All chuanzhang drills must be heavy but not tight, light but not weak, go straight to the target, arrive as one action, release the shoulders forward, stay in the body not the arms, and keep a balanced structure. Almost always, the rear hand is kept at the elbow of the leading hand.
1. Inside triangle stepping to chuanzhang. Step the left foot across the base of the triangle. Bring the right foot in past the left then out to the apex of the triangle. Right chuanzhang. The weight is slightly forward but not to a bow stance. It should feel the same as circle-walking. Leave the arm extended and bring the right foot back then over to the base of the triangle. Bring the left foot in past the right then out to the apex of the triangle. Left chuanzhang. Keep the body upright throughout.
2. Straight line stepping to alternating chuanzhang, with an advancing step. Step the forward foot first then step the other foot through and chuanzhang with the same side. All straight line stepping drills step the leading foot a bit first. This makes the opponent uncomfortable and may destroy their balance. If you don't move in with the feet then you may end up leaning, which should never be done.
3. Straight line stepping with same side snaking chuanzhang. With an advancing step, turn the palm over on each step. Keep on the same side and advance the leading foot, keeping the same side doing the chuanzhang, rotating to palm up and palm down. Coil the wrist around naturally as if around someone who is blocking your attack.
4. Straight line stepping with yinyang chuanzhang. With an advancing step, turn the palm over on each step. Keep on the same side and advance the leading foot, keeping the same side doing the chuanzhang, rotating to palm up and palm down. Move the whole body in and screw the hand directly forward. Keep behind the arm and remain heavy. Push from the rear leg, do not shift back and forth to advance.
5. Straight line stepping to triple chuanzhang. Think of the hands as the head and tail of a snake. One follows the other. Make sure to bring the rear hand through from the body – do not use just the arms.
6. Stepping through with alternating chuanzhang, direct stepping. Step directly into chuanzhang with no shuffle or follow in step. Do this with soft power.
7. Hook and liaozhang, turning to chuanzhang, to four directions. After the chuanzhang, hook the hand and step forward with koubu to turn around. Liaozhang the other hand then step forward to chuanzhang. The chuan is done continuously on the same hand in this drill.
8. Koubu to turn, then baibu palm up yazhang at shoulder height with the rear hand tucked near the body. Then step forward chuanzhang. Turn directly to dragon form. Repeat on the other side.
9. Combinations following chuanzhang: chuanzhang with tanzhang, chuanzhang with snaking, chuanzhang alternating palm up with palm down, chuanzhang with daishou, chuanzhang with yezhang, chuanzhang with tuishou, chuanzhang with fanbeichui. In most drills you can add a technique to the chuan, to get used to following up a chuanzhang with another technique.