T'ai Chi Sensing-Hands

Popularly referred to as 'pushing-hands,' the two-person training practice of sensing-hands (T'ui shou) has never been adequately presented in English-until now. With translations from Chen Kung's Chinesse classical work, which has long been considered in Asia as the 'Bible of T'ai Chi,' Sturart

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Olson's T'ai Chi Sensing-Hands is the most comprehensive and definitive work ever published on sensing-hands training.

Sensing-hands is the training system that develops the basic skills and internal energies of interpreting, yielding, neutralizing, and issuing, the fundamentals for mastering the practical applications of t'ai chi.

This book provides the traditional concepts from which all t'ai chi self-defense methods have developed, revealing the long-guarded secrets previously unavailable to t'ai chi students.

Contained wthin are detailed explanations and photographs of the Eight styles of sensing-hands and the Four movements of fixed-stance and active-steps-which incorporate the posture movements of warding-off, rolling-back, pressing, and pushing.

Included are instructions on how to perform the ten exercises in high, medium, and low posturings of closed and direct stances, and how to incorporated tao movements and practice free sparring.

Also provided is a detailed explanation on the original and true meanings of adhering, sticking, joining, and following-the traditional terms for applying warding-off, rolling-back, pressing, and pushing.

'No t'ai chi student should be without this book as the concepts presented, both for the beginner and advanced student, are so valuable and necessary that it should be read over and over again. The contents of this book will make even the most advanced student feel like a beginner.

'Stuart Olson is the first to undertake the formidable task of translating into English the section Chen Kung's original book on sensing-hands. Many of the concepts and techniques Chen presented in his Chinese text are very subtle and esoteric, and translating them into English requires someone who is Western, fluent in translating Mandarin, and deeply familiar with Tai Chi Ch'uan and all its subtletics. Stuart Olson is uniquely qualified for this task.'-Jonathan Russell Senior Student of Master T.T. Liang

Contents

Acknowledgments
The Sung Dynasty immortal ancestor, Chang San-feng
Yang family lineage
About the author, Master Chen Kung
Foreword by Jonathan Russell
Preface
Introduction-How to practice sensing-hands; The three interpreting skills of sensing-hands; The function, foundation, and expression of t'ai chi; The three divisions of t'ai chi practices; Beyond sensing-hannds; Studying with a teacher
T'ai chi sensing-hands-Master Chen Kung's introduction
The eight styles of sensing-hands
Translator's preliminary instructions
First style: Single-hand sensing-hands
Second style: Pushing & warding-off
Third style: Pushing & rolling back
Fourth style: Pulling-back & neutralizing
Fifth style: Withdraw-pushing & neutralizing
Sixth style: Rolling-back & pressing
Seventh style: Thrusting & neutralizing
Eighth style: Single-hand, circular-thrusting
The four skills of sensing-hands
An explanation of adhering, sticking, joining, and following-and opposing, leaning, discarding, and resisting
The four skills of sensing-hands in fixed-stance
Summary
The four skills of sensing-hands in active-steps
Methods of the four skills in active-steps
Instructions for active-steps in the direct stance
Summary
Afterword
Suggested reading (bibliography)
About the translato

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