Most people associated with martial arts think of explosive strikes, aggressive sparring, and high-intensity drills. But not all martial arts are about smashing force or blinding speed. Tai Chi (or Taiji), an ancient Chinese martial art, takes a slower, more deliberate approach – but don’t let its calm appearance fool you; it’s a valuable component of a martial arts programme. Underneath the fluid movements, there’s a highly effective system to promote health, balance, and martial skills, which is integral to our martial arts programme.

What Is Tai Chi?

Tai Chi is often called “meditation in motion”. It’s a martial art based on Taoist philosophy and centred around balance, breath control, and internal energy (also called qi or chi). As your instructor leads you through these well-established philosophies in movement, practitioners perform slow, poetic sequences of movement intended to help align the body, mind, and spirit.

Originally intended for the purpose of self-defence, Tai Chi has evolved substantially into a popular exercise form among people, especially in Singapore, where groups would perform it in parks in the early hours of the morning.

Is Tai Chi Really a Martial Art?

Yes – Tai Chi is a real martial art, practised in martial arts schools. In fact, it was designed to be a potent system for self-defence. The slow, controlled practice of each movement has a martial application when they are executed with speed and intention.

There are multiple styles of Tai Chi (Yang, Chen, Wu, Sun, etc.), all of which are taught at martial arts schools. For example, Chen style is more martial with more fa-jin, while Yang style is more graceful with more flow, being more friendly to help beginners or wellness.

The Tai Chi Fitness and Wellness Benefits

Don’t be fooled by its slow pace—Tai Chi is a powerhouse for the body and mind. It is a beautiful ancient way of exercising which promotes better flexibility, weight loss, and meditation and relaxes your body and mind. Whether you are seeking a way to deal with stress or simply a low-impact means of staying physically fit, Tai Chi is also a holistic method to improve health and wellness.

Improves Balance + Stability: Tai Chi’s leg and core strengthening greatly improves balance and makes this exercise a great choice for seniors or for people rehabilitating from an injury.

Enhances Respiratory Health and Circulation: Controlled breathing combined with fluid motion increases oxygen flow, lung capacity, and heart performance in martial arts classes.

Holistic Benefits: The meditative form of Tai Chi fosters consciousness, mental awareness, and stress reduction, enhancing the overall experience in our gym. It’s often prescribed to people with anxiety or high-stress lifestyles.

Promotes Flexibility and Mobility: Smooth, repetitive movements relieve stiffness and warm up the joints, such as for arthritis patients who have limited movement. 

Internal Muscle Builder: For this to look like a fast, heavy movement, to create postural control for body awareness, and to make efficient use of muscle, Tai Chi is unique as a martial art.

Tai Chi teaches that power does not need to be loud or fast. It’s a martial art that shapes your body and mind with focus, control, and inner strength. Tai Chi is a beautiful martial path, especially in a fast-paced city like Singapore, and whether you’re seeking an avenue to manage stress, reconnect with the body, or keep moving, it will be well worth your exploration.

Join Nam Wah Pai’s Tai Chi for Self-Defence Course in Singapore

Though often revered for its graceful and slow movements and health benefits, Tai Chi’s origins are firmly rooted in martial discipline and self-defence. Nam Wah Pai offers students more than just Tai Chi; we’re a place to discover its combat applications and learn techniques that are highly traditional but also extremely applicable to combat.

The syllabus of Nam Wah Pai is designed to enable students to progressively gain an understanding of and access the internal energies of Tai Chi for self-defence.​ None of its content is some theoretical abstraction — its principles are taught through the science of applied physics and harnessed in ways that allow students to develop, learn to control, and manage them with precision.

• Tai Chi Sanshou (太极散手) – Learn the applications of the three main Tai Chi internal powers in real-life scenarios. This discipline emphasises explosive energy release, leverage, and redirection, teaching you techniques based not on raw strength but on timing, structure, and control— essential skills in any mixed martial arts training.
• Tai Chi Push Hands (太极推手) – This two-person training drill introduces the eight internal energies of Tai Chi along with core martial principles such as sensitivity, balance, and non-resistance, which are essential for any martial artist. It allows you to sense your opponent’s intent and respond with a subtle but effective movement— a necessity for redirecting force and keeping control in a martial arts class setting.
• Tai Chi Free Sparring – Experience the real-world application of Sanshou and Push Hands skills safely in a sparring scenario. This trains students to be prepared for unpredictable scenarios, which hone reflexes, strategies, and applications under pressure—ideal for street-smart self-defence.

Nam Wah Pai is keeping this rare knowledge alive and is passing it from master to student through training. And for many, the difference is significant — from better posture and core strength to more energy, faster recovery, and improved body awareness.

Prepped to Tone Your Body and Your Mind?

For those seeking fitness, a means of self-defence or a return to the classic martial arts, Nam Wah Pai’s Tai Chi for Self-Defence classes are a most rewarding way forward. Train with purpose. Move with wisdom. Defend with confidence. At Nam Wah Pai, we provide a diverse range of classes suitable for both children and adults.

 

---