Tui shou , the practice of "pushing hands", in which we maintain and refine the principles of qigong and taiji while practicing with a partner. Keeping the state of balance cultivated within the Chi kung and taichi chuan practices while concentrating on adapting to a partner, provides an opportunity to improve our sensitivity. The meaning of qigong and taiji chuan appears spontaneously and creatively through martial applications in which a clear measure can serve as a feed back to transform our weaknesses into skills.

Pushing hands can be practiced in a variety of ways and is consequently accessible to anybody of any age. The soft way is the most well known, and is the best way to practice for health and to realize the subtle communications between practitioners. It also allows martial techniques to naturally arise, safely and using a minimum of strength, reducing the chance of injuries or tensions.

Once the body and mind have properly integrated the principles, pushing hands can then be practiced in a more dynamic fashion, with progressively more emphasis on martial efficiency. It still remains a soft practice, but it is done with a higher intensity.