What do you know about Tai Chi?

It's something i might look into if only i knew a bit more about it. I've read some descriptions, like that its a type of self defense and can be relaxing, but i want to know some specifics...maybe something like examples. If you do tai chi, what's it like? i want to know everything.

I study Chen Style Tai Chi chuan, and I have to say, it's great and I always get exited ofr the next lessons becuase it's so great. It's a martial art and studies have shown it's also great for health benifits.

Tai Chi Chuan is roughly translated to "Supreme Ultimate Fist". This being the case, it was originally meant to be a martial art and has great potential for those patient enough to learn it. It is practiced slowly due to the idea that there are no basics: in Karate, TKD, Tang Soo Do, etc. one can practice reverse punches, front kicks, and all sorts of other single movements at full speed. As Tai Chi Chuan is an internal art that first focuses on breathing, balance, and centering, one cannot begin performing movements at full speed right away.

Don't believe anyone who tells you that Tai Chi was not meant for fighting or that it's just for old people, that is a huge fallacy. However, most instructors do not TEACH its fighting applications, which in some cases might as well be the same thing. All styles can be used for combat.

Tai Chi is meant to be done slowly, one or twice a day, and then quickly one or twice a day. So in total you should be doing at least one slow set and one fast set of your Tai Chi form every day. This imprints these motions into your brain, and doing them slowly makes sure every nuance of movement is remembered. After doing this everyday for a year or years your body and mind has adopted these movements as Second Nature. So when an attack, obstacle, or accident comes you react with Tai Chi out of habit.

Tai Chi Chuan has lasted over the CENTURIES because this method actually works, it just takes time to be effective. The best styles of Tai Chi Chuan that are usually considered for combat are Chen and Sun. These are known to be the more external forms, having moves that end abruptly or that are directed outward from the body in a straight or curved line. Chen style is the oldest and most classic, but Sun is still a very effective and powerful style.

The Yang style, the most popular and the second oldest style, will work just as well for these combat purposes.

Tai Chi Chuan is based upon taking your opponent's attack, redirecting its' energy, and then counterattacking. Video of Tai Chi as a defensive martial art. http://youtube.com/watch?v=tEbupVWZ6mk

Most tai chi masters believe that Tai chi chuan is first, and foremost, a martial art. Sure Tai Chi in the early stages is not a very effective Martial Art, but in the LONG RUN, it is very effective because you learn to move and use your opponents energy against them and for your favor. Here's more information:
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/T'ai_chi

i know it's for old people.

its not for old people its js practiced rlly soft and slow so u can build chi every movement is actually some sort of attack and there are diffrent types of tai chi there is tai chi sparring which is very fast andnormal which is very slow both very affective theres a tv show on the one channel called grand master yang its very helpful

its for old people