The Chinese internal martial arts (also known as the "neijia"), the best
known of which are the "three sisters" of Taijiquan (T'ai Chi Ch'uan),
Xingyiquan (Hsing-I Ch'uan), and Baguazhang (Pa Kua Chang), are martial arts
which offer fascinating insights into body mechanics. Follow are some
articles that I hope you will find of interest.
Overview Article on the Chinese Martial Arts: Bill Chen and Mike Sigman have translated a contemporary overview article on Chinese martial arts written by Liang Shouyu.
Ignorance, Legend, and Taijiquan: Stanley Henning wrote a well-researched article on the origins of Taijiquan. It originally appeared in Greg Bissell's excellent Journal of the Chen Style Taijiquan Research Assocation of Hawaii now known as the Chen Journal.
Silk-Reeling Training: A
perspective on silk-reeling training by Zhang Xuexin, a student of Feng
Zhiqiang, 18-generation. Chen style Taijiquan and founder of Chen Style Xinyi
Hun Yuan Taijiquan.
Training for Sparring: An article on sparring by Chen Zhaokui, of Chen Family Taijiquan.
The Quintessence of Wu (Yuxiang) Style Taijiquan: Here is a translation of some basics points of Wu Yuxiang style Taijiquan by Master Liu Jishun, a senior student of Hao Shaoru.
The Chinese Martial Arts and Wan Laisheng: Bill Chen wrote an article on Wan Laisheng's approach to the martial arts.
An Article on Push-Hands:
Xiang Kairen wrote an interesting article on his studies with some
of the notable practitioners of Taijiquan of his day including Xu Yusheng,
et al. I changed the original Wade-Giles romanization to Pinyin romanization.
Note that it's long.
Notes on Taijiquan Practice
by Dong Yingjie (Tung Ying-chieh). Some advice from one of Yang
Chengfu's top students.
The "Magnetic" Girl: Ray Wiles made available an old article on the "magnetic girl" phenomenon and craze that swept the US and Europe in the late 1800s. The article was posted to the neijia mailing list on 22 January 1996. The original article was: Nelson W. Perry (1895, January). "The Feats of the Magnetic Girl Explained," in Cassier's Magazine: Engineering Illustrated. New York City: The Cassier Magazine Company, pp 236-43.