Push hands is used to teach students the principles known as the "Eight Gates" and the "Five Steps." There are three principles of movement cultivated by push hands:
Rooting - stability of stance
Yielding - the ability to deflect incoming force
Release of Power (fa-jing) - the discharge of explosive power, the application of power to an opponent
While applying force in push hands one maintains the principles of yielding and rooting at all times.
Sifu Jorge - push hands competition