Is tai chi easy to learn?

(i) Unlearning

Learning involves shedding familiar, comfortable habits (unlearning) and acquiring new skills.
This is the essence of change.
People are innately slow to make changes to their lives.
It is easier not to.


(ii) Learning

Qigong is fairly easy to learn but not easy to practice in an advanced way.
Considerable stamina is required.

Tai chi for health can be as simplistic or as complex as the student desires.
A crude sense of tai chi may be gained quickly but the refined art is the product of far longer study.
Taijiquan (the martial art) is another matter altogether.
It is not easy to learn.
Compared to other martial arts, taijiquan is rather advanced.
The methodology, physical skills, sensitivity, awareness, biomechanical application and martial abilities are exceptionally in-depth.


(iii) Syllabus

A good tai chi class will have a tried and tested syllabus in place.
By systematically learning one skill at a time, the student gradually accrues information, gains physical awareness and increases the range and scope of their understanding.
But this does not happen overnight.
There is a considerable amount of information to learn. It must be revised, refined, honed and practiced thoroughly.


(iv) The teacher

A good teacher offers the student an opportunity to work through the defined curriculum at their own pace.
They provide assistance (and occasionally obstacles) in order to foster growth and continual development.


(v) The student

The real deciding factor when it comes to learning is the individual student.
Their attitudes, their willingness to commit to practice and study.
How receptive they are.

Knowledge, skill, understanding and experience are the products of time, practice and perseverance.