Tai Chi is about moving in an optimally balanced way. For example, when an arm reaches far, the stance should be long to support it, or else the other arm should reach the opposite way to stay balanced.
The focus is on using soft moves to gracefully deflect hard moves.
See Master Yan Long Jiang demonstrating some Tai Chi moves. Notice how he keeps his body weight centred for good balance.
In traditional Tai Chi styles, there's a popular exercise called Pushing Hands which is roughly the same as Sticking Hands. Check out the main conceptual differences in Sticking Hands vs Pushing Hands.
I've been training with Yan Long Jiang for many months now. Consider joining his classes in Birmingham City Centre for a good introduction to the following (based on my own experience at his club)...
Chi Kung (Qi Gong) breathing exercises, usually synchronised with body movements. This is often how the class warms up, for about 30 minutes at the start of each session.
The classic Wu family Tai Chi form, a sequence of over a hundred great movements. There's only 1 empty-handed form, but when they're this long, who needs more? This form covers all types of ways you can move your body in an optimally efficient, strong, comfortable & balanced manner. These moves are very suitable for use in combat, but can also be used in every day life, when lifting things, pushing things, pulling things, in all directions.
It might take 6 months of weekly training to get very familiar with the empty handed form. Once you've passed this stage, you may be ready to practice a weapon's form. You'll probably get the choice between a tai chi sword and a long stick. I was only offered the sword, but when I asked if I could use a stick, I discovered Master Yan also had a stick form up his sleve (most of the senior students didn't even know!). And it's a cool set of movements too, with lots of funky moves, in a well-suitable free-flowing tai chi style. Not just the old draw back & smack.
Each session at this Tai Chi club in Birmingham, is usually rounded off with half an hour of either a bit Pushing Hands, or a bit of friendly fighting practice, or both. The fighting practice is very dynamic although well organised for practice of specific moves, changing every 5 minutes, in a group or in pairs, etc. Moves cover the whole spectrum of striking, grappling, handwork & footwork, so you never know what each lesson will hold. A great way for a Wing Chun practitioner to round off his skills into something flexible & versatile.
Visit Yan Long Jiang's website: www.wutaiji.co.uk
Tai Chi is based on a combination of outgoing force ("tai") and inward peace ("chi"). In this way, Tai Chi represents levels 1 & 0 from the great ancient levels of fighting.