Press Energy and One of Its Meanings

press energy tai chi energies tai chi self-defense taiji self-defense Oct 09, 2013

When I first studied Tai Chi, I learned about Ward Off (Peng), Roll Back (Lu), Press (Gi, pronounced "jee"), and Push (An, pronounced "On").

We were told there are eight primary "energies" in Tai Chi.

On the rare times we did fighting applications, we thought of Press as a pressing outward type of movement, as in the top photo on the left.

But Press has a different quality. With this "energy," you crowd your opponent. One way this is done in Bagua and Taiji is to deflect incoming force and position yourself close enough to your opponent

that he is unable to defend. At this point, you are set up to do what you need to do.

In the middle photo, I am doing a movement from the Bagua Swimming Body form called "Black Dragon Slashes Its Tail." My partner has punched and I have moved in as the punch was deflected. I am now close enough to do a palm strike, a shoulder bump, a leg technique, and more.

In Taiji you can do this while pushing hands, too. During the double hand routines, you can get closer to your opponent as you spiral him so he doesn't realize he's in trouble until it's too late. Before he realizes, you have pressed into his space so he is unable to defend. At this point, you've got him.

Press shows up in subtle ways in the forms.

It also shows up in Hsing-I, although it isn't very subtle. One of the key goals of Hsing-I is to take your opponent's ground. The concept of Press shows up in a lot of fighting applications.

As you practice fighting applications or push hands, look for ways of closing the distance and putting your partner into a moment of vulnerability.

--by Ken Gullette

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Ken Gullette's Internal Fighting Arts

Press Energy and One of Its Meanings

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