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Well - technically - no one is being trained for fighting but organizations, including St. Paul's L'Amoreaux Centre in Scarborough, are teaching dozens of people an ancient martial art that was once used to train the Chinese army for combat.

But instead of kicking, blocking and moving to disarm an opponent, people who practise the martial art of tai chi are doing so for discipline, exercise and well-being, said St. Paul's tai chi instructor Kent Lai, who has been practising the art for more than 50 years and teaching it for about seven.

While many people may scoff at the idea of tai chi being a martial art, particularly when you most often see seniors performing its slow, measured movements, Lai said anyone at any age can benefit from it.

"It's not only seniors. It's a discipline martial arts. You learn it when you are younger just like any other type of martial art."

There are four types of tai chi: tai chi, tai chi fist, which is what is taught at St. Paul's, tai chi push-hand, where people use weapons such as swords and sabers, and waterboxing, which looks like participants are moving in water.

In tai chi, people shift their weight and turn their pelvis.

"This is the most basic of tai chi," Lai said.

When people think of traditional martial arts, they think of the Jet Li and Jackie Chan whose martial arts are characterized by quick movements and lots of kicking. But Lai said by going slow, practitioners are judging their opponents.

"When something is coming (at you), we yield to them. I am balancing, then they are unbalanced. If you push me, I shift. I am breaking momentum. ... It's a martial art, every move is a kind of defensive and offensive."

However, Dan O'Donnell, who has been a member of the Taoist Tai Chi, Etobicoke chapter, for four years, said his organization does not offer a martial arts tai chi. As far as he knows, Taoist Tai Chi is the only organization that does not.

Instead, members of his club learn about the spiritual side of tai chi. While people do classes in a group setting, the focus is on the individual finding inner peace. But the health benefits, including improving the immune system and bone density, are the same.

For O'Donnell, he was able to continue his tai chi two days before quadruple bypass surgery, have an uneventful five-day hospital stay and get back into his regular routine a month later.

While he said a number of older people come to the classes to either regain or maintain mobility (the Taoist Tai Chi organization works with the Parkinson and MS societies to help people with their mobility), O'Donnell said he recommends that everyone participate.

"I wish I started when I was 20," he said. While he understands that many people have a hard time finding time to practice, he encourages people to make time for tai chi.

"It's good for the mind. It's a moving meditation. You still the mind and make it more aware of what the body is doing."

And besides, said Lai, people can take as much or as little time to do the 37 postures that make up a tai chi fist routine. People can do the routine in four or five minutes, 20 to 22 minutes or more than an hour.

"When you go slow, you are training your inner body, not training your outer body. I would rather have one milimetre of extension instead of having five inches of muscle. (Increasing) tendons is really important to the body," Lai said.

When training slowly, there is no impact on the feet, ankle or joints while people are also stretching.

"The whole body is working and that is the benefit."

Participant John Wong from North York has been practising tai chi at St. Paul's for just more than a year. He joined the group and has noticed improved health including flexibility and back strength. He practises at home about two times a week for a half a hour.

Another participant, Jenny Law, said she has finds tai chi helpful for her spine.

Ted Hogarth has been practising tai chi for 15 years. He initially joined the St. Paul's group after suffering from medical problems. He said it not only helps his heart but it helps participants relax.

Lai said people need to bring exercise into their daily life.

"Try to put exercise as one of your daily routines, any form of exercise," Lai said.

O'Donnell agreed.

You have try it (tai chi). ... Some people like it, some people don't. It's like some people like brussels sprouts and some people don't. You have to try something and find out if it's for you."

And the good thing about tai chi is that you can do it anywhere, Lai said.

"You don't need any tools, just use your own body weight. The Chinese are very clever, you don't have to buy anything (to practice)."