13 式 One Hand Warding off (掤) while the Other Presses down (按)

 One Hand Warding off (掤) while the Other Presses down (按) 

The movement of one hand warding off (掤) while the other presses down (按) is one of the most fundamental expressions of Yin-Yang balance (陰陽平衡), opening and closing (開合), and whole-body power (整體勁) in Taijiquan. Although the two hands appear to move in opposite directions, internally they are united by one intention (Yi, 意) and one Qi (氣).

One Hand Wards Off, One Hand Presses Down

(一手掤，一手按)

1. External Movement (外形)

• One hand expands upward or forward (Ward Off, 掤).
• The other hand sinks downward (Press Down, 按).
• The torso remains upright and relaxed.
• The waist (腰) coordinates both hands as one unit.

Keywords

• Ward Off — 掤
• Press Down — 按
• Whole-body Coordination — 整體協調
• Waist Leads the Movement — 腰為主宰

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2. Tai Chi Theory (太極原理)

A. Yin and Yang Mutual Support (陰陽相生)

The two hands are opposite but complementary.

When one side expands, the other side sinks.

When one opens, the other closes.

This creates continuous balance instead of isolated arm movements.

Keywords

• Yin and Yang — 陰陽
• Mutual Support — 相生
• Opposite yet Unified — 對立統一
• Dynamic Balance — 動態平衡

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B. Opening within Closing, Closing within Opening

(開中有合，合中有開)

The warding hand is opening.

The pressing hand is closing.

Yet internally,

• the warding arm still has inward connection,
• the pressing arm still has outward expansion.

Neither arm is completely "hard" or "soft."

This is why Taijiquan never loses Peng energy.

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C. Six Harmonies (六合)

The movement is connected through

• Hands with Feet (手與足合)
• Elbows with Knees (肘與膝合)
• Shoulders with Hips (肩與胯合)

Internally

• Heart with Intention (心與意合)
• Intention with Qi (意與氣合)
• Qi with Strength (氣與力合)

Both hands are manifestations of one connected body.

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3. Qigong Application (氣功運用)

Imagine the Dantian (丹田) as the center of a sphere.

When inhaling,

Qi gathers toward the center.

When exhaling,

Qi expands in all directions.

During

One Hand Up the Qi expands toward that palm.

During

One Hand Down

Qi simultaneously sinks through the opposite palm into the earth.

The body becomes like a pump.

One side rises.

One side sinks.

The center remains full.

Keywords

• Dantian — 丹田
• Qi Expansion — 氣的擴張
• Qi Sinking — 氣沉
• Central Axis — 中軸
• Whole-body Qi Field — 全身氣場

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4. Biomechanics (現代生物力學)

This movement creates opposing force vectors (對拉勁).

The upward hand lengthens the fascial chains on one side.

The downward hand lengthens those on the opposite side.

Instead of canceling each other,

they create whole-body tension without muscular stiffness.

Modern biomechanics calls this

Tensegrity

where opposing pulls stabilize the entire structure.

Keywords

• Tensegrity — 張拉整體結構
• Fascial Chain — 筋膜鏈
• Opposing Force — 對拉勁
• Elastic Energy — 彈性能

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5. Martial Application (技擊)

One hand

• lifts,
• controls,
• uproots,
• redirects.

The other

• presses,
• controls the opponent's elbow,
• seals the center,
• prevents escape.

The opponent feels force from two directions simultaneously.

One expands.

One compresses.

Both originate from one Dantian.

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6. Nature Analogy (自然比喻)

Think of a tree.

As the branches reach upward,

the roots grow deeper.

The higher the branches,

the stronger the roots.

Likewise, when one hand rises in Peng (掤),

the other hand sinks in An (按),

creating a continuous circulation of force through the Dantian and the legs.

Or imagine ocean waves:

• One wave rises while another falls.
• Yet the water itself remains one continuous body.

Similarly, in Taijiquan, the two hands are not independent. They are expressions of one continuous flow of Qi and Jin (勁).

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Classical Taijiquan Principle

"One part moves; every part moves. One part is still; every part is still."
「一動無有不動，一靜無有不靜。」

and   "Separate Yin and Yang clearly." 「分清虛實，辨明陰陽。」

Thus, one hand warding off and one hand pressing down are not two separate actions—they are one integrated action expressing the Taiji principle of Yin and Yang, opening and closing, rising and sinking, expansion and contraction. Internally, the Qi circulates continuously through the Dantian, linking both hands into a single, whole-body movement (整體勁).