There are hundreds of different Kung fu Styles, each with their own sets of techniques and ideas. The concept of martial arts styles appeared from around the Ming dynasty (1368-1644). Before the Ming period, martial arts skills were commonly differentiated mainly by their lineage. There are common themes among these kung fu styles which allow them to be grouped according to generalized “families”, “sects”, “class”, or “schools” of martial art styles.

There are kung fu styles that mimic movements from animals, or otherwise refer or allude to animals or mythical beings such as dragons, and others that gather inspiration from various Chinese philosophies or mythologies. Some deeply-internal styles tend to focus strongly on practice relating to harnessing of qi energy, while some more-conspicuously-external styles tend more to display skills and abilities in competition or exhibition.

Traditional Chinese martial arts (传统中国武术 chuántǒng Zhōngguó wǔshù)

The following Chinese martial arts have not been influenced by other cultures and have a lineage that predates World War 2. Multiple branches of most every Chinese martial art system exist and are properly notated on separate individual pages which discuss the history of the specific system.

 

1	Bafa Quan	Eight Methods Boxing – 八法拳 (Bāfǎ quán)
2	Bagua Zhang	Eight Trigrams Palm – 八卦掌 (Bāguà zhǎng)
3	Baihe Pai	Tibetan White Crane System – 白鹤派 (Báihè pài)
4	Baihe Quan	White Crane Boxing – 白鹤拳 (Báihè quán)
5	Baimei Quan	White Eyebrow Boxing – 白眉拳 (Báiméi quán)
6	Baji Quan	Eight Ultimates Boxing – 八极拳 (Bājí quán)
7	Bao Quan	Leopard Boxing – 豹拳 (Bào quán)
8	Bei Shaolin	Gu Ruzhang’s (顾汝章) Northern Shaolin – 北少林 (Běi Shàolín)
9	Cai Jia Quan	Cai Jiuyi’s (蔡九仪) Family Boxing – 蔡家拳 (Cài jiā quán)
10	Cai Li Fo	Cai, Li, and Fo Boxing – 蔡李佛 (Cài Lǐ Fó)
11	Cha Quan	Zha Shangyi’s (查尚义) Boxing – 查拳 (Chá quán / Zhā quán)
12	Chang Quan	Long Boxing – 长拳 (Cháng quán)
13	Chuo Jiao Men	Penetrating Feet System – 戳脚门 (Chuō jiǎo mén)
14	Ditang Quan	Ground Boxing – 地躺拳 (Dìtǎng quán)
15	Duan Quan	Short Boxing – 短拳 (Duǎn quán)
16	Emei Quan	Emei-mountain Boxing – 峨嵋拳 (Éméi quán)
17	Fanzi Quan	Eight Overturning Boxing – 八翻拳 (Bāfān quán)
18	Fojia Quan	Buddhist Boxing – 佛家拳 (Fójiā quán)
19	Gou Quan	Dog Boxing – 狗拳 (Gǒu quán)
20	Heihu Quan	Black Tiger Boxing – 黑虎拳 (Hēihǔ quán)
21	Hong Fo Quan	Hong and Buddhist Boxing – 洪佛拳 (Hóng Fó quán)
22	Hong Jia Quan	Hong society (洪门 Hóngmén) Boxing – 洪家拳 (Hóng jiā quán)
23	Hou Quan	Monkey Boxing – 猴拳 (Hóu quán)
24	Hua Quan	Hua-mountain Boxing – 华拳 (Huá quán) – Cai Mao’s (蔡茂)
25	Huxing Quan	Tiger Boxing – 虎形拳 (Hǔxíng quán)
26	Jingwu Men	Jingwu System – 精武门 (Jīngwǔ mén)
27	Kunlun Quan	Kunlun-mountain Boxing – 昆仑拳 (Kūnlún quán)
28	Lama Pai	Lama System – 喇嘛派 (Lǎma pài)
29	Li Jia Quan	Li Xikai’s (李锡开) Family Boxing – 李家拳 (Lǐ jiā quán)
30	Li Tong Pai	Li Tong’s System – 黎峒派 (Lí Tóng pài)
31	Liuhe Bafa	Six Harmonies Eight Methods – 六合八法 (Liùhé bāfǎ)
32	Longxing Quan	Dragon Boxing – 龙形拳 (Lóngxíng quán)
33	Luohan Quan	Arhat Boxing – 罗汉拳 (Luóhàn quán)
34	Meihua Quan	Plum Blossom Boxing – 梅花拳 (Méihuā quán)
35	Mian Quan	Cotton Boxing – 棉拳 (Mián quán)
36	Mizong Quan	Lost Track Boxing – 迷踪拳 (Mízōng quán)
37	Mo Jia Quan	Mo Dashi’s (莫达士) Family Boxing – 莫家拳 (Mò jiā quán)
38	Nan Pai Tanglang Quan	Southern System Mantis Boxing – 南派螳螂拳 (Nán pài tángláng quán)
39	Nan Quan	Southern Boxing – 南拳 (Nán quán)
40	Pao Chui	Cannon Boxing – 炮捶 (Pào chuí)
41	Pigua Quan	Chopping and Hanging Boxing – 劈挂拳 (Pīguà quán)
42	Rougong Men	Flexible Skill System – 柔功门 (Róugōng mén)
43	Shaolin Quan	Shaolin-temple Boxing – 少林拳 (Shàolín quán)
44	She Quan	Snake Boxing – 蛇拳 (Shé quán)
45	Shuaijiao	Wrestling – 摔跤 (Shuāijiāo)
46	Taiji Quan	Supreme Ultimate Boxing – 太极拳 (Tàijí quán)
47	Taizu Quan	Emperor Taizu’s Boxing – 太祖拳 (Tàizǔ quán)
48	Tanglang Quan	Mantis Boxing – 螳螂拳 (Tángláng quán)
49	Tantui	Pond Leg – 潭腿 (Tántuǐ)
50	Tongbei Quan	Through-the-back Boxing – 通背拳 (Tōngbèi quán)
51	Wudang Quan	Wudang-mountain Boxing – 武当拳 (Wǔdāng quán)
52	Wuxing Quan	Five Animals Boxing – 五形拳 (Wǔxíng quán)
53	Wuzu Quan	Five Ancestors Boxing – 五祖拳 (Wǔzǔ quán)
54	Xia Jia Quan	Xia Family Boxing – 侠家拳 (Xiá jiā quán)
55	Xingyi Quan	Shape and Intention Boxing – 形意拳 (Xíngyì quán)
56	Yi Quan	Intention Boxing – 意拳 (Yì quán)
57	Yingzhua Pai	Eagle Claw System – 鹰爪派 (Yīngzhuǎ pài)
58	Yongchun Quan	Yongchun Boxing  – 詠春拳 (Yǒngchūn quán) – Singing Spring-time Boxing)
59	Yue Jia Quan	General Yue Fei’s family Boxing – 岳家拳 (Yuè jiā quán)
60	Zhou Jia Quan	Zhou Family Boxing – 周家拳 (Zhōu jiā quán)
61	Ziran Men	Natural System – 自然门 (Zìrán mén)

Post-World War II systems of Chinese martial arts

The names of the following martial arts systems were either created after World War 2 and / or were influenced by other cultures.

1	Ba Ying Quan	Eight Shadows Boxing – 八影拳 (Bā yǐng quán)
2	Feng Shou	Wind Hand – 風手 (Fēng shǒu)
3	Jeet Kune Do	Li Zhenfan’s (Bruce Lee’s) Interception Boxing Methodology – Jeet Kune Do – 截拳道 (Jiéquándào)
4	Liu Xiang Quan Dao	Liu Xiang’s (Willem Reeders’s) Boxing Methodology – 刘相拳道 (Liú Xiàng quán dào)
5	Tianshan Pai	Tian Mountain System – 天山派 (Tiānshān pài)