Tai chi can be spelt many different ways: taiji, or t'ai chi, and the full name, taijiquan, or t'ai chi ch'uan can be translated as 'Supreme Ultimate Fist/Boxing'.
The movements of tai chi are combined into what is known as a 'form', and nowadays there are a great many tai chi 'forms' available, from short beginner forms to the more advanced competition forms. Tai chi forms are usually grouped in 'family' styles, e.g. Yang, Wu, Sun, Chen, Hao styles.
Tai chi is a martial art, but this aspect is not usually taught in the initial years of learning the art; it is more common to find that the health benefits are the main focus. When you begin tai chi, you work on learning how to coordinate your body, on how to relax and release muscles, on strengthening the legs, on improving your posture and balance, and on toning the muscles. By practising tai chi you learn the best possible way in which to align your body so that your energy will flow unimpeded, and therefore you experience an increased flow of energy. You will have found a way to release stress and tension.
Unlike many other forms of exercise which may leave you feeling tired and needing to rest, you feel refreshed, revitalised, and relaxed after a tai chi class. This is because tai chi classes incorporate exercises which help to control and develop your energy (Ch'i / Qi / Ki / Prana) rather than only developing your muscles.
Beginner Forms are the Yang 10-Step Form (sometimes referred to as the 8-Step Form), and the Yang 16-Step Form. More advanced routines taught are the Yang 24-Step Form, the Yang 88-Step Form, the Traditional Yang 108 Form, the 42 Combined Competition Hand Form, and the Chen 56 Competition Form.
Sword classes: There are also several classes for the tai chi sword Ð the double-edged 'jian'. Sword forms taught are the Yang 32-Sword, the 42 Combined Competition Routine, the Wudang Taiji Sword Form, the Yang 56 Traditional Sword Form, and the Broadsword (Sabre) Form. It is also possible to learn the Tai Chi Fan Form.
Qigong or ch'i kung, (sometimes incorrectly spelt chi kung), and Daoyin (a type of qigong) are also taught. There are 2 types of qigong taught; static Zhan Zhuang and moving sets of Daoyin exercises. The latter are health exercises for the Digestive, Cardiovascular, Respiratory, and the Skeletal systems (the latter being for the bones, joints, and tendons). There are also sets of exercises for the Liver, for the Kidneys, for the entire Meridian system, and to generally tone up the body.