In push hands a student is often told to do these; attach to your opponent, stick to him like a glue, follow his direction of force, neutralized it, lead him to emptiness, uproot him and discharge your force onto him. Very seldom do I hear a student is advised to seal the opponent before uprooting and discharging on him. Sealing is very important as if your opponent is not sealed skillfully, he can easily regain balance and neutralize your force.
Sealing has three primary functions; 1) it destroys your opponent's power structure unable him to generate resistance. Even if he can, forces generated will work against him. 2) it uproots him and 3) it prevents him changing and escaping. If your sealing is good, your push hands will be equally good.
Let me share with you one simplest way to seal; control his elbow. In push hands many people neglected the controlling of elbow. Lead his elbow forward when he push, press his elbow towards his center line when he withdraw. If your own pengjin is strong, by controlling his elbow, your opponent will be helpless against your attack. Now you have this secret, put it in practice and see how it works in push hands. You will be amazed.
