Higher-level Instructor

Most tai chi instructors are Tai Chi Exercise Teachers.
Very few can teach tai chi chuan; the martial art.

Instructors with greater skill are less common in the UK:

1. Tai Chi Expert
   - 20 years tai chi chuan study
   - 10 years teaching experience
   - 10,000 hours of practice
   - extensive, versatile combat skills
   - form (stage 2): Yang Cheng Fu, sabre, cane, staff, walking stick, jian, pao chui (or equivalents)
   - form (stage 3): Yang Cheng Fu
2. Tai Chi Master
   - 30-40 years martial arts experience
   - 20 years teaching experience
   - 30,000 hours of tai chi practice
   - all forms (stage 5)
   - capable of teaching other Instructors
3. Tai Chi Grandmaster
   - must have taught an extensive number of Instructors
   - be in a position of significant responsibility within a school
   - have influence within the wider tai chi/martial arts community