Da Lu (the great pulling), is a moving exercise that practices & develops the second four hands techniques: pull down, split, elbow strike, & shoulder strike. The practitioners alternate each side while applying the four techniques. The speed of the exercise can greatly vary depending on the skills of the practitioners.

Da-Lu is one of the great training methods from the internal fighting arts of China. It is a kind of push hands method that has been hidden in the shadows of push hands since it was invented. However, this training method is one of the best at teaching footwork and the use of the four corner directions ever invented.

Again, however, many have either been mis-informed or they have been taught incorrectly in just the same way that push hands has also been transmitted incorrectly. Most people, as with most of Taijiquan unfortunately, perform Da-Lu as a kind of dance. This could not be further from the truth. In fact Da-Lu is performed with great power and speed utilizing many attacking and defensive methods.

Da-Lu sticks to the basic principles of Taijiquan in that we never step backwards, always coming in from an angle in attack and our defence is also our attack. And this is where most people teaching Da-Lu go wrong in that they teach a backwards step within the routine. I do not know where this has come from but assume that is has come from the age-old reason of people wanting what they train in to be easy and not difficult. It is much easier to do the step back rather that keep moving forward so someone along the way changed the whole meaning of Da-Lu.

The action of Da-Lu when two people who are advanced at this routine actually throws each player into the air as they attack and defend around the Da-Lu square.

The rule is that there are three steps in attack and only two in defence. And this applies to everything we do in Da-Lu.

In push hands we get to practice the four cardinal directions while in Da-Lu we practice the four corner applications of Chou, (elbow) Tsai, (inch energy) Lieh (split) and Kou. (Shoulder press). It is said that Da-Lu was invented to make up for any short-falls in one's training. So that if your reflex actions aren't up to scratch, you can always save yourself using one of the Da-Lu methods. However, it is also said that if you have to use a Da-Lu method then your training has not come up to an advanced stage as yet! However, Da-Lu is one of the methods that actually brings one up to a high standard of training and must be included in every student's training in order for he or she to advance correctly.

During Da-Lu we learn about 'Jing' and how to use it correctly. If for instance we find that we are using brute strength all the time in order not to be struck, then this is incorrect movement as Da-Lu teaches us to move the body out of the way of an attack, then re-direct that Qi back onto the opponent. We use mainly centrifugal and centripetal force which can be very quickly changed from defence to attack without wasting any physical energy. In other words we use internal energy rather than the force solely derived from our muscles.

Da-Lu teaches us the most economical way of moving the body in order to gain the most power from our attacks while at the same time using the least possible amount of energy. But this is not easy. And as I always say, "Taiji is not meant to be easy,.. Ever"! Most people find the movements of Da-Lu difficult as they feel cumbersome at first and this simply comes from having to learn it firstly incorrectly! I say incorrectly because in the beginning we must learn it step by step and slowly. So that by the time I, for instance, have performed 'K'ao', my opponent has not even moved but is still thinking about his next movement. However, once both partners get up to speed, none of the attacking movements would ever make contact or even reach their target mildly as the attackee has already moved out of the way and has begun his re-attack and so-on.

Da Lu

1.

Outside feet shoulder-width, right hand raised eye-height, palm facing left.

Turn 90? to right, pivoting on ball of left foot. Raise left arm eye-height palm facing behind. Right palm faces away. Feet are 90? to each other. sit back on left foot (cat stance).

2.

Step behind with right foot, Shift weight into right foot while hands move into "roll back" position,left hand up right hand down. Turn slightly to right, raising right arm, palm up, left arm drops down palm facing away by left leg.

3.

Turn to front position in a brush-knee twist-step position, left hand brushing left knee, while extending right arm forward.

4.

step up with right foot parallel to left. Arms stay in same position. Shift weight to right leg and step forward with left leg, do a second brush-knee twist-step on opposite side. Body extended forward.

5.

Step up with right foot, while circling hands into shoulder-strike position, left fingers resting lightly on inside if of right elbow.

Step to side and shoulder strike as in the long form, arms extended out from body.

6.

As body turns to face 180? from original position, pivot on ball of left foot, right arm circles across front of body to ready position as in position 1. Ready to start once more.

Two Person Da Lu

Opposites: 1 & 4 - 2 & 5 - 3 & 6

1 & 4.

Stay "close enough to kiss your opponent". #4 is attacking, stepping forward with left foot to position along outside of defenders right foot, shifting weight directly forward. #1 defends. Maintain contact with opponents arm. "Feel" opponents movements.

2 & 5.

#5 is attacking. #2 takes a small step (not in one person Da Lu) back, so as to make a "tempting morsel" for #5 attacking foot. step back, left arm slides along opponents right arm. Elbow to elbow. #2 left palm facing #5's back of palm.

3 & 6.

#3 attacks, #6 defends to return to beginning position