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Welcome to the Tai Chi Knowledge Base

This is the home of the Tai Chi Knowledge Base — a growing library of practical, honest writing about how to practice Tai Chi, why it works, and what it becomes when you take it seriously.

What You'll Find Here

The Knowledge Base is organized in three levels, following the way Tai Chi is actually learned:

  • Foundation — where every journey begins. Posture, alignment, weight transfer, the 10 Essentials, the form, daily practice habits.
  • Advanced — refining what you know. Energy flow, partner work, push hands, internal vs. external power, the martial meaning of the movements.
  • Elite — for those with years of practice. Internal mechanics, fajin, silk reeling, the questions that only surface after long work.

Each section has its own Basics and Deep Dives. Basics are the practical work. Deep Dives are the articles that go further on a single topic.

How This Knowledge Base Is Different

I get asked often: "How is this different from other Tai Chi resources?"

A few honest answers:

It's written for Western students who want real understanding, not cultural performance. The Chinese terms are there because they're useful. The mechanical explanations are there because they actually explain. If something can be said in plain English, it's said in plain English.

It assumes you want to practice, not just read. Every article includes practices you can do. The articles are maps; the territory is your own body.

It's built on internal martial arts, not just health exercise. Tai Chi is a martial art. The health benefits are real and well-documented, but the deeper work — the internal development, the partner practice, the structural training — is what makes Tai Chi what it is. This Knowledge Base treats that seriously.

It evolves. As I learn more, the articles get better. The latest versions are always here.

The 10 Essentials of Tai Chi — a detailed breakdown of Yang Chengfu's foundational principles, with practices for each one. Read it →

Tai Chi Breathing Basics — a new card on the fundamentals of mindful breathing in Tai Chi, with step-by-step guidance for the early stages of practice.

Biomechanics of Tai Chi Movement — a long-form deep-dive into the mechanical principles behind the form, based on Ian Sinclair's teaching framework. Read it →

Start Here

If you're new to Tai Chi, start with the Foundation Level. The material there will keep you busy for months. Don't rush past it.

Start where you are. Practice what you can. Return tomorrow.