What is tai chi and why do we practice it? Tai Chi is a martial art. It is what is known as an internal art and has been practiced for personal defense as far back as the 1500's in China. Why we practice tai chi has a variety of reasons from the physical, to the mental, to the energetic, to the martial. The majority of people these days practice Tai Chi for it's well known health benefits. Tai Chi has been studied and documented as reducing high blood pressure, improving immu