There are 48 plus orthodox techniques in TCC.
All should be practiced.
one reason for those who have baishi understand is a vow to practice the art not just for our selves but to be able to pass a true transmission down.
as a coach I have trained students to use techniques that became their bread and butter that I personally dislike. We must maintain the art!
the second is more important and ... "internal".
Ting consists of ,
at the bottom left, three horizontal and one vertical line; this character means "disciple".
At the top right there is a cross: this is the number "ten".
At the upper left, what looks like a ladder is the character for "ear".
Below the cross are three boxes: the character for "eye".
At the bottom right is the character for "heart / mind".
So we have a disciple who assiduously (ten times) uses his eyes, ears and mind to listen.
Now...
Nei Gung will train the body to be connected, and know how to express power in a flowing manner, with no need to recoil. It will teach the potential and limitations of such in ourselves and in our opponents (them being human too). It does more... but that's enough for this discussion.
Training the orthodox applications, one must remember that these applications themselves are designed to aid learning, later when proficient we usually combine several orthodox methods as the situation demands and for the desired result. they follow from extensive nei gung practice and contain the styles "shen fa" (though I dislike using a "dance" term).
Practicing these, using them and having them used upon us, "carving again and again" as the classics advise, one recognizes not only the "feel" but the "form" and "tells" of such attempts, and develops an intuition as to their strengths and weaknesses. Further study and familiarity leads to the high-level ability of strategic feints and draws. In other words the ears, eyes and mind are trained to appreciate the forces involved and the warning signs... thus "we can arrive first", recognizing such, or setting traps!
Fighting is not exactly chess... there's no time to take ten minutes before each move! it is vital to develop through gung fu, (which to all, but non-fighters, means study of the application and drilling techniques and sparring), a kinaesthetic ability. And I agree with classic writings, without this "gung" you may practice until you are an old man but you will remain a cripple!
The moronic bullshit written above - frowning upon technique practice as "external" simply indicates an extremely limited "intellectual" understanding of the art, and an utter absence of understanding of nei gung, the foundation of any internal art. An intellectual understanding born thus, in a vacuum of martial testing and proper practice, cannot hope to deliver much truth.
All the nei gung and tuishou in the world without a thorough familiarity with fighting is utterly hopeless, far, far worse skill-wise than those who are intimate with violence yet lack nei gung, as the Yang and Wu writings state quite clearly. No fighter would dare suggest technique practice is not required, or worse that such is an "external" method to an "internal" system! FFS! Clowns!
It is clear from such martially-shy pronouncements, that seek to negate "process", who can and who cannot fight, who can and cannot link the various pillars of training, and thus who truly understands the "internal"!