As with almost any learning, the earlier you start the better.
From a teacher
depends on the person not the art. Personally i feel tai chi is a more complete fighting style. It takes much longer to learn tho. Tai Chi is more a grappling art.
There is a DVD that shows 20 of America's best known Tai-chi teachers performing forms, push hands, weapons forms and sparring and the lion dance. It is called "The Best of American Tai-chi".
The most popular Tai Chi DVD series are The Tai Chi - 24 Hours, Sunrise Tai Chi, Totaly Nude Yoga and Tai chi, Tai Chi for Health - Yang Short Form with Terrence Dunn etc.
Tai Chi comes from China.
tai gik is the cantonese pronunciation. tai chi is mandarin.
Ku style Tai Chi does exist, as well as Wu style; and many other styles of Tai Chi. Katara studies Ku style/Yang form Tai Chi, Sun style Tai Chi, and Bikram Yoga.
in what ways is tai chi powerful
Yes, weapons are used in tai chi.
Quo Tai-chi was born in 1889.
Quo Tai-chi died in 1952.
Tai Chi-tao was born in 1890.