First International Push Hands Meeting, Hanover Report
I've just returned from a nine day stint at a pushing hands "happening"
in Hanover. The structure was to have teachers from different styles and countries
come together at Nils Klug's place at the Faust Culture Centre. Additionally
Nils and friends put on a fun martial arts based show at the local theatre at
the beginning of the happening and had demos and what can best be described
as "performances" on the last night.
On a personal level I renewed some auld, and some almost never brought to mind,
acquaintances as well as making some new friends. As may have far reaching consequences
for me, for my students and perhaps others, let me tell you a little about them.
First up is a man whom I knew by face, but could not place. Then, when Almut
told me his name, I remembered a trip with some French instructors to Hebei
province to attend an international Tai Chi Festival and a tall languid German
dude whom I found impossible to talk to. But in Faust, we started talking and
it went on for hours every day. He was a Berlin cabby for many years, before
going to a remote place in the boondocks of China and living with and learning
for years with the Yang family. He is one of the only Europeans I've met who
can help to reveal the inside story on how things are and might have been as
regards the origins of Tai Chi Chuan.
We compared long forms, move by move looking at variations and inner form techniques,
unfortunately he had to leave all too soon. However, I've given him a list of
questions and topics to ponder and want to try to go beyond a simple interview
and kick off a research project which I have asked Helmut Oberlack, webmaster
of the Tai Chi Chuan and Qi Gong Federation for Europe, to post on the web (www.tcfe.org)
for others to contribute to with their thoughts and comments in a proper academic
and intellectual way, rather than the crude often ill-informed slanging matches
which take the place of debate elsewhere.
Next up is Zhai Hua whose family are from Liaoning in the far north and who
is virtually unknown in Western Europe. Though of robust build, she is fast
and skilful as well as powerful. She is one of the few Chinese instructors I've
met who really understands the concept of zhao shu. Though a modest and most
humorous person, she is a lady of strongly held views, not unlike a few others
of my acquaintance.
She told me how, being of landlord class, her family suffered during China's
years of madness under the Mao dynasty. When they were right, they were wrong;
when they were first, they were last when they were the best, they were the
worst. The same stuff just keeps happening. As the late, great Phil Ochs sang
of the Mexican peons, "Welcome to California, where the friendly farmers
will take care of you." Karel and Eva Koskuba who were also instructing,
told me of a friend of theirs who went to live and train with one of the famous
families and only learned the first movement - but I guess he was good at it
and sometimes it only takes one movement.
I talked also to Epi, Pierre and Luis (who does a terrific flamenco) about the
international Tai Chi competition they'd been to in Taiwan and the organised
cheating which still goes on; where points are not points if you are a foreigner
and nothing is something if you are Taiwanese.
During the week teachers from a variety of styles and countries presented pushing
hands workshops including our very own Secretary, Mr. Ronnie Robinson. In addition
there were long sessions of free pushing hands each day. The food was acceptable
and, this being Germany, the beer was a lot better than that.
Nils himself handled the whole affair extremely well, more or less leaving things to run themselves. There was a plentiful supply of tea available for participants at all times in most congenial surroundings. All in all, a very interesting, at times unusual event which I thoroughly recommend. Apart from the Koskubas, Ronnie and yours truly there were three other British participants, it would be good to see a few more next year. I believe Nils is intending to use a similar format with a few surprises for 2002. More details can be found on www.push-hands.com
Dan Docherty