In practicing the exchange of these taichi power positions, Yangia Michuan Taijiquan (YMT) tuisho or push hands practice follows some simple rules of engagement. To practice the Peng, An, Lu, Ji exchange, it is helpful to make a few distinctions.
In YMT Taichi, Peng will have two different stances, one being advantageous and one being disadvantageous and therefore will respond to An in two different ways. The table below breaks the YMT exchange of these positions into a step by step guide, designed to accompany this video.
When you practice this exchange the Master Lin encourages you to remember YMT is a fighting form, so its practice is guided by rules but not contained by them. “Your actual practice will not always stick to these rules because every movement contains many linkage disequilibrium. Your exact position within the movements will depend on each situation that your partner or opponent presents, you may need to ‘sidetrack’ a position”(for an example of this please see our Video guide to Peng An Lu Ji Click here!
Ok, Ok, what is linkage disequilibrium? Well I had the same question! It is primarily a term used in genetics, but here it basically refers to the method of discovering the non- random reciprocal relationship between two people. The movements are essentially non-random, one person does Peng,Lu the other person does An, Ji and they have a predetermined exchange pattern. Within this predetermined exchange pattern, there will still be a randomness to the exact location of say the wrist or the hand.
In this four handed taichi practice, with known movement pathways, each person does not always move in the exact expected way- hence the randomness. Therefore each person has to maintain the feeling of connection and rules of the movement even when the position of the movement is not consistent. Please see video for an example of this accommodation. Peng An Lu Ji video guide click here!
This is the focus of our Feb. Taichi practice sessions. We hope you can join us in Tucson and we can learn together! Please see Class information.
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Advantageous Peng Position |
Disadvantageous Peng Position |
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Forward arm and forward leg opposite side is an advantageous peng position |
Forward arm and forward leg same side is a disadvantageous peng position |
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Body starts down and spirals up |
Body starts up and spirals down |
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Peng moves to Lu |
Peng moves to Lu |
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Peng arm slightly drops and rotates elbow while body goes up. Opposite arm raises and rotates to hook elbow to partners elbow |
Peng arm raises slightly, no higher than the top of the collarbone while body sinks down. Opposite arm raises and rotates to hook elbow to partners elbow |
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An Partner |
An Partner |
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Feet opposite peng partner |
Feet opposite peng partner |
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One hand at wrist one hand at slightly below elbow, wrists not bent nor locked |
One hand at wrist one hand at slightly below elbow, wrists not bent nor locked |
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Body in up position |
Body in up position |
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An moves to Ji |
An moves to Ji |
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Wrist hand rolls/flips in place |
Wrist hand rolls/flips in place |
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Elbow hand moves to press opposite hand, all fingers point upward |
Elbow hand moves to press opposite hand, all fingers point upward |
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Body begins in up and spirals down |
Body position begins up and spirals down |
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