Tai chi chuan (Tai chi) is practised by millions around the world as a means to better health, fitness, and long life.
Most of those who practise it, only learn a small part of the art. Yet they still gain much personal benefit from it.

What many do not know is that this relaxing and invigorating exercise is also practised by many as a martial art. Students who are seeking the physical, mental, and spiritual benefits of tai chi often do not want to learn the martial aspects of the art. So, most teachers do not teach the martial aspects. However, since the health benefits are a direct result of the art's martial history, the best health benefits are achieved by learning from a teacher who at least understands the martial elements. The teacher doesn't need to teach the student combat skills. But the teacher should understand them.

The masters who created tai chi chuan recognised how important it was for a martial artist to strengthen mind, body, and spirit. They also considered it self-evident that a martial artist should have a profound awareness of mind and body, and be skilled at constantly seeking peace and harmony in an inherently violent world.

These are essential qualities of high level martial artists. But they are also valuable for everyone else. That is why tai chi chuan exercises are part of China's national fitness program, and have become immensely popular throughout the world.

Tai chi chuan has become so popular, in fact, that it has often been watered down and simplified to make it easier to teach to large masses of people. Today there are even many teachers don’t fully understand the true nature of the art. It is common for people today to see tai chi as nothing but a gentle exercise for old people. However, since the initial wave of popularity, the standards for teaching are increasing, and there are a growing number of schools endeavouring to teach the complete traditional art.

The most recognizable element of tai chi training is the "form", and series of slow and graceful movements designed to train postural alignment, strength, balance, flexibility, awareness, and more. Other elements include qigong, tuishou, sanshou, weapon training, two-person routines, martial applications, and more.

The history of tai chi is rooted in thousands of years of philosophy, science, medicine, meditation, and martial traditions. The documented history of tai chi chuan in its present form can be traced back to the late Ming dynasty, when Chen Wang Ting, a retired garrison commander from Henan Province, drew from military arts, clan martial arts, qigong and daoist arts, to create a unique and comprehensive training system. His descendants modified this system until it became what we know today as Chen style tai chi chuan. From this style came all of the other styles that exist today.
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Some of the major styles are Chen, Yang, Wu, Sun, W’u, Fu, and Zhaobao.

These days, tai chi is often seen as an exercise for "old people". Although people of all ages practise tai chi for improving health, increasing fitness levels, cultivating balance, power, speed, flexibility, strength, and peace of mind.

Those who discover the rarely taught martial side of tai chi, are often surprised to find how formidable it is. With centuries of evolution have come profound methods for refining the mind, strengthening the body, and understanding the subtle mental/physical skills of combat.

The healing power of tai chi chuan is a direct result of centuries of martial evolution. Profound self defence skill is a result of profound personal transformation. Advanced students must learn to understand their own minds. They also learn about the subtle relationships between mind, emotion, body, and spirit. Elements of traditional and modern medicine are still important parts of advanced tai chi training.