Chen Yanlin* makes an unequivocal statement. The information in it is not ambiguous, it is straightforward. In fact, it can be said that within this relatively short statement we have been given the entire blueprint to the culmination of our foundational training and how to approach it and what to learn from it. I will now proceed with some quotes from my teacher, Erle: 'Pauchui and San-Sau are the last basic techniques that one is taught in the training of T’ai Chi Ch’uan. This is where we really know if we have learnt all of the foundation forms well. The tai chi training culminates in the fast form of pauchui and in the two-person set of san-sau. The pauchui is a fast form, which has two parts. These parts can be used as a two person set form which uses all of the T’ai chi techniques. The Pauchui is then called san-sau. We learn different things in the solo set to the two-person set. In the solo we learn how to use the waist and how to punch. The waist is the ruler. The most important thing is how to use the waist… you cannot go into the ‘reptilian brain’ until you know how to physically move your body correctly to get most power over the shortest distance. There are actually three reasons that we must practice Large San-sau: The first reason is the obvious one of purely physical contact and learning about how to use the postures from the Tai Chi form. It is said that during San-sau, we practice every known kind of attack and defence, even those ones that aren't actually physically included in the sets. By this I mean that we learn sub-consciously to move the body in such a manner as to teach it to react automatically to any kind of attack, not only those that we are performing. We learn to 'see without seeing' in that our sub-conscious brain will learn how to read an attacker's movement and body shape, how his is placed for power and whether it is even worth reacting to. In the beginning, students will always 'look' at their partner/opponent, not wishing to miss an attack, etc. However, as one progresses, we learn that we actually see more without seeing! Our sub-conscious brain picks up on movement that our eyes do not focus upon and then our body reacts instantly to that unseen movement. In the two-person Sàn Shǒu we learn continuous attack and fa-jing taught in modules, with linking moves. It teaches us to move when our opponents moves! In order for this to work with a partner you must move as your partner begins to move. It teaches us at a reflex level to see what kind of a strike your opponents going to make without looking at him using deep peripheral vision! It teaches our sub-conscious mind to understand body language and attack type… as well as Yin/Yang; and it is this Yin and Yang that gives us the balance internally which in turn imparts great power with very little energy used. The speed of the san-sau is determined by the other person in keeping with the T’ai chi principle of ‘stick to and not letting go’. This principle will manifest itself during the practice. ' I will leave Erle’s quote at this point and will come back to the remaining reasons for doing the Sàn Shǒu. For now, it’s suffice to say that both Chen and Erle are in total agreement - albeit using different words - to state the same thing.
With Erle in the summer of 2010 during camp in Leicester, where I received my Fifth Degree from him. The theme was ‘Xiǎojiā’ - Small Frame.
*Note: The version of Chen Yanlin’s Pàochuí has a slight variation due to the fact that it comes from Yang Cheng-fu’s line as opposed to Yang Shou-hou’s line which is far more explosive in nature. However, we are not talking here about any variations in form. The theory for both remains the same!