods of Master Zheng Manqing (鄭曼青), such as Beautiful Lady Hand (美人手), No Arms in Tai chi (太極不動手), and the principle that “Investing in Loss” (吃虧即是佔便宜). The Ten Essentials of Tai Chi Chuan (太極拳十要) by Master Yang Chengfu (楊澄甫) include:

1. 1. Xu Ling Ding Jin (虛靈頂勁) – "Keep the head upright with an empty, light feeling."
   2. Chen Jian Zhui Zhou (沉肩墜肘) – "Sink the shoulders and drop the elbows."
   3. Han Xiong Ba Bei (含胸拔背) – "Hollow the chest and round the back."
   4. Song Yao Luo Kua (鬆腰落胯) – "Relax the waist and drop the hips."
   5. Xu Shi Fen Ming (虛實分明) – "Distinguish between empty and solid."
   6. Yong Yi Bu Yong Li (用意不用力) – "Use intention, not brute force."
   7. Shang Xia Xiang Sui (上下相隨) – "The upper and lower body follow each other."
   8. Nei Wai Xiang He (內外相合) – "Harmonize the internal and external."
   9. Lian Mian Bu Duan (連綿不斷) – "Maintain continuous and unbroken movement."
   10. Dong Zhong Qiu Jing (動中求靜) – "Seek stillness within motion."                                                                                                                                                                   2. Additionally, the training methods of Master Song Zhijian (宋志堅), such as Original Space Position (原空位) and Original Body Position (原體位), were combined with over 50 years of competition experience in Taiwan, as well as commonly practiced routines in public parks. This integration resulted in the formulation of 9 designated techniques for Song Rou Tui Shou (鬆柔推手) competitions.

The Supple Push Hands competition emphasizes the Try Mo Wu Fa (揣摩五法): Nian (黏) – "Sticking," Tie (貼) – "Adhering," Lian (連) – "Connecting," Sui (隨) – "Following," and Bu Diu Ding (不丟頂) – "Not losing or resisting." Participants are prohibited from using brute force for hard pushing or pulling. Instead, they must adhere to the principle of movement originating in the legs, guided by the waist, and expressed through the fingers. This approach incorporates the Song Yu Ding (鬆與定) – "Relaxation and stability" of each part of the body, the dynamic and static states of the hands (Shuang Shou Dong Yu Jing 雙手動與靜 – "The movement and stillness of both hands"), and the interplay of empty and solid in the feet (Liang Jiao Xu Yu Shi 兩腳虛與實 – "The emptiness and solidity of both feet"). These principles naturally manifest the phenomenon of Gang Rou (剛柔) – "Hard and soft" in the body and integrate the Ba Fa (八法) – "Eight methods" of Tai Chi and the applications of Song Rou Tui Shou.

Designated Techniques for Song Rou Push Hands

1. Right Peng-Lü-Cai Method (右掤屢採法, 3-step breakdown)
2. Left Peng-Lü-Cai Method (左掤屢採法, 3-step breakdown)
3. Intermediate Right Peng-Lü-Cai-An Method (中階右掤屢採按法, internal sequence, 8-step breakdown)
4. Intermediate Left Peng-Lü-Cai-An Method (中階左掤屢採按法, internal sequence, 8-step breakdown)
5. Advanced Right Peng-Lü-Cai-An Method (進階右掤屢採按法, external sequence, 4-step breakdown)
6. Advanced Left Peng-Lü-Cai-An Method (進階左掤屢採按法, external sequence, 4-step breakdown)
7. High-Level Right Peng-Lü-An-Ji Method (高階右掤屢按擠法, Four Corners Push Hands, 5-step breakdown)
8. High-Level Left Peng-Lü-An-Ji Method (高階左掤屢按擠法, Four Corners Push Hands, 5-step breakdown)
9. Ru Feng Si Bi Method (如風似閉法, reverse Cai, 2-step breakdown)

This system highlights the depth and elegance of Tai Chi philosophy and its practical applications in push hands.

        鬆柔太極推手比賽 太極拳技藝蘊藏著老、莊無為的思考邏輯與《易經》陰陽變化的哲 理。為了讓鬆柔拳架能應用於推手技藝上。 中華民國太極拳總會裁判委員會依據〈太極拳經、論〉要訣。鄭曼 青宗師之訓練法：美人手、太極不動手、吃虧即是佔便宜。楊澄甫 宗師太極拳十要：虛靈頂勁、沉肩墜肘、含胸拔背、鬆腰落胯、虛 實分明、用意不用力、上下相隨、內外相合、連綿不斷、動中求靜 。  宋志堅老師之原空位與原體位等等訓練法，及台灣五十餘年的比 賽經驗，及公園場地常用的練習招式，整合出9種鬆柔推手比賽的指 定招法。 

        鬆柔推手比賽方式，是以摩五法（黏貼連隨不丟頂）之要點，不得 使用強力硬推硬拉，遵循由腿而腰行於手指的原則，配合身體各環 的鬆與定、雙手的動與靜、兩腳虛與實的變化，自然產生身體剛柔 現象，及太極八法與鬆柔推手之應用法。 

        鬆柔推手指定招式 

1. 右掤屢採法（分解3動） 

2. 左掤屢採法（分解3動） 

3. 中階右掤屢採按法（內套接法分解8動） 

4. 中階左掤屢採按法（內套接法分解8動） 

5. 進階右掤屢採按法（外套接法分解4動） 

6. 進階左掤屢採按法（外套接法分解4動） 

7. 高階右掤屢按擠法（四正推手分解5動） 

8. 高階左掤屢按擠法（四正推手分解5動） 如風似閉法（反採分解2動）