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Pairs practising push hands in a sunlit church hall with a herringbone wooden floor

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Push Hands with Chen Ziqiang in London, May 2018

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In May 2018 Master Chen Ziqiang visited London to teach three workshops for Tai Ji Circle. After an opening evening of Foundation training, the second and third workshops turned to Chen-style Push Hands, Tuishou.

We were fortunate to have both a morning and an evening session, which helped us consolidate his teaching. Master Chen set his typically challenging series of warm-up exercises, including the very deep horse stance, Ma Bu.

A man in a black tracksuit holds a very deep horse stance, seen side-on, hands resting on his thighs
The warm-up included the very deep horse stance, Ma Bu.

In the morning session he trained us in single-palm push hands. Master Chen demonstrated and explained both the movements and their martial applications. Together with Shifu Liu, he made sure that everyone received corrections to their posture and understood the requirements.

It was an honour to work with Master Chen in London. Thanks also to Calvin for his translation.

Students in a church hall sink into low warm-up stances on a sunlit wooden floorPairs of students facing each other with hands raised, practising push hands across the hallTwo men work through a push hands exercise while others look on in front of a wall with a crucifixClose-up of two men in single-palm push hands, one with glasses and a beardWide view of the hall, with pairs practising in front of a red stage curtainA teacher in a dark tracksuit works with a student in a hooded top while other pairs practise behindA teacher in a dark tracksuit guides a student in white through a push hands movement, both in low stancesA teacher explains a push hands point to a smiling student in a white long-sleeved topA teacher demonstrates a martial application, holding a student's wrist and elbow as a small group watches

From the Taiji Circle archive.