What to look for in a Tai Chi Class

If you are considering taking up Tai Chi, you need to find the right class. There are five main styles taught today and many offshoots. But the choice of style is less important than the choice of teacher. You can learn the movements from a video but to explore the potential of Tai Chi you need to join a class.

You may prefer to begin your learning at home. If you then decide to progress to a class, there are some things you need to consider.

A traditional Tai Chi class has three essential elements. These are:

Health

Physical health and mental well being are required to enable the student to deal with the rigors of the martial aspects of the art while remaining calm.

Meditation

Meditation is a key to stress relief, calmness and intention in the control of internal force or chi.

Martial art

Competence in the martial aspect of Tai chi is not possible without the other two and is said to be proof that they are working.
Traditionally, all 3 of these issues were to be addressed in each aspect of training. You may come across a Tai Chi class where at least one of these aspects is ignored, particularly the martial part. Many teachers are not aware of or are not able to teach this and without it, the full health benefits are not achievable. You should look for a class that provides each of these elements.
 
There are 5 main styles that have diverged from a common root. It is said that Yang style, the most commonly taught style, is the one that has moved furthest from its roots as a fighting art. I believe that the teacher is more important than the style. There is no universal certification program for teachers so it is necessary to ask questions about the training in a particular Tai Chi class.

All training should include practice of a form, a stylized sequence of defensive and attacking movements. This develops strength, stamina, flexibility, circulation and breath control. In a good class, the martial application of the movements should be explained, as should the control and application of chi through ‘intention’.

The second feature of training is known as Pushing Hands. In many a Tai Chi class this element is ignored. Tai Chi Chuan relies for its effectiveness on sensitivity to your opponent’s movements and responding appropriately. Pushing Hands trains sensitivity of the reflexes by practicing with a partner to learn leverage, timing, coordination and positioning when interacting with an opponent.

A good Tai Chi class will also address the meditative element of training and teach some the history and development of Tai Chi with reference to its origins in Taoist philosophy and the Tai Chi classics.

If you hope to progress further, you may want to ask if the teacher can give training in weapons such as sword, staff and spear. This will normally be optional but if a Tai Chi class provides it, it is a good indication of a competent teacher.