Tai Chi & Qigong Explained

As Qigong continues to gain popularity, many people find themselves confused about the differences between Tai Chi and Qigong, as well as how these practices compare to Kung Fu, Wushu, and other martial arts. Master teacher, author, and researcher Dr. Roger Jahnke, OMD, helps clarify these distinctions in simple, accessible language.

I began learning Tai Chi Chuan about a quarter of a century ago. My instructor, who had just immigrated to the U.S. from China, told us firmly: “Tai Chi is Tai Chi, and Qigong is Qigong—they are completely different,” which is inaccurate. It is possible that during the last century, when the Chinese government prohibited Qigong practice for several decades, people gradually lost a clear understanding of what Qigong truly is. Additionally, some practitioners may have feared being caught practicing Tai Chi Chuan if it was classified as a form of Qigong.

The scope of Qigong is vast, making it challenging to define comprehensively. It encompasses numerous disciplines, including medical Qigong (such as acupuncture, cupping, and therapeutic massage), martial arts infused with internal energy or Qi (e.g., Iron Shirt and Iron Crotch techniques), sitting Qigong, meditation, esoteric Qigong, and Tai Chi Chuan. Over the years, certain individuals have falsely claimed to possess supernatural abilities, using so-called “Qi” to heal diseases—sometimes effective due to the placebo effect—or to alter people’s destinies. However, authentic Qigong practice has been documented extensively in classical Chinese medical literature and validated by modern Western clinical studies for its immense health benefits.

In 1986, the Chinese government established the Chinese Health Qigong Association, officially recognizing exercises such as Ba Duan Jin (Eight Pieces of Brocade), Yi Jin Jing (Tendon Transformation Classic), and Wu Qin Xi (Five Animal Frolics) as valuable Health Qigong forms. In 2018, the association also introduced Ba Fa Wu Bu (Eight Methods and Five Footworks), a simplified Tai Chi form categorized under Health Qigong.

The Distinction Between Tai Chi Chuan and Health Qigong

What exactly are Tai Chi Chuan and Health Qigong exercises? Is there a clear distinction? Tai Chi Chuan is a martial art, just as Kung Fu is. But what differentiates the two? Do Kung Fu practitioners harness Qi in their practice?

Dr. Roger Jahnke, based in Santa Barbara, California, is a doctor of Classical Chinese Medicine with three decades of clinical practice and eight research trips to China to study its ancient healing traditions. As the Founder and Director of the Institute of Integral Qigong and Tai Chi (IIQTC), he consults with hospitals, social service organizations, and corporations on Complementary and Integrative Medicine (CAM/IM), wellness, and medical cost reduction. His books The Healer Within (HarperSanFrancisco, 1999) and The Healing Promise of Qi (McGraw-Hill, 2002) have been widely used in mind-body programs worldwide, making him a prominent figure in the Western understanding of Qigong and Tai Chi. He was also among the first to introduce these practices to the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs (VA), and his IIQTC has trained over 5,000 instructors and practice leaders globally.

Recently, I had the privilege of interviewing Dr. Jahnke about the critical question: What is the difference between Tai Chi Chuan and Health Qigong? His response took us back to a fundamental principle—where does the best medicine come from? Over the past 150 years, Western medicine has conditioned us to believe that medicine comes from external sources. However, Traditional Chinese Medicine (TCM) is based on the idea that the human body has the capacity to generate its own internal medicine to promote healing.

Many ancient Asian and Indigenous American cultures have interactive healing practices that combine mental focus, physical activity, and breath control. These traditions incorporate movement, breathwork, and mindfulness. In China, such practices evolved into meditation techniques that cultivate stillness, deep breathing, and postural adjustments, sometimes with specific hand gestures, performed either seated or standing—this is Qigong.

If we envision a spectrum, at one end lies complete stillness, and at the other, highly dynamic movements. The most intense and physically demanding movements, often associated with hard style martial arts, are more Yang in nature and are categorized as Kung Fu or Wushu. The most passive forms, such as seated meditation, are more Yin. Tai Chi Chuan exists in the middle, as a harmonious balance of Yin and Yang. These practices not only help prevent and heal diseases but also foster social connection and alleviate economic burdens by reducing healthcare costs.

A Call for Collective Well-being

Dr. Jahnke raises an interesting question: Wouldn’t it be wonderful if people practiced Kung Fu, Tai Chi, or Qigong together to improve their health, rather than arguing over political differences? He urges us to reflect on whether we would rather spend a little time each day practicing these healing arts or spend hours sitting in a doctor’s office, waiting at a pharmacy, or undergoing medical procedures.

He also emphasizes the importance of prohab—prehabilitation before surgery. Practicing Tai Chi and Qigong can be an effective prehab strategy to prepare patients for surgery and can also aid in rehabilitation afterward.

To make these healing arts more accessible, Dr. Jahnke advocates for creating a broad gateway to accommodate various approaches to Qi cultivation. He recalls the historic 2009 Tai Chi Chuan Symposium at Vanderbilt University, where the lineage holders of the five major Tai Chi styles (Chen, Yang, Wu, Wu-Hao, and Sun) came together to teach a standardized 16-movement form for each of their style. For him, this was a pivotal moment, as it demonstrated that even traditional masters recognized the value of shorter forms. While traditional long forms are ideal for elite practitioners, simplified versions make Tai Chi accessible to a broader audience in today’s fast-paced world.

Grandmaster Yang Zhenduo of Yang Family Tai Chi Chuan famously stated that if one does not have time to complete the 16-movement form, they can simply choose one or two favorite movements and practice them repeatedly. According to Dr. Jahnke, this repetition of individual Tai Chi movements is, in essence, practicing Qigong.

In 2005, the University of Chicago, the National Council on Aging, the Veterans Administration, the YMCA, and a team of scientists and traditional Tai Chi instructors convened a national expert panel on Qigong and Tai Chi. Their consensus report concluded that making Tai Chi easier to learn and practice would help promote this powerful health exercise.

Even before 2009, Dr. Jahnke had already developed Tai Chi Easy, a simplified regimen incorporating five essential movements from various traditional Tai Chi styles. By repeating these movements, practitioners can experience the benefits of Tai Chi while focusing on key principles such as proper posture, breathing, relaxation, sinking, and expansion. His approach emphasizes principle-based learning, making Tai Chi accessible to everyone.

Ultimately, whether through Tai Chi, Qigong, or a fusion of both, these ancient practices provide a path to better health, greater well-being, and a more harmonious society.