Why Women Are Better Than Men at Tai Chi

On average, women are better than men at Tai Chi.

Women tend to progress faster at the start. Men often have to unlearn tension, competitiveness, and reliance on strength before Tai Chi starts to make sense.

Here are a few reasons why women are better than men at Tai Chi:

1. Less Likely to Muscle Through Techniques

They don’t treat every move like a bench press PR. Instead of forcing their way through, they use structure, listen to the body, and figure out how the movement is actually supposed to work.

2. Uses Intention (Yi) Earlier Due to Less Strength

When you don’t have raw power to fall back on, you start using your mind sooner. You have to pay attention to what your body is actually doing. You need intention behind the movement.

That mental focus? That’s Yi.

3. More Sensitive to Internal Movement

They notice small shifts, weight, tension, alignment, way earlier. Where a guy might need someone to poke his back and say “Hey, you’re leaning,” she’s already adjusted.

Tai Chi rewards this kind of awareness.

4. More Open to Learning from Sensation Instead of Analysis

They feel it out. While a guy’s busy calculating knee angles, she’s already adjusted based on what feels right. Tai Chi isn’t figured out by thinking about it all day. It’s felt through the body.

5. Less Obsessed with Winning (Ego)

They’re not trying to dominate their partner in partner work or “beat” the form. They’re okay being soft, being wrong, being corrected. This mindset makes it way easier to improve.

Tai Chi doesn’t care if you win. You must invest in loss.

This doesn’t mean men aren’t good at Tai Chi. The ones who stick with it often develop real depth. Women go far with softness, but leaning into Yang energy takes it to another level.

In partner work, I was always told to train with little old ladies. I know why now.

Written 3rd August 2025

PS new updated article on why women are better than men at tai chi is here (9th March 2026)