Chicken or the Egg: Internal Arts Debate

Hello

A question that was asked on another forum relating Push Hands training in Chinese Internal Arts (Taiji, Xingyi etc...) related to the idea that a student must first learn said arts forms and build internal connections in the nervous system before attempting push hands. Depending on the student/teacher, this could take many months, or even years.

How do you feel about this? Should a student learn PH training early on, while they are trying to learn forms and build internal connections?? Would this harm their learning, or help it? For example, would doing PH help a student better understand their form work?

Push hands for learning whatever stage you are at in the MA's is a great tool for application as long as the level of instruction is there.

We push hands right from the start to assist the learning of technique.

push hands should start early on as long as the instructor is there to guide them through the exercise. Taiji is first and foremost a martial art, and if the instructor understands that then there needs to be partnered work to develop your sensitivity and your sticky hands. So the PH would help a student better understand some of their form work.