Most martial arts are pretty effective, so why learn tai chi chuan?

Ask yourself: What are you looking for? What is your criteria? How old are you? How fit are you? Are you looking for kicking, punching, grappling? Do you want to fight in the ring? Or do you want self defence for real life situations? Are you seeking a more philosophical component? Tai chi chuan teaches a wide variety of powerful skills and an in-depth philosophical component. It encourages a calm, focussed mind and trains a supple, strong, flexible body.