Tuesday, April 8, 2008
More Push Hands Patterns
Instructor Michael Gilman
A fellow Dojo Rat and I attended another three-hour training session with our Tai Chi Chuan instructor Michael Gilman Saturday.
This time, we worked on the short Da Lu form (Great Rollback) which uses elbow and shoulder strikes in a two-man form. It starts with the defender using a rollback against a palm strike to the face, locking opponents shoulder and arm. The person being locked steps deep into the rollback-guy's center with a elbow or shoulder, the rollback-guy adjusts and locks the elbow firmly. Then the pattern is reversed and continues, working in diagonals hitting all four corners of the room. I'll try to post a video of that later.
Here, Michael Gilman and assistant Stephanie demonstrate some of the push hands patterns. After a review of these patterns, we went from doing the push hands pattern then moving into the Da Lu form, and then back into the push hands pattern again.
It becomes very active and spontaneous, moving from Da Lu to push hands and back.
More on this later...
Michael Gilmans's website is lINKED HERE, stop by and take a look!
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4 comments:
DR,
Interesting patterns. Some good stuff there.
One thing I noticed with the an technique at 1:20 when Michael opened her up may be something to keep in mind. When Michael opens her up and can strike with the right backhand notice the position of his left hand -- it's also in the perfect position to strike. In fact, that positioning is even better and more powerful than the right.
If she brings her right hand back to guard against Michael's right hand attack, she leaves herself wide open to have both of her hands controlled by his right arm with rollback. He will then strike her with the left and there's simply nothing she can do about it. She's out of options.
I know you guys do striking as part of your practice so try it out and you'll see what I mean.
Instead, I would take his other advice and her control Michael's right elbow with her left hand. It is quicker and leaves her less open.
Good observation Dave;
These are some of the patterns we are integrating striking and chin-na like finger,wrist and elbow/shoulder locks. I think as time goes on we can come up with some pretty cool stuff, using these type patterns as a foundation. I'll try to put some video of it up when we are a little better at it--
D.R.
Yeah I really think you guys are on the right track. Your videos show good stuff IMO. I'm envious that you have a good group that is open-minded to work with. That helps a lot.
BTW have you reviewed Michael's books? I would love to hear about them.
Yes, I have Two of his books, one is "A String Of Pearls" and another title that slips my mind at the moment. They are both very inspiring small pocket-sized books with years of thoughts and wisdom. They are so good YMAA is one of his distributors. I really like them for quick reads at bedtime or in the morning. Lots of good thoughts.
D.R.
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