- 1). Research the different forms of Tai Chi Chuan and pick one or two that best fit your personality and training goals. Chen Style, for example, is the longest form and includes more martial maneuvers, including an explosive Pao-Twi sequence. Yang Style is the second-longest and has both martial applications and health benefits. Wu Style is short and explosive, which matches well with Hsing Yi Chuan, another soft-style (or "internal") martial art. Sun Style is circular, which matches well with the circular style of Bagua Zhang.
Eliminating the styles that don't seem to fit you will greatly narrow down your search for the right school. Some schools teach several styles of martial arts; if you're unsure about which style suits you one of these schools may be the best place to start. - 2). Find a formal school that teaches the style of Tai Chi Chuan you like. Opting for a formal school is important, because beginner classes at formal schools are well supervised, with the more advanced students serving as apprentice instructors while senior instructors watch over the class to make corrections. In contrast, an informal Tai Chi Chuan class at a nonspecialized fitness facility lacks this crucial structure.
Local Tai Chi Chuan schools can be found in your yellow pages under "martial arts instruction." You can also search online; most formal schools have websites. Make a list of several schools in your area that fit your schedule and needs. - 3). Attend several introductory classes before choosing a school. Most schools invite prospective students to participate in a beginner's class before joining. This is an important step: not all forms of Tai Chi Chuan are taught the same way, and every instructor's teaching style varies. You won't get a real sense of the class until you participate.
That said, it's also helpful to simply observe a class. The best time for this is in the middle of a beginning or intermediate course. Observe how the senior instructors communicate with the students to see if their approach jibes with your thought process. Most people are visual thinkers, but some people are auditory or kinesthetic thinkers. An excellent instructor can identify these individual learning styles and adjust his or her approach to best communicate with each student. - 4). Study the learning materials recommended by your school of choice. Formal schools usually provide manuals once their students learn the entire form. At that point, the instruction becomes more scholarly.
Tai Chi Chuan can only be perfected with personal instruction that corrects any deviations. However, books and videos help to fill in those instructional gaps when you're not at school. There are many online learning materials for Tai Chi Chuan; videos on sites like YouTube can be very helpful---just make sure you check into the credentials of the posters before following their instructions. For example, on YouTube, Erle Montaigue, the wild man of Tai Chi, teaches the complete Yang Cheng Fu Taijiquan sequence in several parts with the principles of yin and yang (see Resources). Many Tai Chi Chuan masters also publish instructional DVDs and books. If you're unsure who to trust as an authority, ask your instructor for recommendations. - 5). Be active in your studies---"student" doesn't equal "passive." Teachers at formal schools love for their students to ask questions about the instruction methods. If you come across a quirk in the school's training method that does not apply to classical Tai Chi Chuan, you should be allowed to question that quirk. You may have to switch schools once your understand of Tai Chi becomes more refined.
- 6). Treat Tai Chi as a lifestyle. Your instruction in Tai Chi Chuan is always with you---in business, in pleasure, and even when you sleep. Tai Chi Chuan will help restore balance to your life and physical being; you will breathe, think and move more gracefully in every part of your life. For example, if you were a reckless driver, you may find that after becoming a Tai Chi practitioner, not only are you a more considerate and cautious on the road, you are also able to avoid dangers thanks to your keen awareness and quick reflexes.
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