Traditional Tai Chi sparring training

Tai Chi sparring, like push hands, is an essential discipline for Tai Chi martial artists.

Tai Chi is a martial art that combines both physical fitness and conditioning with martially functional aspects. Beyond its exceptional health and therapeutic benefits, it possesses self-defence combat capabilities.

It is often heard that someone, despite decades of pure Tai Chi practice yet remains incapable of self-defence, or hear: ‘I have practised Tai Chi for over ten years, yet still cannot apply it to self-defence.’ Such situations are far from uncommon, all stemming from a lack of understanding of the principles of Tai Chi free-hand sparring practice, traditionally called San Shou or San Sau.

The health and wellness benefits of Tai Chi form training are beyond doubt, but does long-term practice of the Tai Chi form guarantees self-defence capability? The answer is unequivocally ‘no,’ . Health cultivation and combat skills training are distinct disciplines within the art.

Tai Chi encompasses various training disciplines including hand forms, broadsword, sabre, spear, tui shou (pushing hands), free sparring (san shou), throwing techniques, and internal cultivation (or Neigong). Even if one masters these disciplines to a high degree, without training in free sparring and the application methods, one remains incapable of utilising tai chi practically.

For self-defence instructors who merely understand the forms can only be considered fitness trainers and do not qualify as Tai Chi experts.

Only those who have mastered the aforementioned disciplines with precision and understanding of force, and who are also proficient in free sparring and the application of each discipline, can be deemed Tai Chi experts.

Only they then can they shoulder the responsibility of promoting Tai Chi as a real martial art, ensuring its comprehensive development, promotion and advancement.

As for training in Tai Chi free sparring, it is truly arduous. 

Our ‘Cheng Tin Hung’ lineage Tai Chi originates from Wang Zongyue and the Yang Luchan tradition. It has produced many full contact fighting champions, particularly in south east Asia in the 1950’s through to the 1980’s. Some of the later generations have also trained quality fighters, though in lesser quantities.

Our free-form sparring practice, transmitted from Grandmaster Qi Minxuan, comprises forty-eight forms or technical drills. These are the applications of the movements of the slow hand forms.

Techniques progress from basic to advanced. 

Through prolonged practice, mastery is attained, culminating in instinctive reactions. Training must progress to the point where techniques are employed without deliberation, adapting spontaneously to circumstances.

Subsequently, the number of forms is gradually increased, and practice must be conducted with both left and right sides.

Daily, consistent training and practice are essential to achieve effortless execution.

Concurrently, diligent cultivation of internal energy through Neigong training is required to enhance power and force development.

The author of some of tai chi’s classical theory, Grandmaster Wang Zongyue, explained in his essay on Tai Chi Boxing that , ’familiarity is achieved through engagement‘ rather than ’familiarity through technique‘. This carries the message that experiential learning through actual martial engagements breeds the deep understanding required to make progress as a Tai Chi martial artist.

The engagement he is referring to is competitive play or competition with others, similar to playing a game such as chess.

Without these engagements, even with plenty of solo practice we cannot learn to perceive and gauge the speed and angle of the opponents attacks, the management of distance and the angles and accuracies of our counterattacks. The coordination of the eyes, mind, body and limbs cannot learn to harmonise with the attacking and defending motions of the opponent. This is the major limitation of solo practice.

Tai Chi’s sparring process.

‘Mastering through practice’ refers to paired training. A systematic approach is carried out. First you learn the first application of the 48 Tai Chi self defence drills, learning the principles for its effective use and then practicing it carefully on both sides. 

As your skill develops the partner starts to attack with more and more speed and aggression until they are using full power and speed and employing a ‘fierce and angry’ attitude.

This helps you to become desensitised to aggression and violent intentions and learn to be calm and simply apply your techniques skilfully.

Once you are proficient with the first exercise you can then learn and practice a second exercise in the same manner. This process continues until you have learned and become skilled in all 48 basic exercises.

Once a few of the basic exercises have been learned we can begin to practice in a freer style where attacks can be varied by the training partner and variations and natural flow between techniques can be developed. Ultimately whilst we want to become skilled with the basic techniques in their own specific way we have to practice fluidly so that we can learn to adapt and change depending on what the opponent is actually doing. We may end up using only a certain part of one technique, followed by a different one to follow and adapt to the changes of the opponent. Tai chi sparring training is designed to cultivate spontaneous responses to the endless possibilities or ways that we can be attacked. We want to train to become unlimited and unrestricted with excellent defensive and offensive habits.

With a long and hard period of training this is achieved. At this point when faced with an enemy, your body and mind will work together to intuitively respond instantly to their movements, adapting and changing immediately when necessary.

Throwing and takedown techniques such as lotus sweeps, repulse the monkey, white crane flaps its wings, Pat the horse high and many more are trained in a similar way. The should be practiced with speed and sensitivity against punches and kicks using the idea of evade and immediate throw. They should also be practiced from wrestling positions, using feints and shifting between solidity and emptiness. Here we need to learn to place the opponent in positions where they can be thrown more easily. We can create illusions and misdirected techniques before attacking with the real throw. An example would be attacking the upper spine with Pat the horse spine lock throw, which if resisted (after drawing the opponents focus high) can be followed with a mid level hip throw, white crane flaps its wings. If the first technique is effective fine, if not we adapt fluidly attacking the next easy opening.

Beyond the free sparring practice, physical conditioning is paramount. Daily sessions must include forward rolls within designated timeframes to cultivate breath control and master falling techniques.

Full contact Free sparring may be conducted on mats or carpets to minimise injury.

Heavy bag and mitt work striking can enhance the power of punches and kicks. It is particularly important to pursue the pad during strikes to develop the habit of relentless pursuit and maintain the advantage.

However, this pursuit must be executed while following the opponent and building in changes and defensive measures. When striking the pad, in addition to stationary strikes to train speed and fluid combinations, one must also learn to move, evade, and strike while pursuing.

For instance, employ the Seven Star Stance or Nine Palace Footwork.

Another additional training method to develop punching speed involves using light hand weights.

(large enough to grip, encased in copper tubing). Due to the weight of the lead, continuously executing punching motions with both hands will result in noticeably lighter hands when the weights are lowered, allowing for faster punching speed.

These supplementary methods all serve to enhance physical conditioning and increase the force of punches and kicks. It is crucial to note that when striking the heavy bag or mitts, one must be fully focused, as if facing an opponent, and relax the entire body.

Relaxation is particularly important before striking, as only through relaxation can one punch swiftly and true. We should generate power from the waist. Never employ brute force or storing and telegraphing power before striking.

Hitting bags and pads simulates striking a person, providing realism without jarring the brain’s nerves. The methods described above are ancient training techniques, but times have progressed and we can now utilise more modern equipment.

The three stages in Tai Chi sparring 

Stage One: During mutual sparring practice, one employs the principle of stopping at the point of contact to avoid injury, as everyone’s technique is still developing. Thus, when a fist or foot is about to strike the opponent’s body, it is halted and swiftly withdrawn. However, it is crucial to practise each move from both sides.

Stage Two: After a period of training, when both partners’ reactions become exceptionally swift – for instance, when exchanging ten strikes, eight or nine can be evaded or neutralised – both technique and reflexes have reached a certain level. At this point, strikes may genuinely make contact. Since both practitioners have trained in internal energy for considerable time, their muscles possess considerable elasticity and their bones exceptional flexibility, enabling them to withstand impact. This doesn’t apply to head strikes,

Nevertheless, it remains paramount to employ technique to the utmost to neutralise the opponent’s force. Now, having cultivated internal energy through Neigong training for some time, both parties possess muscles rich in elasticity and bones of great suppleness, thus able to withstand impact.

Yet we must excel in technique to neutralise the opponent’s offensive, achieving the requirement of ‘I follow, they retreat’ (whereby I hold the advantageous position, while the opponent finds themselves at a disadvantage). Do not engage in mutual striking merely because internal cultivation exists; this contradicts the principles of free sparring for self-defence.

Training to stop at contact and striking the body are two distinct phases. Previously, one could neutralise an opponent’s punch because they halted before making contact, thus allowing deflection.

However, when an opponent now truly delivers a punch, there is a high likelihood of being struck. After practising this second phase for a period, one may progress to the third phase.

Stage Three: By the third stage, practical training in free sparring has been sustained for a considerable period and reached a certain level. At this point, both parties should regard each other as genuine adversaries. Often, the instructor personally conducts this training, launching fierce, relentless attacks upon the student. Those lacking sufficient technique will frequently be caught off guard or become flustered.

Even those with excellent technique and reflexes may fail to execute properly if their courage falters. 

Only those who are quick-reacting, technically proficient, and unflappable can respond effectively.

This represents the pinnacle of cultivation, where the techniques honed are fully applicable for self-defence.

When employing free sparring against an opponent, certain principles must be upheld. The defender must remain composed, for only composure allows technique to be fully deployed. Empty punches should be avoided; speed must be swift, and each strike must land. There is no technique that cannot be broken, but speed cannot be broken. Frequent empty punches lead to exhaustion.

The defender must remain calm; only calmness enables technique to be fully utilised.

One must remain composed to execute techniques effectively. Avoid throwing empty punches whenever possible. Speed is paramount; aim for one strike to land.

While every technique can be countered, speed itself cannot be countered. Throwing too many empty punches depletes stamina. Upon striking, whether landing or not, immediately withdraw the fist. Failure to withdraw promptly leaves one vulnerable to counter-attacks. Possessing ample physical stamina and strength is essential, particularly in ring contests, such as three-round bouts, one should possess the stamina for five

When facing an opponent, one must give one’s all and never underestimate them. The above are principles for the practical application of tai chi free sparring.

However, as a cultivated practitioner of Taijiquan (Tai Chi Chuan) one should possess a higher level of martial virtue and moral character.

One must practise forbearance in all matters, embodying the martial spirit of restraint. Approach people and situations with a peaceful mindset, resorting to defensive techniques only as a last resort when absolutely necessary.

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