Peace

Principle: Lose to win: Slow hand beats fast hand

Slow hand beats fast hand is the riddle Sifu Chen used to introduce the martial application of lose to win. He tied it to the second energy, Lu of the Eight Energies. Logic dictated that the faster hand should win in combat, but Sifu's concept wasn't as interested in winning as much as accuracy. His underlying premise was that the correct application of Chen's Taiji demanded impeccability. Each maneuver had to express an accuracy few other martial systems demanded.

To achieve this goal, things had to move slowly. Each push pattern had its "flavor" and intention, which required constant correction of hands, legs, and body. These corrections had two objectives: reduce the natural tendency to stiffen when touching or being touched and expose the initial lever used to capture the opponent's centerline.

These goals required developing trust between push-hand partners and a willingness to play the "dummy," an unskilled martial artist, to allow fellow students to apply what they know. Only by moving slowly and accurately could such confidence develop between players. In training advanced students, Sifi had a clear message concerning trust. If you bully or hurt a student, they will never learn from you. The more advanced students had to lose for others to learn push-hands.