Formosa Neijia

Thanks to Charlie Conklin for this. Below is a description of some push hands games from Cheng Hsin. As I understand them, the purpose of these games is to introduce elements of freeplay that move you beyond simple cooperative pattern work. You’re still cooperative in terms of playing the game, but you must now look beyond patterns to make the techniques work. This will be quite difficult for people not used to it, but using games like these is the key to finding setups, combos, and footwork patterns that make your practice come alive. Let me know what happens if you try these out.

GAME “A”
The next stage of Cheng Hsin freeplay is a game in which the partners take turns, much like the above practice. However, the purpose of this game is to introduce a non-competitive atmosphere in which we can study and find techniques in process. It’s one thing to find a technique while someone is standing still, and quite another to find one while he is moving and — as in this case — even neutralizing what we are doing. So while we neutralize what our partner attempts, we search for a technique using listening, outreaching, and following. When we’ve joined his motions we will find a technique, and he will let us have it.

Once we’ve found a technique and done it, then we switch roles. It is important that we ONLY neutralize what we can neutralize easily and with NO EFFORT. If at any time the partner gets us in the slightest trouble or awkwardness, we must let him have his way. Depending on die ability of the player, we may consciously offer more or fewer opportunities. As we practice, we should get better at recognizing where and when certain actions are most effective, when the partner will have a hard time escaping, and also when we are about to be trapped. Under no circumstances do we resist him in any way. As we neutralize only what we can neutralize easily, staying in balance and without any pressure, we should also play as if we are going to find a technique on him. This keeps the game more realistic. He must neutralize as well any action we do on his body, yet if we find the opportunity to uproot or throw him we simply don’t take it, but continue on with the game. The same is true when we reverse roles. Yet if someone falls or is uprooted when it is his turn to find a technique, it’s no big deal, simply continue.

This game develops the joining skills necessary for creating results in process. We learn about timing, changes in distance, position and shape, what’s advantageous and what’s not, the value of listening and outreaching, and more. We are teaching each other by assisting each other in learning how to find techniques in freeplay. We should learn as much when the partner is doing a technique on us as when we are doing one on him. By allowing him to find our weaknesses, we become conscious of them ourselves, by letting him trap us, we find out where we can be trapped; by paying attention to balance, position, timing, psychology, etc., when he does something that works on us, we learn what to do and how it should feel when we try the technique on him.

Furthermore, as the partner is attempting to throw or uproot us, we can assist in his learning process by “showing” him the easiest or most effective way to do the technique, using the information available from our side due to our sense of vulnerability. We do this by falling or being uprooted in the way that feels the most effective to us. The partner can then compare his actions to the outcome, which was in part suggested and contributed by us through our action, and if he is awake and sensitive, learn more about effortless and effective technique. The contributions we make are usually slight, such as “showing” a small shift in angle, distance, weight, or process, but with sensitivity such a “suggestion” should educate our partner. As both parties contribute in this way back and forth, learning and progress are accelerated greatly.

GAME “B”
After Game “A” the next stage follows the same description as above, except instead of taking turns, we both pursue a technique at the same time. If our partner finds one we let him have it. If not, we merely continue to find techniques ourselves. Still, only what we can EFFORTLESSLY and easily neutralize do we neutralize. If he gives us the slightest difficulty then we do not neutralize him, but allow the partner to do whatever he will. Do not use ANY strength or resistance to get out of a sticky situation. In this game one person may get more techniques than the other, but this should be as a result of his joining skills, or perhaps because of the lesser skill the opponent shows in effortless neutralization. This game should increase many functional skills. Do not war with your partner — work together to develop your skills.

Game “B” is like a “gentlemen’s” freeplay. It is the game that we practice the most. Most people have a difficult time at first understanding that they must not resist any action in the slightest. They end up resisting or thwarting their opponent without knowing they’re doing it, or they justify or ignore that they are doing it. Don’t make excuses, simply don’t resist or struggle. This means you will probably lose a lot to begin with, but it is not the end of the world, and you may even come to enjoy the freedom from struggle and learn to appreciate the other person’s ability. This develops grace in an individual. The main thing to remember is that you are in it together, both assisting and training each other to improve. Then freeplay can be really fun and satisfying.

source: Peter Ralston’s “Cheng Hsin T’ui Shou - The Art of Effortless Power”, p. 272 - 273.