"Tai Chi's curriculum, for all its benefits and martial origins, does not include fighting."
This is not really true ...
You are correct that all Tai Chi that you see being practiced and essentially all Tai Chi practitioners are basically doing standing yoga exercises.
However, there are people studying Tai Chi stances and movements and their application to "real" fighting.
I am very, very much opposed to the bullshit in martial arts and I am happy to see frauds exposed ... but as a mixed martial arts and BJJ player, I do find value in Tai Chi movements and practice - and not solely for relaxation and meditation.
This is not really true ...
You are correct that all Tai Chi that you see being practiced and essentially all Tai Chi practitioners are basically doing standing yoga exercises.
However, there are people studying Tai Chi stances and movements and their application to "real" fighting.
I am very, very much opposed to the bullshit in martial arts and I am happy to see frauds exposed ... but as a mixed martial arts and BJJ player, I do find value in Tai Chi movements and practice - and not solely for relaxation and meditation.