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Most learn the 'techniques' or the form(s) of the various systems and styles,etc. of Tai Chi and maybe, if they are lucky, the applications, and nowadays,of course the 'theories','principles'etc. but learning the movements is essentially learning technique and no amount of Tai Chi theory is going to make you an adept at it! Practice and more practice but the right kind of practice also........ 
Perhaps you have read in various magazines and books,etc. about Japanese karate and so forth. In this case, it would be well to realize that quite often only one or two techniques were taught and that a reliance or dependency on them was prevalent in many schools and systems. Essentially, those schools and styles utilized the front kick(geri/keri) and the front punch(tsuki) or the reverse punch, with usually one or two blocks, particularly the down block(gedan barai) and the upper block (jodan uki?),etc. Anyway, an interesting article on such is in the latest issue of CLASSICAL FIGHTING ARTS(which used to be called, DRAGON TIMES). Some interesting things about WWII training are to be found in that issue. I believe some writers for the old DRAGON TIMES also brought up some of these issues. The NAKANO SCHOOL is mentioned here and it should also remind us that the late Aikido Founder, taught there also. Technical superiority based solely on abstract principles is not ART! Kano was a great forumulator to be sure, but Mifune was a better judo player.
However, I always like to start things with the empircal basis that forms most science and invention, not to say, art and craftsmanship,etc. The abstract and the theoretical are interesting and we can all use some of it, if we understand, but my point is that we do have oodles and oodles of information but so little KNOWLEDGE and what knowledge we, as individuals possess, is not fully understood by us. If we combine knowledge with understanding then we may indeed achieve something. This is not the whole story,but you may well know all the principles of boiling or frying eggs and still not be able to do either one! Knowing principles does not make you a great cook or a good chef,etc. and you may make an unpalatable mess of things. Yet, some fools can boil eggs and they have never had a lesson in egg boiling and they can learn from experience,etc. Learning from experience is another way of saying that we find out things by empirical and practical approaches. No matter how many principles and notions you may have about wood,stone, or whatever carving, even the turkey at Thanksgiving if you celebrate such, will not help you very much. The examples of hunting and fishing and trapping,etc. are also great examples of this. Now you can learn from great persons who have done such and such and their advice,based on their experience, is usually technique based for the most part. Now how about bayonet training and so forth? No amount of theoretical principles will aid you in learning how to use and defend against the bayonet. You learn specific techniques about such. The same for other military subjects. The manuals for such come later, the lesson plans later, and so forth. You want to have people know how to do things and their objective is observable behavior rather than didactic exposition. Well, I've ranted enough on this for now. Thanks for your time and keep me posted on things. Halford 
What is the PRINCIPAL Principle underlying martial arts? Learn by doing! You can know all the principles of rocketry but it won't take you to Mars! You can know all the principles for atomic energy but it won't help you make an atomic bomb! You can know all the principles of cutting but it won't help you slice and dice carrots! You always begin any skill or art or craft by learning techniques not principles and that is why there are beginners, experts, inepts-non-experts, and masters. I am speaking, now,of individual efforts and talents, not collective groups or nations,etc. You are always given an exercise in meditation, zen, yoga, tai chi, or whatever before you examine any principles or notions. To simply embrace principles, theories,etc. is to put the cart before the horse while learning techniques is putting the horse before the cart. More on this at some other time. 
