There are many different approaches to Tai Chi - from the 'spiritual', via 'health', the 'form', 'weapons', 'push hands', ... , all the way to 'tournament fight

There are many different approaches to Tai Chi - from the 'spiritual', via 'health', the 'form', 'weapons', 'push hands', ... , all the way to 'tournament fighting'. I've just come home from a lesson where we had to wear chest protectors... But one thing that I've heard, and I kind of agree with : I don't recommend Tai Chi to anyone. If someone wants to do it, then I'm happy to point them in the right direction. But I don't want to push people into something that they're only going to try because I've persuaded them. They've got to have an inkling that it's something they'd enjoy. I had previously do some Jiu Jitsu (cool), and Aikido (v. nice). But what's kept me doing Tai Chi is the fact that my shoulders don't get dislocated so often (YMMV - but it's notable that many of the students at my school are musicians that have consciously chosen a martial art that won't damage them). Another point is that while one can feel 'dangerous' more quickly doing other martial arts, that is usually an illusion : being an over-confident beginner is much more likely to get you in trouble. Tai Chi students doesn't suffer from that so much - since for the first few years, they're only directing traffic in the park :-) I originally started in 1999 because I figured I needed some external activity to take my mind off my startup - and the health stuff has been a pleasant side effect. Mostly I do Push Hands now, with a dash of mornings in the park helping others 'tuck in'. ( ChuTaiChi.com )