Balance

Balance is key in all areas of competition; sparring, forms, and push hands. Without balance, one cannot support a strong or fast strike. In sparring, poor balance can weaken one’s defense and let the opponent in. A strong base can support faster and tighter movements to secure more points in point sparring and the domination of the ring in continuous sparring.

Balance is the essence of push hands, often called rooting, it is what makes a strong competitor. Balance is also a key element to forms as it shows the level of body control of the student. If a student is rigid and unconfident, their balance will falter first.

Every stance must be solid, not rigid. Every strike must be delivered with control as to not overdo or throw oneself off balance. Pay special attention to the core as it unifies the body, connecting the stance to the torso and arms. When kicking, keep the upper body relaxed but still poised. And always keep the back straight, good posture leads to good balance.
Standing meditation, stance training and stretching can all be instituted to your regular forms and sparring training. Of course, all elements will be improved with practice, so get out there and practice!