Is tai chi a good martial art?

im thinking of takin it seems powerfull

ok i am aware it is a meditation kinda relaxation gentle excersise thing but i swear there was something where it was used as a martial art is that qui gong ??

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.

Videos of Tai Chi as a defensive martial art.
http://youtube.com/watch?v=tEbupVWZ6mk
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=K8qv6TldA...

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://www.atlantamartialarts.com/styles...
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/T'ai_chi

tai chi is a meditating exercise...

Tai chi, sometimes called tai chi chuan, is a noncompetitive, self-paced system of gentle physical exercise and stretching.

Anyone, regardless of age or physical ability, can practice tai chi. It doesn't take physical prowess. Rather, tai chi emphasizes technique over strength.

Tai chi is used to:

Reduce stress
Increase flexibility
Improve muscle strength and definition
Increase energy, stamina and agility
Increase feelings of well-being

It's not for fighting.

The term Tai Chi can refer to:

T'ai-chi (Wade-Giles transliteration) or Taiji ( in pinyin format), a concept in Chinese philosophy often represented by taijitu, the symbol for yin and yang.
Tai chi chuan, a Chinese martial art often shortened to Tai Chi or Taiji in everyday use
Tai chi chih, a westernized, standardized version of Tai Chi
Taichi Kamiya, a character in Digimon
Hong Taiji (Hung T'ai-chi), an early Qing dynasty Manchu emperor
Taiji, the era name of Emperor Ruizong of Tang
Tai Chi (TVB), the television series broadcast by TVB

Qui Gong is similar, but not the same as Tai Chi. Tai Chi is used for meditation and exercise. If anyone tells you that Tai Chi is for fighting, they're blowing smoke up your bottom.

Qui Gong is an internal aspect on Gong fu that focuses on hardening the body (if I remember right). It has a lot of similar exercises and breathing/meditation aspects with Tai Chi, but they are not the same for no other reason than the intention behind the arts are different.

Tai chi chuan is one of the most effective,well thought out,complete,energy efficient,well rounded systems you will ever find! It has techniques for ANY and EVERY situation(long,short range,attack,defense,stand up or ground techniques,chin-na,and so on). It can take years to properly learn and you will be able to use it for the rest of your life and even get better as you get older( believe it or not). Now it is most commonly thought of as an exercise in the U.S., but it is not called "Grand Ultimate Fist" for nothing. If you can find a instructor who can teach the martial aspect of it, you WILL NOT regret it. GO FOR IT! Good luck!

Tai Chi is a martial art. It is considered the foundation of the martial arts. Yes it is practiced as a form of meditation and exercise. It's practice is not overtly defensive in nature, but it can be used in self defense.
Many who have never practiced it may disagree with me, but my teacher demonstrates the practical application of the techniques as we learn them. And believe me when I say that they are painful when applied.

Tai chi is not powerful in any sense of the word.
In Tai chi, you learn a very specific way to interact with your opponent with your arms in a certain configuration. Then you spend decades learning how to push them and not get pushed. It is one of the most unrealistic things I have ever seen or learned. It is NOT a valid method of self defense.

When someone on the street throws a punch at your face or kicks you in the shin, or grabs you around the waist and picks you up to throw you down, you will have no idea what to do.
There is a video on the internet of tai chi grandmaster William CHeung being thrown onto the ground and mounted by someone during a seminar.

It is good for someone who wants to relax and do an art well into their old age.

Qi Gong and Qi, are a complete snowjob. There is no such thing as Qi, and study after study shows that you can put accupuncture needles ANYWHERE on a person's body and get a placebo effect.

Tai Chi is a martial art! The practical applications are very powerful. The trans from Chinese means something like grand ultimate fist. Look up Yang the invincible online, he was the founder of Yang style and won hundreds of fights against many different styles. Another good tai chi fighter is....believe it or not Jet Li! The movies the one and twin dragons features his use of Chen style tai chi. It is a very fun martial art.