Pushing Hands is a simplified form of sparring popular with students of Tai Chi. Lacking the punches and kicks common in the practice fighting of many external martial arts, Pushing Hands is a gentle sport of control where success is achieved by upsetting the balance of one's opponent. Typically, participants begin facing one another, each in a bow stance. Each participant has his or her outside hand on the elbow of their opponent and the inside hand on the wrist. As the match begins, the pair use their hands to push against one another, seeking to control one another's energy. Sudden or forceful shoving is taboo. The victor should be the pusher of the greatest skill, not the greatest brutishness.

For students of Tai Chi, Pushing Hands provides an important complement to Forms and Standing Meditation. When performed correctly, the motion of Tai Chi reflects the opposing influences of Yin and Yang. Applying Tai Chi movements against a human opponent teaches this balance in way that can't be learned by other means. Tai Chi teaches the Push Hands combatant to use a minimum of energy, for an excess of energy can be exploited by a skillful opponent. Circular motion is used to divert attacks from the critical center of the body. The body must be relaxed--if the body is tense or stiff, the center can be influenced from any point, while if the body is relaxed, energy can easily be dissipated or diverted. Awareness and reaction often triumph over force and aggression.

Push Hands competitions are often featured at tournaments of Chinese Martial Arts. It is common for several match formats to be available, often with fairly strict rules as to how the combat is to be carried out. As a practical matter, a student that is preparing for a tournament will train with a different emphasis than a student that is simply practicing Pushing Hands as part of their Tai Chi study. Speed and strength are often assets to the Push Hands competitor, as is a strong knowledge of the proscribed movements for the format.