Lu · Rollback (Lãy / 履) — Yielding and Redirecting

Rollback as Yielding

Lu (Lãy / 履) is the second of the Eight Methods. Where Peng is the sphere of readiness around the body, Lu is the act of yielding to the opponent's force in such a way that it follows its own momentum into emptiness. Lu does not block. Lu does not push. Lu redirects.

The mechanism: as the opponent's energy arrives, your hands and arms create a sideways curve. Their force follows the curve. By the time they realize what is happening, their balance is moving past their center of gravity, and a small additional push (Ji) or pull (An) finishes them. Four ounces redirecting a thousand pounds.

Three Common Errors

Pulling instead of yielding — the body retreats actively; the opponent senses the pull and braces. Yielding with arms only — the upper body complies but the feet and waist stay rigid; the opponent's force runs into the rigidity and bounces back. Yielding too fast — the body outpaces the opponent's arrival, the curve is empty when they arrive, they read the trap and adjust.

Rollback vs Escape

Many students confuse Lu (Rollback) with escape. They see the sideways yielding and interpret it as “running away.” But Lu is not escape; it is redirection. The difference:

• Escape: the opponent attacks; I retreat. Their force is still on target; they will pursue. I have used energy to retreat; they have used energy to attack. The energy exchange favours them.
• Rollback: the opponent attacks; I yield sideways in the direction of their force. Their force follows the curve; their momentum carries them past their base. I have used no energy to retreat; they have used their own energy against themselves. The energy exchange favours me.

The visible difference: escape looks like a step back; rollback looks like a step sideways followed by a step forward. Escape has no follow-up; rollback sets up the next technique.

Where Lu Meets Tui Shou (Push Hands)

Push hands (Tôi Thủ) is where Lu is internalised. Two practitioners in contact, taking turns attacking and yielding. The attacker pushes; the defender applies Lu. The defender redirects the attack back toward the attacker; the attacker becomes the defender. The cycle continues.

The most valuable Push Hands insight is that Lu does not require a strong attack to be visible. A gentle push reveals Lu clearly; a strong push obscures Lu (because the defender must add force to redirect). This is why senior practitioners Push Hands slowly: slow force reveals structure; fast force hides it.

Master Cue

"Don’t block. Don’t push. Redirect."