Teaching Beginning Push Hands

by Toni DeMoulin

Yielding and Listening Energy using the External Neutralization Drill.

November 30, 2007

Two partners face each other in a stance, right feet forward. One partner will be the Receiver and stands forward in the stance and one will be the Attacker  who will begin the exercise in the back of the stance.

The Attacker puts his right palm on the left side of the Receiver’s chest, near the left shoulder and gently pushes straight forward, staying in contact with the chest the whole time, and shifting weight forward. Start pushing very slowly and as your partner learns, vary the speed and intensity. Push very, very softly, then push with full force, then start out pushing softly and change to very fast in the same push, bump it up as the Receiver  improves. Push only straight, do not push into or toward the center of the chest in this exercise.

The Receiver stands in the stance with his arms hanging down to his sides. He must “externally neutralize” the Attacker’s push.  Relax and allow the push to move your left shoulder back as you shift your weight backward.  Feel his palm, allow the part of your body that he is pushing be part of the Attacker’s palm. Molecule by molecule, move with the palm, with the push. Let go of expectations, “listen” to the push, let go of anticipation. Move only as much as the push requires, no more, no less.

Be sure to have a good stance. Remember to put equal intent, equal energy into both feet in both the forward and the backward stances. Allow your waist to turn as your shoulder goes backward. Remember the inside joints of shoulders and hips match.

Change and push with the left palm to the right chest/shoulder. Change the stances so that the left foot is in front.  The Receiver’s feet must stay rooted to the ground and not come up.

Keep it fun, watch their body language to tell you when to change feet in these fixed positions. Watch that they don't make extra unnecessary moves.
As always, it is necessary to have multiple partners.  Bump it up and do the same by pushing on the hip, neutralize by allowing the hip go loosely backward.

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