What principles would I learn?

The first principle is openness.

Being "open" implies maintaining access to information. Through cultural training and unskillful dealing with past hurts, most of us have "closed up" in various ways. This affects our postures, our emotions, and our relationships. TaiChi is a training system designed to help us change our old habits. It teaches how to "open up". The starting point is to "open up" to internal information: perceiving breath and heartbeat. Next, is to open up to an improved sense of internal balance. Then students expand their scope to include awareness of other persons' internal dynamics - giving them more information about what's driving their relationships.

The second principle is balance.

Being "balanced" helps one avoid being wounded after opening up. When external influences try to disturb our equilibrium, "balance" is what allows us to stay in control. Balance is maintained by staying in touch with the "central axis" - the "point" upon which a situation turns. This is taught by demonstrating how to perceive and influence the central point upon which a situation turns. Learning to find the "central axis" of one's own body is training for finding the pivotal point in other environments.