There are sixteen techniques that are practised separately from the mother palms. The dragon way is considered the basic way. Other ways of doing the skills accord to the model and spirit of the other animals. There are a number of drills for each technique to train the ability to apply them concentrating on whole body power, with different moving steps, with a partner, and in sparring practice.
Bagua uses moving steps, so even the 'stance' training is not rigid. It is called 'setting the stake', rather than 'stake standing'.
The basic stance is mabu. Almost everything else feels like mabu, even circle-walking. The main stances are probably best described as mabu stance, mabu open stance, mabu turned stance.
The basic footwork is straight line advancing, inside triangle stepping, outside triangle stepping, zigzag advancing, back and forth bai-kou stepping, T pattern stepping, turning kou large bai stepping. All use the baibu and koubu. Random stepping is also often practised, as long as it uses the baibu and koubu.
Most practice, aside from circle-walking, is of these techniques with stake setting and stepping patterns. Different drills for each technique are just slight differences in combinations of footwork, setup, or following technique, they aren't really 'new' ways of doing the technique. They are always done with whole body power, usually after a circle-walking practice when the qi is full. The changes, routines and weapons are not practised as often, except for the dragon's single palm change, mastery of which is key to mastery of the others.
Fali (power issue) movements cannot develop the strength of the feet, lower back, and neck. Fali movements cannot be strong until the feet, lower back, and neck (the weakest links) are strong. Only circle-walking develops this strength. The strength of the tendons determines the power of the technique. So if you are not getting the results that you want, it is because you haven't sufficiently changed the tendons. The only way to do that is circle-walking and tendon changing.
Do not get excited when you do the fali movements, keep the qi settled down so that you feel strong and settled. You should not feel empty and tired after a fali practice. Always start out slowly to find the feeling and movement, then add power and intensity as you feel good. Do not practise fali if you do not feel powerful.
