List of Chinese Martial Arts Styles

This page provides details about major and minor Chinese martial arts styles. It covers martial arts such as Kung FuSanshouShaolinTai ChiWing Chun and many more. If you think a style should be added to this page, please contact us. However, we will only accept martial arts styles that have many schools, an active style association/federation and/or a detailed Wikipedia page.

There are tons of different styles of Kung-Fu (i.e. numerous family styles)… and we know that we are missing a number of Kung Fu styles. Therefore, please let us know of any major missing Chinese styles. Also if possible, please provide us with the Mandarin, Cantonese and English names for the style so we do not duplicate a Chinese style already on this list. For the styles of other countries (i.e. Japan, Korea and Brazil), please visit the main Martial Arts Styles section.

Chinese Martial Arts – Click on each style for more information

  • Bagua Zhang – The “Eight Trigram Palm” style is one of the 3 best known Wudang styles. Best known for its “circle walking”.
  • Bajiquan – Bajiquan is a Chinese martial arts style that is famous for its explosive power and elbow strikes.
  • Bak Mei – White Eyebrows Kung Fu
  • Chang Quan or Long Fist
  • Choy Li Fut – Choy Li Fut (or Cai Li Fo) is a substyle of Kung Fu that combines long and short-range techniques.
  • Chuo Jiao – Chinese “Poking Feet” style
  • Dragon Kung Fu or Long Quan
  • Duan Quan – Duan Quan focuses mainly on short-range close combat techniques. Known for its boxing skills.
  • Eagle Claw Kung Fu – Eagle Claw Kung Fu is a Chinese martial arts known for its gripping techniques, strikes, joint locks, takedowns and pressure point attacks.
  • Fu Jow Pai – Fu Jow Pai (“Tiger Claw Style”) is a Chinese martial arts that is famous for its tiger-like attacks and strikes.
  • Hou Quan – Hou Quan or Monkey Kung Fu is an unorthodox and acrobatic style used to disorient and attack opponents from unusual angles and positions.
  • Hua Quan – Flower boxing.
  • Hung Ga – Hung Ga (or Hung Gar) is a southern Chinese martial arts that combines 5 animal styles (Crane, Dragon, Leopard, Snake and Tiger).
  • Kung Fu – Kung Fu or Gung Fu is a Chinese martial arts style focused on hand/arm strikes, kicks and even weapons training. There are many different schools and styles of Kung Fu.
  • Lama Pai
  • Lau Gar – Lau Gar is derived from a Chinese boxing martial arts that was developed at Kuei Ling Temple, Guang Xi, China.
  • Leopard Kung Fu (Bao Quan) – Leopard Kung Fu is a martial arts that focuses on aggressive speed and agility to defeat an opponent.

 

  • Liu He Ba Fa – Six Harmonies, Eight Methods
  • Mei Hua Quan – Chinese “Plum Flower Fist” style
  • Mizongyi – a.k.a. Mizong Quan meaning the Lost Track Boxing
  • Mok Gar – Mok Gar uses grappling, short range striking techniques, low kicks, weapons, etc.
  • Monkey Kung Fu (Hou Quan) – Monkey Kung Fu is an unorthodox and acrobatic style used to disorient and attack opponents from unusual angles and positions.
  • Nan Quan
  • Praying Mantis Kung Fu – Praying Mantis Kung Fu is known for its redirection, joint manipulation, pressure point attacks and trapping tactics.
  • San Soo – San Soo is focused on self-defense and does not utilize many long forms. 5 Family Fist techniques are a large part of San Soo. It should not be confused with Sanshou.
  • Sanshou (or Sanda) – Sanshou is a martial arts style developed for the Chinese military. It is focused on combat training and combines elements of kung fu, grappling and self-defense techniques.
  • Shaolin Kung Fu – Shaolin Kung Fu is a well known style of Kung Fu. This martial arts was developed by the monks at the Shaolin Temple in China.
  • Shuai Jiao – Shuai Jiao is a Chinese martial arts focused mainly on wrestling and grappling techniques.
  • Snake Kung Fu or She Quan
  • Tai Chi – Tai Chi is often seen as a “gentle” martial art because many seniors use its slow movements in order to improve their health & balance and to reduce stress.
  • Tai Yi Zhang – also known as Liang Yi Quan (the Two Extremes Boxing) is an internal Wudang style with slow and fast movements and sudden bursts of explosive power
  • Tiger Claw Kung Fu (Fu Jow Pai) – Fu Jow Pai (“Tiger Claw Style”) is a Chinese martial arts that is famous for its tiger-like attacks and strikes.
  • White Crane Kung Fu or Bai He Quan
  • Wing Chun – Wing Chun is a Chinese martial arts style focused on strikes, grappling and weapons training.
  • Wudang Quan – Wudang mountain-style boxing.
  • Wushu – Wushu is the modern-day sports version of Kung Fu. Wushu was developed in the 1950s as an attempt to unify the multitude of traditional Chinese martial arts into one national style.
  • Wuzu Quan – Five Ancestors Kung Fu
  • Xing Yi Quan – Xing Yi Quan (or Form-Intention Boxing) is classified as an internal Wudang style. This style utilizes explosive power and linear movements.
  • Zui Quan – Zui Quan is better known as the “Drunken Fist” style.