These are the fundamental skills of MaGui Baguazhang. This flow chart follows the traditional organization by animal. Each animal has a circle-walking method, eight mother palms (and their variations) and different versions of the sixteen techniques within it.
The most fundamental training is circle-walking. Please refer to the circle-walking basics page for the methods held in common. Each animal or model will add a special element, but the fundamental circle-walking will remain the same.
The techniques have their own essence and their own variations in practice drills. There are some variations when combined with different animals, and these are described within each technique.
Hand shape is the same for almost all technqiues. The palm is held in an ox tongue shape with the thumb open but hooked, to facilitate grabbing. The thumb tucks fully in for stabbing with chuanzhang.