Hi,
as it happens, the names of the posters don’t generally show up on my damaged browser. I have to look through the code on the page to know who’s writing. But, anyway, I wasn’t arguing with Kevin Wallbridge, I was answering a question/problem put by Fu Pow. I’ll repeat that I don’t think tui shou is or should be a shoving/flailing match --I’m personally opposed to tui shou contests, as well. Ok, I have my anecdote: there was a guy at C.K. Chu’s place (I know some don’t like him) in the mid 70s. He was a Big guy, about 6’6" and 300lbs. He wore glasses when he wasn’t pushing, or depending on who he was pushing with. Anyway, his specialty was just moving his arms lazily, just going through the actions, but not really doing anything. Why? Because, no matter what you were doing, he would just send a straight blast --as in Brush Knee Twist Step-- right down the middle. It was scary. At the time, the practice space was like a narrow hall. There were many many bloody spots in the center of chests as well as bloody noses. I know. Someone will say: “that’s not the way it’s supposed to be done.” He was not able to do it to the sifu, and that’s why the one’s who stuck to it (and the big guy) even though they were physically afraid were the ones who managed to get some skill. It wasn’t the technique used; and it couldn’t be superior fore: it was the conquest of the mind that got the results. You knew that if you could stand there without fear of being hit, without the intention to “knock him down,” but WITH the use of stick, follow, not resist, not let go, then you had gotten something out of the practice. I also found that, afterwards, it was much more helpful to practice with women because it would be easy to resist them, but you’d have to listen more carefully to each movement. And, there was no fear element. Anyway, maybe I’m having trouble expressing myself. If it seemed like I was putting someone else’s ideas down, then I apologize. I suggest that everyone follow the advice of his teacher.
Respects,
Esteban