Basic Drill: Withdraw and Push.

Consult with a doctor before trying any of these practices. Copyright Ray Hayward Enterprises LLC 2022 My demonstration partner is Julie Cisler [email protected] Excerpt from my next book, From the Most Soft and Yielding, Tai-Chi Pushing-Hands for Health and Self-Defense, due out in 2022. "This drill teaches us a defense for having our elbow controlled by being pinned, and then pushed, and a more detailed look at defense. Most Tai-Chi styles have this posture or technique in their solo forms. You begin by having your partner push your wrist and elbow. Have them push more heavily on your wrist, so that you will turn, and they will begin controlling your elbow. When the elbow is controlled, the whole arm is controlled. One confusing aspect of this drill is the “wiping” hand or arm. Although the hand does come from underneath and guides your partner’s hand off your elbow, it is not the main defensive aspect of this technique. The ward-off, shift, and waist turn are your defense. The wiping action is the control aspect, called Na."