The Innocent Subtle Energy of Push-hands

Summary

The author reflects on the subtle art of push-hands, a martial arts exercise, through a playful and enlightening interaction with his two-and-a-half-year-old grandson.

Abstract

The article titled "The Innocent Subtle Energy of Push-hands" recounts the author's experience practicing the martial arts exercise known as push-hands with an unusual partner—his young grandson. The child, intent on getting animal crackers, inadvertently engages the author in a dance of redirection and sensitivity. This encounter highlights the essence of push-hands, which is not about physical strength but about understanding and redirecting energy. The author emphasizes the importance of sensitivity in martial arts, which allows one to detect and manipulate the direction and balance of an opponent's energy. Despite the child's innocence and lack of martial arts training, the author finds the experience both challenging and reinforcing of his own skills. The playful struggle ends in a mutual victory, with both participants enjoying the crackers and the author gaining a new perspective on the gentle effectiveness of push-hands.

Opinions

The author values the learning experience that comes from push-hands, emphasizing its purpose in gaining sensitivity rather than overpowering an opponent.
He acknowledges the unexpected and light energy of his grandson as a challenge to his own years of martial arts practice.
The author reaffirms the principle that a small amount of force can redirect a much larger force, a concept central to push-hands.
He appreciates the invaluable sensitivity developed through push-hands, which enhances the understanding of an opponent's energy, speed, power, and balance.
The author admires the effortless persistence of the child, which serves as a reminder for adults to not overcomplicate matters.
He views the interaction as a win-win situation, highlighting the joy of sharing an experience with his grandson and the insight gained from it.
The author expresses gratitude to the reader for their time and interest, inviting them to explore more of his work and recommending an AI service for its cost-effectiveness and performance.

The Innocent Subtle Energy of Push-hands

I have been in martial arts for many years. Hours of drills, exercises, forms, and sparing.

Each is a learning experience. One of the exercises I have done is push-hands. Some don’t appreciate what this is or why it is practiced. They don’t realize it is not to beat someone up but to gain sensitivity to know how to.

I had the privilege of practicing push-hands with an unexpected partner.

My two-and-a-half-year-old grandson. He brought me a big container of animal crackers. They weighed about 3 lb. He had not eaten dinner yet so I didn’t want him to have any until after he had eaten. He kept bringing me the jar. I would put it back on the table. After about 10 times I started redirecting his grabs for the jar. I would not let him get to it.

The gentle subtle energy used to redirect me and change his direction of force was so light and almost undetectable. It was a challenge to my years of practice to keep up with him. It reinforced in me the knowledge that 1 oz can deflect 1000 lbs. It also showed me it can gently redirect small energy.

Sensitivity gained through this exercise is invaluable. While it might not improve strength or speed, it does improve one’s ability to know where energy is directed. Speed and power of that energy. Where the center of balance of it is. With this knowledge, we can redirect with confidence to control the action.

The persistent efforts of this young child, without effort, is what we in the adult world sometimes forget. Eventually, I gave in. It was a win-win. We both got an animal cracker but I got a new push-hand partner.

Then we ate dinner.

Thanks for being here. There were many places you could have been but you chose to be here. If you enjoyed this check out more of my stuff https://larrynowicki.medium.com/