Tai Chi pushing hands and the clinch

[swan104]

Can training in Tai Chi pushing hands aid your stand-up grappling (clinching) skills?

[IPON]

I am not sure if I understand teh question??? Push hands are sensitivity drills similar to chisao. It in the trapping range not grappling range and used to repel opponents....essentially you shouldn't be in a clinch if you are using push hands...but again maybe I don't understand you question.

[swan104]

Maybe I am getting my ranges a bit confused. I remember meeting a Tai Chi instructor a while ago, and did a little pushing hands. I found that I couldn't budge him when I tried to push or pull him.

Come to think of it Ipon, I think you may be right. Sensitivity drills tend to be done in a trapping range whilst clinching is stand up grappling. Can these skills be transferred into grappling though?

[IPON]

Swan - conceptually, maybe........but again I would say that if you are using push hands corectly you should not be in the clinch. I guess it depends on competition or real life. For a match it probably would not not be a good idea to use push hands there are other grappling techniques that are more appropriate (JJ/Judo). Real life...it would be stupid to willingly get into the clinch or to the ground so I would get out of the clinh/ground as quickly as possible.

I still don't know if I am answering your question though.

[swan104]

Thanks for that. My clinching skills aren't that great, but I am working on it!

It does kind of answer my question. I just wanted to see what peoples views were on this matter, thats all!

[IPON]

Swan - The foundation of everything I do is as a grappler (not BJJ)
Sensitivity is everything. So what I can say is that grapping and being in the clich is almost a type of sensitity drill by itself you have to develop sensitivity to react and counter moves...so the concepts may helpful. Anyway I hope that helps and I didn't make it more confusing. Good Luck!!