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 prescribed movements for the format.

- by Howard Chuck, Tai Chi Academy