Martial arts!

[DarkCloud-]

Deleted!

[Southpaw535]

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Tai_chi_chuan
Tai chi isn't designed as a defense art and if thats one of your main goals I would choose something else personally internally I have respect tai chi. I can't comment on caoperia since I don't know enough about it but again if defense is a main goal I'd think about it. Just my thoughts but either way just be sure you pick something you enjoy and pulls you in :cool:

[Spinmaster]

Tai chi isn't designed as a defense art

Then what was it designed for? It is true that it often isn't taught in a fighting/martial manner, but when taught properly it is great for fighting. I've mentioned this before, but my Aikido coach also trains MMA and Tai Chi. Now you know MMA fighters hit hard, but he's told me that the hardest he has ever been hit was by a 70 year old Tai Chi teacher.

[Southpaw535]

Vaguely remember that story now. I don't doubt it can be used for defence but I do think it takes a lot longer and is far less likely than trainig muay thai or another competition art. Plus you mentioned the guy was 70 years old, damn impressive, but also means he's been training for quite a while to do it. I'm not discarding tai chi I'm just saying that if one of the OP's main goals is to defend himself there are better options

[Moi]

but he's told me that the hardest he has ever been hit was by a 70 year old Tai Chi teacher.

Finding someone like that is going to be a pretty tall order.

[Spinmaster]

Finding someone like that is going to be a pretty tall order.

Yeah, I know. I just bring it up to show that it isn't Tai Chi that is non combat-effective, it is the majority of Tai Chi teachers.

[Spinmaster]

but I do think it takes a lot longer

Yes, my Coach also says it takes longer to get where you can actually fight with it than some other arts (he used Karate as an example, IIRC). :)