Baguazhang, Eight Trigram Palm, utilizes the I-Ching (The Book of Changes) to set up its guidelines and to establish the rhythm for its movements. One of its most predominant characteristics is the use of palms (zhang) for its applications, thus the style is named Baguazhang.

Baguazhang integrates circular stepping and Daoyin Qigong with martial arts. It "uses movements as its foundation, and uses transformations as its principle". The movements are always changing, spinning and turning, while rapidly moving in curvilinear patterns. Its movements are described as, "Walk like a dragon, retrieve and spin like an ape, change momentum like an eagle, and calm and steady like a still tiger". In its applications, it uses motion against an opponent’s stillness, stresses the use of rapid stepping and turning movements to evade an opponent’s frontal attacks, and uses the momentum of its movements to counterattack the opponent’s openings.

The constant turning and spinning movements, stimulates the joints and muscles to provide a work out for many areas of the body that are not normally exercised. These movements also stimulate acupuncture cavities by compressing and relaxing the muscles around them, loosening stagnant energy, and allowing Qi to circulate smoothly.