I have found a great deal can be learned from the body mechanics found in Taiji, they may not fit what you do if it is style specific but they are an interesting exploration regardless if you like to explore and learn.
In Taiji (Tai Chi) there are a number of “classics” written as guides to how to best perform. Some are clear and many others seem baffling. And oddly some make perfect sense only once you understand them.
It takes a good practitioner to give their interpretation of them. Reading different interpretations increase our understanding even if we disagree with what we read.
I think one of the best books for interpretations is: “Taijiquan – True to the Art” by Wee Kee Jin.
This book covers the main classics:
Chang San-Fen Yiji Classics
Wang Ts’ung-Yueh Taiji Classics
The Song of the Thirteen Postures
The Understanding of the Thirteen Postures
The Song of Tuishoa (Push Hands)
The Song of Substance and Function (By Cheng Man Ching)
Important Taiji Points from the Yang Family (For Yang Style Practitioners.
As I said some of the classic are clear, such as:
“At the moment of movement, the body should be light, agile and most importantly connected together (synchronized.)”
Some need thought:
“Up or down forwards and backwards, left or right, are all the same. All these are within the mind and not physically manifested.”
The book then goes into details on further study:
The Body of Taijiquan: “The form helps practitioners “cultivate the awareness of their body, the relaxation, the sinking process, and the relaxed force.”
The Application of Taijiquan: This deals with push hands getting into sticking, joining, adhering, following and listening.
The Art of partner work in Taijiquan: He clarifies that this is what people today call push hands but in the old days it was an exercise to sense and feel.
Fajin – The Discharging and Releasing of the Relaxed Force.
Yielding and Neutralising.
Taijiquan – the Art of Receiving. “The mind must ask, and the body must answer.”
The author ends with his personal Taiji journal and some stories from his teacher all very interesting and nice he put them at the back of the book rather than the start – my opinion.
The paperback version is not available and was really expensive but there are PDF versions available here: https://www.taijisoce.com/shop
It would be nice if someone help them convert this to ebook format and print versions on KDP.