Step back to repulse the monkey – sticking versus grasping

Practitioners are often perplexed about how to grasp the attack in the posture “step back to repulse the monkey”. Most practitioners will reach for the punch or try to swat it away with power. The contraction of their muscles as well as their contrived movements will easily allow their opponent to reach through their kinetic structure into their root . The key to this posture is to follow the punch from underneath and slightly behind blending with it and coiling up into its path. The palm is then overturned by turning the Yao And waving the arm like a banner on the flagpole of the spine. When the palm is overturned in this fashion it will adhere to your partners punch and pull them off balance turning their body all the way down to their feet , giving you their flank. The arm has to be empty and all of the turning is controlled by the waist. This is the meaning of the waist is the commander. The arms are banners.