Yes! It is!
It is easy enough to search the internet and find a long list of the health advantages of practicing Tai Chi.
The list includes, but is not limited to:
Reducing falls in older people
Reducing stress
Relaxation
Improving balance and coordination
Reducing depression
Improving bone density
Relieving constipation
Improving concentration and awareness
Learning to feel and circulate your chi
Wow! Those benefits alone are enough to look for your closest Tai Chi class and join up.
These are benefits that have been gleaned from numerous studies of Tai Chi over the last couple of decades. These aspects of Tai Chi are also what get the most publicity when Tai Chi is played up in advertising or the media.
So I see why anyone who is not familiar with the history of Tai Chi would think that it is solely a health exercise and how that will also draw people to Tai Chi to pursue its health benefits. Also, because Tai Chi is generally performed slowly, it was deemed good exercise for older adults and thus the benefits listed above will be more easily recognizable in that group. In contrast, younger people tend to be drawn to more energetic arts like karate and Tae Kwon Do.
But if Tai Chi was getting publicity for holding challenge matches or knock-down drag-out tournaments, then it would draw a different crowd, a la Brazilian Jiujitsu.
Many who have heard of Tai Chi or who want to study Tai Chi may not be familiar with some of the history of Tai Chi. First, Tai Chi is a shortened name for the art of Tai Chi Chuan. Chuan means fist, Supreme Ultimate Fist being one translation of the name.
Also, Yang Lu Chan, who is the creator of Yang Style Tai Chi Chuan, was nicknamed Yang Wudi which means Yang No Rivals, because he was unbeaten in challenge matches with other martial artists. He became so famous for his fighting skill that he was summoned to the Royal Court to teach his form of martial art. Yang style Tai Chi Chuan is the most popular form of Tai Chi Chuan practiced around the world.
The first Tai Chi Chuan master who promoted Tai Chi Chuan in the U.S. was a student of the Yang family named Cheng Man-Ching. He too fought challenge matches and was renowned for his skill.
So we see that Tai Chi Chuan traditionally was promoted as a martial art. But time and perception have allowed it to evolve, or some would say devolve, into a parallel path where only relaxation and health are promoted.
For me personally, I am a martial artist and always will be. And I will always study Tai Chi Chuan with a martial focus. But I have to acknowledge that ninety percent of the people who take a class with me are only interested in Tai Chi Chuan for relaxation, concentration and meditation.
So in conclusion, I respect the reasons why someone is learning Tai Chi Chuan. There is room for everyone to learn Tai Chi Chuan in the way they need for themselves. For me as a teacher it all comes from the same foundation - maintaining the principles of the art, good body mechanics, form and structure. We should not look down on others because they have a different perspective from us or even the art’s founders. We should embrace everyone who makes a sincere effort in learning the art and because they are a member of the community of Tai Chi Chuan practitioners.
Be well,
Dante
