I was wondering would it better for me to train in the push hands or learn a tai chi form. I am getting ready to take lessons and I wonder what would be better to take first. I ultimately want to learn combat and self defense applications for both.
To me they are inseperable. The form helps you to learn proper body structure and build strength, and push hands helps you to build sensitivity to another's force/balance, as well as your own. Push hands is where you start learning to apply techniques present in the form. I think both are essential for training. I see it as a spectrum: the form <-> push hands <-> sparring. I think each helps the other. It seems to me that sometimes people get too caught up in training at one extreme and neglect the other. My advice would be to ask your instructor where to begin; he/she probably has a good idea of how to get you started off right.
