Hand Techniques
 
 
In Shuai Jiao hand techniques are very refined and detailed.  The knowledge
includes how to grab, how to get away from a grab, and how to use force.  A
grab is called “Ba”.  In competition, a special uniform, named “Da Lian,” should
be worn.  This uniform is very thick so people can use a lot of force on it.  
Where and how to grab your opponent’s uniform is important.  
The series of photographs below show several common grabbing positions, or
“Ba Wei”.  In these pictures people in the left is A, in the right in B. A uses his
right hand to grab B in different positions.
 
   
Grab the collar
 Grab the sleeve
 Grab the straight gate
 Reverse grab on the straight gate
Grab the side gate
 Grab the soft gate
 Grab the center of the belt
 Grab the side of the belt
 
  Grab the back of the belt
 Grab the back of the uniform
 Grab the bottom of the uniform
 
Shuai Jiao competition starts with the competitors not touching each other.  So the first techniques
of concern is grabbing.  This is called “Qiang Ba” – snatch/fighting for best grabbing position.  
That means both parties try to obtain a better grabbing position.  With each different skill a
different force should be used, which may require a different grabbing position.  So a good
grabbing position always creates a better situation for you.  Usually, if you prefer stepping forward
with the right foot or use the right foot to set up a trip, you would use your left hand to grab your
opponent’s sleeve, and use your right hand to grab his collar, side gate, straight gate, or center
belt.  The series of photographs below show some common grabbing postures where B grabs A
with his both hands.  Grabbing the sleeve, the straight gate, or the side gate may be easiest for
pulling the opponent, forcing him to move.  Grabbing the collar and center belt is easy for
controlling the opponent’s center of gravity.  
   
Sleeve and collar
 Sleeve and straight gate
 Sleeve and reversing grab
straight gate
 Sleeve and side gate
 
  Sleeve and the back of belt
 The center of belt and Sleeve
 The center of belt and Collar
       
 
Grabbing skill is not rigid or fixed.  It has to be very flexible and variable.  Changing grabbing
position means changing the direction of force.  Changing position is an easy way to confuse
your opponent and make him lose his balance.  The most common technique is called “Dao Ba”
or change hand grabbing.  Here you grab and pull your opponent, then suddenly change the
hand position and change the direction of the pull.  Usually this hand technique has to be
combined with the footwork.  The series of photographs below show the skill called three
changing grabs that A changes his hand position three times to pull B in different directions.
   
 
  Right hand grabs and
pulls to the left
 Left hand grabs and
pulls to the right
 Right hand grabs and
pulls to the left
       
  Besides grabbing the uniform, Shuai Jiao rules permit you to grab the opponent’s wrist, or hold his waist or legs.  But you
can never grab the opponent’s pants.  Below pictures show several common wrist grabbing, waist holding, and leg holding
skills.  
   
 
  Grab wrist from front
 Grab the wrist from the bottom
 Waist holding
       
 
 
  One hand leg holding
 Two-handed leg holding
  
       
 
Getting away from your opponent’s grab is called “Deng Shou” or “Deng Ba”  – stomp hand away.  
In Chinese Deng means stomp. Here the skill is to use your hand to push your opponent’s hand
away from his grabbing. The feeling of your hand in this skill should be similar with stomping your
foot on your opponent’s hand or arm.  Since the uniform is very sturdy, your opponent can grab it
forcefully and hold on very tightly.  “Deng Shou” skills are therefore not easy to perform.  The
following are some basic ideas one should remember.  First, these kinds of skills should be used
before your opponent gets a solid hold on you.  That means you should stomp his hand out just as
he makes contact.  At that time, his grab is vulnerable.  Second, the angle is very important.  There
are many skills that involve stomping out your opponent’s grabbing.  To apply these skills, the
correct angle is very important.  You should study these in detail.  Usually the right angle can make
your opponent uncomfortable or place him in a painful position, so that he must release his hand.  
Using Shuai Jiao rules however, you can never lock your opponent’s joints to hurt him. Third, your
force should be sudden, quick, and integrated.  Suddenness and quickness gives your opponent
less of a chance to adjust his force and position.  Integration means your whole body should move
together.  This is important because most of the time, your body and hand go in opposite
directions. The series of photographs below show some stomp hand away skills.  
       
 
  Stomp hand away from the sleeve
    
       
 
  Stomp hand away from the straight gate
  
       
 
  Stomp hand away from the center of the belt
  
       
 
  Stomp hand away from collar
    
       
  Grabbing your opponent is for using your force to destabilize and cause him to become unbalanced. Only these two
factors are used, then the trip can be set up.  Below are some common ways to use your grabbing hand to generate
different forces:

Tui – push: Push the opponent away.

La – pull: Pull the opponent toward you, you can be close to him to set up your trips.

Ti – pull up: Pull the opponent up to make him lose his root.

Ya – press: Push the opponent down to make it difficult for him to move.

Pai – slam, pat: Quick force used to move the opponent.  Targets are usually hand, shoulder, back, etc.  In Shuai Jiao pai
is not like the hard strikes used in other martial arts.  In Shuai Jiao you generally do not go against the opponent with the
force of your pai.  Pai is usually used in the same direction following your opponent’s force.

Ning – twist: Twist part of the opponent’s body, for example the arm, to make him uncomfortable.

Fan – turn over: Changing force along a curve to turn over the opponent.

Dou – shake: Sudden force changing in two or more directions in succession to shake the opponent, so he cannot remain
stabe.

Xuan – revolve: Two hands use force in opposite directions to make a circle, to rotate the opponent’s body.

Rao – knead (or rub): soft force used for changing the direction of forces, so the opponent will find it difficult to know what
you will do next.

Of course in real condition, some of these forces will be combined.  Changing your force continually to confuse the
opponent is very important.  For example, if you want to pull him to you, you can push him away first.  When you feel his
push back you, then pull him to you.  Sometimes it is more effective to add a shake when you push the opponent.
   
   
 
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