ravi_mohan wrote:perhaps phase difference)? that would bring the permutations to 8.
Bingo.
Here's a video of Zhu Tiancai showing his "neigong" set. It includes the 8 possibilities commonly used. In the video he does the following, in order:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=lKnfapx ... 2552EF53F71. one hand, positive circle
2. one hand, negative circle
right hand, positive circle
right hand, negative circle
left hand, positive circle
left hand, negative circle
3. right hand, negative circle, left hand, negative circle, 180 degrees out of phase
4. right hand, positive circle, left hand, positive circle, 180 degrees out of phase (Cloud Hands)
5. right hand, positive circle, left hand, negative circle
6. right hand, negative circle, left hand, positive circle
7. right hand negative circle, left hand negative circle, in phase
8. right hand positive circle, left hand, positive circle, in phase