There is one thing that pops up on skeptical blogs frequently and it never ceases to annoy me. Tai Chi Ch'uan, or Taijiquan, is a Chinese martial art that often receives the derision of skeptics. While it's true that some of the claims made by modern Tai Chi instructors are pure nonsense, it is an overreaction to dismiss the art in its entirety. As someone who has studied Tai Chi, I'll try to sort some of this out.

First, the bad news. Tai Chi is often associated with magical thinking. Tai Chi has, for a long time, been a part of the New Age Movement. This primarily centers around Chi.

Chi, C'hi or Qi (as well as Ki and Prana, which are essentially the same thing) is a mystical and undetectable "energy" that is said to permeate all of life. It's the Force. It can, it has been claimed, allow for superhuman feats in those adept with its use. The Jedi practitioner focuses and builds Chi through exercise and meditation and issues it when needed.

As you all well know the New Agers love things like this. They tout Tai Chi as a powerful cure-all that synchronizes a practitioner with the universe. It will cure disease, make one stronger and smarter, and bring one balance. And, of course, it allows one to break boards without touching them. To quote Douglas Adams, "This is, of course, impossible." Skeptics latch onto claims such as these as well as even more absurd claims and vilify all of Tai Chi. This is an unnecessary and irrational response.

Tai Chi is a martial art. Nothing more or less. The first thing a student learns is the very slow first form. That's the one people do in parks while others snicker at them. It's also the only part of the art that most instructors actually know. The rest of the art is filled out with fast forms, weapons training and sparring. Most people don't advance past the slow form but even that has tremendous benefits. The slow form is excellent low impact exercise. It increases strength and balance at (at first) an easy pace and provides the challenge of mastering the movements. It has seen much use in nursing homes for this reason. The rest of the art is much more strenuous. Like all martial arts the benefits come from aerobic exercise, not magic. As to the claims of practitioners being able to break boards, bones, and brains, that's true. It's also simple physics. Anyone can break a board after a few minutes instruction.

Real Tai Chi is taught as combat, not self defense and not as a New Age way to feel good. It's unapologetically brutal with movements intended to cripple and kill. It's also a lot of fun. Martial Arts are an excellent way to get in shape. The strive for perfection and building of new skills keeps people interested in a way that a gym can't. If you decide to try it, look for an instructor with at least twenty years of experience. Make sure he knows the complete system, not just the slow form. Yes, the sifu may talk about Chi. Just ignore that part, you know better.