Tui Shou

By Lei Shi Tai and Bob Melia

 

 Within Sun Shi Taiji we have five main areas of training in Tui Shou. The first is Single hand push where the two trainers try to feel and understand each other; Then there is Da Lun (means “make cycle”), this is double hands push, practice the concepts of Peng (Ward off), Lu (Rollback), Ji (Push), An (Press), the four main concepts and further to understand and introduce them to elbow stroke, shoulder stroke, pluck and rend. The third method is free-step (moving-step), forward three steps and back three steps in one turn. The fourth is Da Lu, (just like Ba Gua), walk freely, to train the moving energy. The end is San Shou (as you like), freestyle push hands where the opponents try to uproot or push the other, using any of the methods from Sun Shi Taiji, Xing Yi or Bagua.

 

 We have other methods that involve listening to the sensitivity of your opponent by feeling the stomach area and trying to disrupt their root, and we also have a method that involves using Tui Shou as a stepping stone to sparring.

 

 Sun Lu Tang created what we now practice as Tui Shou from his knowledge and understanding of the three Internal Arts of Taiji, Xing Yi and Bagua, and Sun Shi Tui Shou involves utilising techniques from these arts.

 

 Master Lei Shitai, has practiced Sun Shi martial arts for 50 years and he has refined the methods of Tui Shou to an amazing level of skill and technique. He excels in teaching and using these methods and has found that this way of teaching enables the student to quickly understand how to use Sun Shi Taiji, Xing Yi and Bagua.

 

 Lei Laoshi stresses relaxing and the ability to follow as first requirements, then the student can start to use basic techniques from the internal styles that make up Sun Shi.

 

 Alongside training in San Ti Shi and the Taiji form, Tui Shou makes up a lot of ground in enabling the student to understand the usage of Taiji as a martial art and also teaches us humility and respect for all.