ok, so taking off from the other thread, we agreed that a training regimen of lien gung and isolated techniques form an excellent foundation, and also help more seasoned practitioners break through plateaus. So let's share our favorite ones:
Lien Gung drills:
I just bought a set of mok yee pai, and considering Hop Ga looks at this as being one of their most important training methods for developing the long arm punches, it is going to be one of my main drills.
Jars-not just holding, but bending and flexing the wrist foward and back while gripping-with just the tips of the fingers, not simply by gripping with the last digit. Also try it with turning your wrist so your hand is sideways(like a Northern Eagle claw)and raising and lowering it with just your wrist.
Bamboo Dividing-holding your arms inside of two vertically held rattaan staves-palms down, and rotating them foward and outward, while turning them slowly over to palm down. Also do this on the outside of the staves, bringing your bridge inward.
Belt-Cracking Drills-stolen from Shuai Jiao-really develop the short power and the grip.
Separate Techniques:
Bow stance,ping choy, shifting into Side Horse, yat ji choy.
Side Horse Gwa Choy, shifting into Bow Stance, Ping Choy.
Side horse Kiu Sau(but stepping with the rear foot from 6:00 to 5:00 to do so) and then shifting into bow stance for the ping choy. This helps teach angling footwork, rather than a retreating step.
The section in GGFFK going foward, after the Unicorn and horse section.
I like the rising and falling, foward and back movement. I also practice it, not going foward and back, but foward, and foward.
(The cut and chin ji sao section especially)