2021 Competition Format & Rules

This page gives an overview of the MPHO format and rules - however, the organisers reserve the right to update rules and progressively change the format - the updated rules and format document is provided to registered competitors. The current version can be downloaded from the link labelled 'RULES & FORMAT PDF': 

Principles

• What is competition Push hands? Push hands is an activity that may be defined as ‘fighting without strikes’, where continued hand contact between two people is fundamental to ‘understanding intention’ and ‘redirecting force’. As such, it has much in common with grappling arts such as wrestling, shuai-jao, and aspects of Judo and Ju-jitsu. There is however no ground-fighting, and in competition, the set of rules severely constrain the set of allowable techniques. The use of applied force is a given – superior technique is shown in how a competitor is able to manage force. Again, let’s be clear – it is normal to see competitors using strength and force – the test of the competitor is how to manage and respond in this high-pressure situation.
• Why these rules? The format, rules and allowable techniques are evolved from the organisers’ experience, notably drawing on Push hands competitions in the following: Tai Chi Federation of Europe (TCFE), Tai Chi Union of Great Britain (TCUGB), Daqinghsan International Push Hands Competition (Chen Practical Method)
• Our approach is to provide a competition format that is true to the martial spirit of those who are practicing push hands, across any martial art (or none). It is part of martial arts practice, and allows a wide range of realistic techniques that may lead to injury. However, we have elected to remove or limit the more dangerous techniques, notably throws.
• Allowable techniques should be safe, but of course some techniques can be done in more or less dangerous ways. We allow sweeps, trips and takedowns – sometimes a sweeping foot is similar to a low kick, and a leg trip is almost a throw. It is for the referee to call a fault where s/he sees a kick or a throw. Video examples are published and a pre-competition briefing will be held to make these things as clear as possible.
• Intent to Injure.  The referee may find that a competitor is actively trying to hurt their opponent with repeated fouls and injurious techniques. At their discretion, the referee may decide that there is “Intent to injure” and warn, or (subsequently) disqualify the offending competitor. See the sections on included/excluded techniques and disqualification in the rules pdf.