Sliding Tan Sao

Firstly lets understand how linear movement is achieved. As Tan Sao normally is considered linear.
Three main muscle groups are needed to complete the Tan Sao movement.
1/ The shoulder represented by the circular path on the image to the left with 1, 2, 3 labeled.
2/ Also Tricep represented by upper curve.
3/ Their are also chest muscles acting on the elbow position, pulling the elbow towards the middle of the body.
The wrist should travel in a linear line from when the elbow reaches points 2 to 3. This is achieved by timing both the shoulder and Tricep extension.
So the effect of what appears to be a straight line that the palm travels on is really a complex set of timed moves with groups of deferent muscles.
This type of Tan Sao is used mainly against high round attacks. It's deflection comes from the angle applied and slides over the oncoming punch.

There's not a great deal of movement with Tan Sao normally as your guard position would have the arms in front of the body.
Round punches can generate a lot of momentum.
So how does Tan Sao stop the attack?
Because Tan Sao does not oppose the attack on the exact opposite angle it does not have to equal the on coming energy. The attacking energy is dispersed over time as it it forced to redirect or slide on a downward angle. With your defending elbow being driven from the middle of the body, your whole body mass assists in stabilisation of your technique, whereas the opponents round punch has only the momentum energy. As it slows down there is little stability.

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