A Strand of Techniques

The old way that push hands is typically taught is as a chain of techniques, each as a counter to the last technique. An intricate strand of countless responses in neutralization, redirection, and counter pushes. Each response is logical to the specific situation, although as consequence to the increase of consecutive situations, the earlier techniques become buried and forgotten. Often times similar responses to advances are standardized to one response, and all others discarded as less useful.

Such is life, we tend to find ourselves dealing with chains of situations, choices and options by defaulting to the responses and techniques that more often work for us based on our experiences and outcomes, whether they are the best for us or not.

Sometimes the convenient response is all we need, but there are times we should seek to address the situation as unique as it presents itself. To specifically, impeccably, deal with it. Maybe we can better ourselves and others with a calculated approach, but then again, maybe it should be more simple than that.

* This is a repost from my Tumblr, originally posted Sept. 2016