The first part is yang taichi push hand engine .
Using the body to sustain, then perform push back.
Johns hands position on his opponent is to uproot as in taiji push hand.
The tan sau demo is a wck shifting angle to target the oponent center line, while put the opponet in a mechanically off position, then sinking elbow to connect the body support and then push.
Watch 1.26 to 1.29 on John angling change, sinking elbow,and pushback.
The beauty of the five layers Catagorization is to be able to pin point to the root cause and it's effect. Nim Lik doesn't make sense because the mind layer can only provide direction , while the Lik or force has to comes from the physical and momentum layer.
Snake engine is a science, physics, and engineering process, which can be repeat by anyone to get result.
Nim Lik is mis naming. All Lik or force need a physical mechanics. Thinking or nim by itself cannot produce force. Here is my explanation of momentum , force and how different layers support . No mystery!
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Y2vhm97tkf0