How long DOES IT take to learn Tai Chi?

When beginners ask me "How Long does it take to learn Tai Chi?", they usually mean: How long does the Tai Chi Form take to learn? But the Tai Chi Form is just one component of Tai Chi - that may include partner work, breathing, drinking tea, yielding, telling jokes, playing with bamboo canes or anything else handy. My point is, that we don't just practice the Form.

teapotmonk with cup of tea

YES BUT, HOW LONG DOES IT TAKE TO LEARN THE FORM?

I’m reminded of Robert Smith saying: It takes at least two years of practicing Tai Chi to realize you know nothing.

And I’d argue that this only increases over time. But I know, you want a more precise answer. As I said, Tai Chi consists of more than its famous sequence of postures practised in parks on misty mornings. But forms vary in length too. Did you know that there are over 120 different Tai Chi Forms that vary in number of postures from 10 to over 200? So you will see the difficulty in a simple reply to the question: How long does it take to learn?

Maybe, what you mean is, not how long does it take to learn, but when can I expect to see some benefit?

WHEN DO I START TO FEEL THE BENEFITS?

Remember this: although the old Forms may take a while to learn, the benefits of Tai Chi (good posture, deep breathing, better co-ordination and relaxation) begin the moment you walk into a class, pick up or book or sign-up for an online course.

This learning curve continues for as long as you practice Tai Chi. In fact, one of the important lessons you learn at the start is that there is no "arrival". The whole art is a study in slow journeying.

TAI CHI IS ALL ABOUT THE PROCESS

Over the decades I have been teaching, I have seen students reach high levels of Tai Chi, despite not being able to memorise long Tai Chi Forms. They have gained skills in yielding, adapting, co-ordination, patience, breathing, balance and developed much greater tensile strength.

So try and focus less on forms and length, and more about just starting. Tai Chi is not about getting somewhere or finishing at a set point in a timeline. It's a process. If you are really keen to "learn" a "Form" straight away, then I normally start students with the 10 Step Form - the short course that teaches the most important and basic postures in a simple flowing sequence that is learned over 10 weeks (or 10 days - it all depends on you).

But there are many forms to choose from: There is the beautiful 32 step Sword Form or the popular 37 Step Cheng Man Ching Short Form. Each of these needs about a year to learn - but in the process you learn so much more than a number of steps.

THE TAI CHI FORMS - A QUICK VIEW

Watch the videos below for an idea about learning the different Tai Chi Forms. You can read more about the choice of Forms and courses here.

WHAT TO DO NEXT?

2 things you can do right now to explore TAI CHI further:​

  1. Start with a paperback and a course that you will finish. Order the Beginners Guide to the Tai Chi Form paperback and get this complete back up course online thrown in, with Extra PDFs and audio guide for just £11.95.

  2. Full Course: Get serious with your Tai Chi. Jump in and learn one of the most famous Forms in the world - the 37 Step TAI CHI SHORT FORM.