Tai Chi

What is the difference between Tai Chi and Tai Chi Chaun?

I am sure our instructor keeps saying that tai chi is the art of flowing meditation and not like the tai chi chaun that is the fighting art. Can anyone explain the differences or where I am wrong in interpreting what she is saying.

Pugpaws is pretty much said it all. They are one and the same. Its also spelled Taiji or Taijiquan. Taijiquan is first and foremost a MA. Health benefits are a byproduct of ones hard work. There are too many people out there that dont understand that very fact. Anyone that teaches it as just a health benefit doesnt grasp the concept of what it truely is and should probably be avoided. Many of those new age jerk offs prey on people who have no idea what Taijiquan is. Taijiquan takes many years of training daily under a good instructor to truely learn. A good instructor is the key to properly learn Taijiquan. Without an instructor that fully understands the concepts of Taijiquan, then ur pretty much wasting ur time. I have seen people who have trained for many years that claimed to be “masters” and they go out and teach people but they dont even grasp the very basic concepts of the art. I learned more in 6 months studying under a good instructor and listening to his elplanations than those others who have wasted years of their lives practicing flawed routines.
Taijiquan is an extremely complex MA based on the theory of Yin and Yang. It is a balance of both fast and slow, hard and soft, open and closed. Without proper balance it just isnt Taijiquan.
Do some research on Taijiquan. Read about it on Wikipedia. Chen Style Taijiquan is the oldest style from which all others were created.
If u are going to learn Taijiquan then i suggest u find a GOOD instructor that has at very lest 10 years experience so that they have a good grasp on the art. Finding a good instructor to study under is more important than a particular style to study.
Good luck

Tai Chi 24-form