Against the single and double leg takedown these may be useful, feel free to add.

-Tai Chi Beginning

- Repulse Monkey

- Brush Knee & Push

An Double Push

Hi jbarry,

I would also add the four primary and the four secondary hand techniques. As these go towards underpining all taiji quan movements and serve as the base for the combative nature / potential of all of the taiji quan movements, take-downs or otherwise. Also, as you of course know jbarry, is that it is the type of force behind the motion that determines whether it is a taiji quan motion. Because if the external form looks OK but lacks internal power and understanding (i.e. good proprioception etc), then trying to apply, for example, lu to a opponents (unique - in that instance) force, in a, say, 'brush knee push' type defensive / offensive move; you will ultimately find it much harder to apply the combative nature of taiji quan to a real (perhaps life threatening) situation - than if you had developed some level of internal power. However, when 'brush knee push' is executed in real time, no holds bard, combat, it will invariably look nothing like the smooth and defined motion of form practice, obviously; as you will be adhering to the taiji principle of balance - i.e. matching your opponent etc etc. Or in other words, cater the principles (e.g. of that moves motion / force and of taiji quan philosophy in general) to a specific application; and of course the application is fluidly dynamic to that respective situation of type of force being encountered.

I do not know that exact names of the form motions I do, apart from all the well known ones, but there are a few I have in my minds eye that could be applied to a single or double leg take down; though I cannot give examples.

Moreover, and going back to the primary hand techniques, I would say that some of the general applications of pung could be applied to a opponent attacking the legs. For instance, pung lu him to an empty space, is an over simplified example. Side step and kai or elbow to the floating rib of kidney, another. I guess some moves / applications are designed to counter-attack other moves, but in general I think that many of the applications of taiji quan can be applied to innumerable confrontational encounters. Because of this, one may find oneself using a motion that you might never had imagined could have been applied in a certain situation. In sum, the fight is unpredictably fluid and/or staggered, and so, due to this, you may find yourself using all kinds of skills, motions / forces you have acquired; in any possible manner, within a fight situation. To say, that move is for that and this move is for this, is too didactical. Yes some moves specialise of the potential counter of another, but hell, you never know what a fight will throw up!

Cheers, Pete.:)