Tai chi is unique among martial arts in that it doesn’t use colored belts or any other symbols to indicate progress. However, it does have five grades of proficiency through which practitioners can progress to mastery. Below, learn more about these levels and what’s required to achieve them.

How Is Progress in Tai Chi Measured?

1. Form & Posture

Novice students must practice basic motions and forms to channel chi, or energy, around the body. During this stage, the smooth, rounded movements that distinguish this martial art are repeated to achieve control. This is the stage most often seen when observing groups of students in public. Even most instructors remain at this level for purposes of instruction.

2. Chi Awareness

After months or years of study at the first stage, practitioners may become proficient enough to feel the flow of chi. Due to a common tendency to rush through exercises, the student’s posture may still require work. This stage aims to balance external chi through movement with internal chi through focus and a meditative mental state. 

3. Studying Directly With a Master

Once a student has experienced a balance of internal and external chi, extensive study with a tai chi master is necessary for further progress. This could be daily study, or several times a week, for as much as a decade. During this period, the martial arts element will become more evident and more important, as the focus moves on from mental and physical balance to application in self-defense.

4. Formal Disciplehood

Tai chi is organized into several distinctive schools and styles, each with its own lineage, traditions, and master practitioners. After graduating to the fourth stage, a student may be entrusted with the specialized secrets of their chosen school, and they may even be considered worthy of becoming heir to these secrets.

5. Mastery

At level five, the practitioner is considered to have achieved perfect balance. Their training has prepared them to maintain the legacy of their school’s previous master. At this stage, a master can express chi with any part of their body and will be equally proficient in defense and offense as needed.

Whether you’re interested in tai chi for stress relief or self-defense, turn to Alpha Omega Martial Arts in Parker, CO. Their expert instructors are well-versed in various martial arts, and they work to create an atmosphere of fun, relaxation, and learning for all students. In addition to martial arts instruction, they’re pleased to offer “brain-training” courses for seniors and those with disabilities. Call them at (720) 480-2950 to ask about class schedules, or visit them online to learn more.