This application presents a classical take on the "shoulder throw." It is also sometimes referred to as "Carry a Barbarian Over Your Back." Baguazhang is basically known as a circular art, and in this case, uses a combination of a horizontal entry with a vertical finish. In many Nei Jia Kung Fu martial arts, both forces are often combined and varied in order to engage the opponent’s aggression with an application that harnesses lightness and sensitivity, maintains contact, and exploits weaknesses in the opponent’s situation.

Fundamentally, the purpose of Baguazhang is to train the practitioner to combine and utilize polar and circular forces (a sophisticated synthesis of Yin and Yang). This particular form is introduced in the Second Palm. The Second Palm is sometimes referred to as Jiang's Double Palm Change. It is also known as Lake/Wind Palm in some circles. The Old Eight Palms features complete symmetry in hand and body (like most of Jiang's Bagua forms) and is an integral part of the foundational practice of the elaborate system of Baguazhang.