Push-hands competition rules

Push-hands competition rules

 (1) Before the match begins, competitors must first “touch hands.” The referee will give the command “Dashou – Touch Hands (搭手)”, at which point the competitors connect hands. The referee then calls “Yubei – Ready (預備)”, and the competitors will perform 2–6 cycles of hand circling (Peng – Ward-off, Lü – Roll-back, An – Push).

During these 2–6 cycles, when both competitors reach a balanced position in one of the cycles, the referee will give the command “Kaishi – Go (開始)”, and the bout officially begins.

(2) The winner of two out of three rounds wins the match. Winners play another match-up until the final match. Defeated contestants will compete against other losers to determine their final rankings. If the schedule is tight, it will be changed to a 2-round system. If both sides  win a round, then the judges calculate the total points to decide the winner. The player with the higher score wins.

    (3)Time Limits for Push-Hands Competition

      A. Shehui (Social) ( late adolescent and young adult) Group: For Fixed Push-Hands competition, every round shall last 1minute with a 1-minute break between rounds. For Moving Push-Hands competition, each round shall last two minutes with 1-minute break in between.

      B. Zhuangnien (middle-aged and senior) Group: Only Fixed Push-Hands competition is available. Every round shall last one minute with a one-minute break in between.

   (4)Scoring for fixed-step push hands:

      A.One point will be awarded the contestant who lifts his/her opponent’s foot off the floor or  makes him/her lose balance and move his or her step in any direction.

      B.Two points will be awarded if a contestant causes the opponent to fall on the floor, which is defined as “any part of the body above the knees (including the knees) touching the  floor”.

   (5)Scoring for moving-step push hands:

        A.One point will be awarded to the contestant if any part of his/her opponent’s foot steps  outside the ring.

  B.Two points will be awarded the contestant who makes his or her opponent fall on        the floor which is defined as “any part of the body above the knees (including the          knees)  touching the floor”.

   (6)Technical wins:

      A.Moving-step push hands technical win: When the scoring gap between contestants

        reaches six (6) points or more, the score leader wins the match. This is called a

        scoring technical win.

      B.Fixed-step push hands technical win: When the scoring gap reaches six (10) points

        or more, the score leader wins the match. This is called a scoring technical win.

   (7)No scores:

      A.Moving-step push hands: When both sides step out of bound or fall on the floor at the

        same time or one immediately after the other, neither side scores.

      B.Fixed-step push hands: When both sides move their step or fall on the floor at the                same  time, or one immediately after the other, neither side scores.

   (8)For push hands allowable techniques, please refer to the “International Tai Chi Chuan

     Rules” issued by National Tai Chi Chuan Association. Play is begun in a neutral position with backs of right wrists touching. Left hands are placed on (not under) right elbow of opponent. Contestants engage in their attack or defense moves upon the center judge’s announcement.     

  (9)The competition floor for fixed-step and moving-step push hands contests will be set up          as  follows :

      A.Fixed-step push hands: A six (6) meters by six meters square padded floor. A raised         part, 3-centimeter thick, is in the middle of the square (see Diagram 1)

      B.Moving-step push hands: An eight (8) meters by eight meters square padded floor                 and in its center is a circle three meters in diameter. The circle is the boundary of         moving-step push hand contests. 

(1) 比賽開始前，參賽者必須先完成「搭手」動作。裁判會先口令「搭手 (Dashou – Touch Hands)」，此時雙方需以右手手腕相接，左手輕按對方手肘。隨後，裁判再口令「預備 (Yubei – Ready)」，兩位參賽者便開始進行 2 至 6 次的掤、捋、按手部循環動作（即掤 Peng – Ward-off、捋 Lü – Roll-back、按 An – Push）。

在這 2 至 6 次循環中，當雙方於某一次循環中達到中間的平衡與穩定位置時，裁判將喊出「開始 (Kaishi – Go)」，比賽才正式展開。