White Sash
FoundationThe starting point for all students. White Sash training establishes the physical and mental framework for everything that follows — proper stances, fundamental strikes, and an introduction to self-defense and controlled sparring.
Little Horse (Hsiao Ma)
Rooted in the core of Shao-Lin training — the Horse Stance. Students learn to sink their weight, hold their ground, and generate force from a stable base. Every technique in the system eventually leads back to this.
Little Snake (Hsiao She)
An introduction to snake-style movement — fluid weight shifts, precise fingertip strikes, and the ability to change angle without telegraphing intent. The snake doesn't overpower; it finds openings.
Short Kata 1–10
A progressive series of short combinations covering basic blocks, punches, kicks, and sweeps. Each kata builds on the last, developing coordination, timing, and muscle memory for the techniques used throughout the system.
Sparring Techniques 1–10
Structured offensive combinations practiced with a partner — jump kicks, sweeps, back fists, and entries into close range. These drills bridge individual technique and live sparring, building the timing and awareness needed to apply what is practiced solo.
Chin Na — Self-Defense
Joint locks, escapes, and takedowns for common real-world grabs and attacks: wrist grabs, chokes, headlocks, full nelsons, and hair grabs from front and rear. Chin Na (literally "seize and control") trains practical responses to situations students may actually encounter.
Stances
Bow Stance, Horse Stance, Cat Stance, Bird Stance, Monkey Stance, and Reverse Bow Stance — the structural vocabulary of all Shao-Lin movement. Correct stance is the foundation every other technique is built on.
Yellow Sash
First FormsThe first traditional open-hand forms are introduced at Yellow Sash, marking the transition from basics to system. Staff fundamentals and one-step fighting drills begin here.
Four Doors Way Connected (Si Men Tao Lian)
An introductory open-hand form covering the four cardinal directions, introducing angular footwork and compound combinations. Students begin to understand how position and angle change the effectiveness of every technique.
Flying Tiger Comes Out of the Cave (Fei Hu Chu Tung)
A dynamic form emphasizing explosive forward entry, powerful palm strikes, and aggressive linear footwork. The tiger does not wait — this form trains the instinct to close distance and overwhelm.
Ippon Kumite
Also called one-step fighting — structured partner drills training blocks, counters, and follow-up combinations from both sides of the body. Ippon Kumite bridges solo technique and live sparring, teaching students to read and respond to an incoming attack in real time.
Staff (Kuan)
Foundational staff mechanics: reverse figure-8, forward figure-8, center spin, and two-hand swing. The staff is the first traditional weapon of the system. These fundamentals build the wrist strength, body coordination, and spatial awareness needed for all future weapon work.
Short Kata 11–15
The kata series continues, adding sweeps, crescent kicks, and multi-hit combinations. Each new kata introduces a concept or technique that builds toward more advanced material later in the curriculum.
Chin Na — Continued
The self-defense series expands to include additional joint manipulation techniques, arm bar variations, and choke escapes — broadening the practical toolkit built at White Sash.
Blue Sash
First Weapon Form · NunchakuForms grow longer and more technically demanding. The first complete weapon form is learned, nunchaku training begins, and students are introduced to street-application techniques alongside continued sparring development.
Giant Bird Spreads Its Wings (Tai Peng Sin Kun)
A flowing open-hand form drawing from bird-style movement, emphasizing extended reach, sweeping arm techniques, and light footwork. The bird's ability to change direction instantly is the core lesson here.
First Level Staff Form (Chu Chi Kuan Su)
The first complete weapon form. Integrates the foundational staff swings into a full sequence of attacks, blocks, and transitions — putting together what was learned at Yellow Sash into a living, moving form.
Nunchaku (Liang-Chie-Kuan)
Eight foundational swing patterns: horizontal, vertical, figure-8 (forward and reverse), underarm snap, diagonal strike, cross-body catch, and double-8. Develops speed, coordination, and control of a fast flexible weapon.
Street Fighting One-Steps
Practical application techniques against common street attacks — punches, roundhouse swings, shirt grabs, and knife attacks from high and low. Builds real-world awareness and decisive response under pressure.
Short Kata 16–22
The series adds upper-cut entries, jump transitions, and stance-shifting combinations — growing in complexity and requiring greater coordination than earlier levels.
Chin Na — Continued
The self-defense series expands into wrist locks, arm bars, and double-wrist grab defenses — building a more complete understanding of joint control and leverage.
Green Sash
Short Stick · Praying Mantis FoundationsA significant milestone marking the end of the lower ranks. Green Sash introduces the first weapon-based open form, completes the Chin Na series, and lays the groundwork for Praying Mantis with the Luo Han form.
Stick of the Northern Beggar (Bei Huang Chi Gai Pang)
A short stick form built around deceptive, wandering footwork and rapid close-range strikes. The unpredictable rhythm of the Northern Beggar character is baked into the form itself — students learn to disguise intent and strike from unexpected positions.
Fist of an Angry God (Luo Han Chuan)
A powerful empty-hand form channeling the ferocity of the Luo Han — the wrathful, enlightened guardians of Shao-Lin tradition. Heavy, committed strikes and aggressive intent from beginning to end. There is no subtlety here; the form is designed to overwhelm.
Short Stick (Er-Chie-Kuan)
The complete short stick swing series covering all angles of attack and defense. Advanced nunchaku patterns are also completed at this level — by Green Sash, students have a solid foundation across three distinct short weapons.
Short Kata 23–30
The kata series reaches its conclusion at Green Sash. Advanced combinations include horizontal sweeps, roundhouse kick entries, and tornado kick sequences — some of the most demanding material in the series.
Sparring Techniques 16–20
Jump hook kicks, spin hook kicks, and flowing combination entries are added. Sparring at this level becomes more fluid and multi-directional as students draw on a larger technical vocabulary.
Chin Na — Continued
The lower-rank self-defense series continues to expand, rounding out a broad foundation of joint controls, takedowns, and counters that students will carry through the rest of their training.
3rd Brown Sash
White Crane System · Iron Man · BroadswordThe first Brown Sash rank is defined by the White Crane system — among the most technically demanding in the lower curriculum. Three crane forms plus the Iron Man form prepare students for the depth of Black Sash training.
White Crane Circles Its Wings (Bai He Chuan Tsu)
Circular arm movements, precise footwork, and single-leg balances that demand control at every moment. Stillness and explosive action are practiced in equal measure.
White Crane Jabs Its Wings (Bai He Chan Tsu)
Rapid jabbing hand techniques delivered from a tight, controlled body position. Speed and precision in short-range striking — the crane's beak is not large, but it is exact.
White Crane Circles Its Legs (Bai He Chuan Chiao)
The crane's leg work: sweeping kicks, hooking footwork, and circular low attacks. Completes the White Crane triad, giving students a full picture of the system across hands, arms, and legs.
Three Method Fist (Iron Man) (San He Chuan)
Trains the body to absorb and generate force simultaneously — conditioning and technique built into the same movement. The physical demands alone separate it from anything taught at lower ranks.
8 Direction Night Battle Broadsword (Ye Chan Pa Huang Tao)
The first sword form in the curriculum. Covers all eight directions of attack and defense — a thorough grounding in a weapon that will reappear at higher levels in increasingly complex forms.
2nd Brown Sash
Shaolin Bird System · Sai · 2nd Level StaffThe Bird system introduces a contrasting energy to the Crane work — faster and more evasive. Three Bird forms are learned alongside two new weapons.
Descend from Heaven (Luo Tien)
A Bird system form characterized by dropping, swooping movements and sudden directional changes that mimic a bird of prey diving from height. Speed and surprise over raw power.
Spread the Feathers (Chan Ie)
Wide, sweeping arm movements and low stances that suggest a bird displaying its full wingspan. Develops shoulder mobility, extended reach, and long-range hand techniques.
Performing Dove (Yin He)
A graceful, flowing form emphasizing circular motion and redirection. The Bird system does not meet force with force — this form trains the instinct to yield, redirect, and strike from the side rather than the front.
Sai (Tie Cha Chuan)
The three-pronged trapping weapon. Training covers blocking with the prongs, trapping and redirecting blade attacks, and close-range strikes with the handle and tips. A weapon that rewards precision over force.
Four-Eight Staff (Se Pa Kuan)
The second-level staff form expands significantly on the first — more complex footwork, spinning transitions, and longer combinations. A real benchmark in weapons development that separates students who have truly internalized the staff from those still thinking about it.
1st Brown Sash
Tiger System · Cane · KwandoThe final pre-Black rank. 1st Brown introduces the Tiger system — powerful, aggressive, and direct — along with two distinctive traditional weapons.
Golden Mountain Catches the Tiger (Ching Kang Fu Hu Chuan)
A powerful Tiger system form rooted in deep stances, aggressive hand techniques, and earth-shaking footwork. The image of an immovable mountain capturing a tiger reflects the core principle: absolute stability combined with explosive speed.
Five Directional Palm (Lian Wu Chang)
Open-palm strikes delivered across all five directions, training simultaneous offense and defense. A transitional form that begins bridging the foundational material with the more demanding Tiger-style sequences ahead.
Connecting Fist (Chie Chuan)
A linking form that chains techniques in continuous flowing combinations, developing the ability to move from one strike to the next without pausing or resetting. Continuity under pressure is the lesson.
Sea Dragon Cane (Hai Lung Chang)
A traditional cane form drawing from serpentine, coiling movement. The cane is an understated and practical weapon — concealable, everyday in appearance, and devastatingly effective in trained hands.
General Kwan's Sword-Halberd (Kwang Kung Tao)
The iconic long-bladed weapon carried by General Guan Yu, one of the most celebrated warriors in Chinese history. This heavy, long-handled weapon demands full-body coordination and precise control — it cannot be rushed.
1st Black Sash
Now The Real Journey BeginsBlack Sash is a profound shift in the curriculum. Internal arts are introduced for the first time. The Black Tiger system, full Praying Mantis, and Drunken Fist all debut alongside an extensive array of advanced weapon forms. Approximately 17 forms are available at this level.
Yang Family Tai Chi Chuan (64 Postures)
The classical Yang-style long form — the foundation of internal arts training in the system. Slow, meditative movement trains relaxation under pressure, internal energy development, and sensitivity to a partner's force. A complete practice in itself.
Classical 8-Section Pa Kua Chang
The eight-trigram palm system. Circle walking, continuous palm changes, and evasive body mechanics make Pa Kua a unique complement to the linear power developed in earlier ranks — it teaches the body to move in curves, not lines.
Black Tiger — 4 Forms
Black Tiger Yanks the Heart Out (Hei Hu Tao Shin), Black Tiger Turns the Body (Hei Hu Chuan Sen), Black Tiger Flips the Body (Hei Hu Huan Sen), and Wounded Black Tiger (He Hu Shou Sang) — four forms exploring attack, evasion, and counter-attack as one continuous expression.
Mad Insane Drunkard's Fist (Foong Wang Han Chuei Chuan)
The first Drunken Fist form. Erratic body mechanics, unpredictable weight shifts, and rhythm changes that defy anticipation — the drunken style is nearly impossible to read because it looks wrong even when it is right.
Praying Mantis Enters the Door (Tang Lang Tsu Dju)
The primary Praying Mantis open-hand form at this level. Hook-hand grabs, rapid trapping sequences, and explosive close-range striking — the mantis does not block, it captures.
Spear — 4 Forms
Spear Fighting Techniques (Chiang Su Lian Se), Luo Family Spear (Luo Chia Chiang), Plum Flower Spear (Mei Hua Chiang), and Yang Family Spear (Yang Chia Chiang). Four complete forms covering distinct approaches to the most respected long weapon in Chinese martial arts.
Drunken Broadsword (Chuei Tao)
Drunken body mechanics applied to the broadsword. Deceptive angles, sudden accelerations, and purposefully off-balance movement disguise the true line of attack until it is too late to counter.
Swallow Swoops Down from Heaven Dagger (Yen Tse Tian Shia Tao)
A short-weapon form built around bird-style footwork and the dagger's close-range precision. Speed of entry and exit is the central discipline — the weapon only works if the body gets there first.
Drunken Beggar Stick (Cheui Kai Pang)
A stick-and-bowl form in which the Drunken Beggar wields both a staff and a begging bowl as weapons. Comic in appearance and ruthlessly effective — the beggar has nothing to lose.
Four Directions Double Broadsword (Se Mien Pa Huang Suang Tao)
A two-broadsword form covering all eight angles of engagement. Dual-weapon training requires both hands to act independently and in coordination — one of the most demanding motor skills in the curriculum.
Double Tiger Hook Swords Shake the Heavens (Tien Ta Suang Hu Tou Kuo)
The iconic paired hook swords of Shao-Lin. The hooks, guards, and blades all serve both offensive and defensive functions — a weapon system that rewards deep study far beyond the surface choreography.
2nd Black Sash
Tiger-Crane · Hsing Yi · Straight SwordThe complete Hsing Yi (Mind-Will Fist) internal system is introduced alongside the celebrated Tiger-Crane Duet. Straight sword forms replace the broadsword as the primary cutting weapon focus.
Tiger-Crane Duet (Hu He Shuang Shing)
One of the most celebrated forms in Shao-Lin. Pairs the explosive power of the Tiger with the precision and grace of the Crane — complementary opposites unified in a single flowing sequence. A lifelong study.
Mind-Will Fist, 5 Roads & Linked Form (Hsing Yi Chuan)
A linear internal art structured around five elemental expressions of force. The 5 Roads form and its linked variation develop explosive, committed power generation — Hsing Yi does not hedge its bets.
Mind-Will Fist, 12 Animal Forms (Hsing Yi Chuan)
Dragon, Tiger, Monkey, Horse, Water Lizard, Chicken, Hawk, Swallow, Snake, Bear, Eagle, and Fish — twelve animal spirits each embodying a distinct quality of force, timing, or body mechanics within the Hsing Yi framework.
Mind-Will Fist 2-Man Set (Hsing Yi Chuan San Suo)
A structured partner set that puts the principles of Hsing Yi into two-person practice. Develops sensitivity, timing, and the ability to read and redirect incoming force — making the internal art live.
White Monkey Mantis Fist (Tang Lang Chung Shen)
An advanced Praying Mantis form combining the monkey's mobility and ground-level agility with the mantis's precise trapping hands. Fast, unpredictable, and relentless.
White Monkey Praises Buddha (Pai Hou Pai Fu)
A flowing, internally focused form in the White Monkey tradition. A deliberate counterweight to the intensity found elsewhere at this level — stillness and motion, held in balance.
Straight Sword — 5 Forms
Tabletop Sword (Se Mien Ba Huang Jian), Seven Star Sword (Chi Shing Jian), Skewer the Sun Sword (Zhuan Yang Jian), Drunken Sword (Zui Jian), and Tai Chi Sword (Yang Jia Tai Chi Jian). The straight two-edged sword demands a fundamentally different quality of movement than the broadsword.
Spear vs. Broadsword — 2-Man Set
A two-person set pairing the long weapon against the short. Trains distance management, timing, and the tactical reality of fighting across weapon ranges — each weapon has advantages the other cannot match.
3rd Black Sash
Hua Fist · Chain Whip · Butterfly KnivesThe four Roads of Hua Fist — one of the most comprehensive long-fist systems in northern Shao-Lin — define the 3rd Black level, alongside paired two-man sets and advanced flexible weapons.
Hua Fist — 4 Roads
1st Road (Ie Lu Hua Chien), 2nd Road (Ar Lu), 3rd Road (San Lu), and 4th Road (Se Lu) — a classical northern long-fist system of great depth. Each road explores a different dimension of the system's vocabulary, and together they form one of the most comprehensive bodies of work in the curriculum.
Hua Fist 2-Man Sets
Two partner sets drawn from the Hua Fist material — among the most sophisticated two-person work in the entire curriculum. Testing the principles of Hua Fist against a live partner reveals dimensions of the forms that solo practice cannot.
Long Fist (Chang Chien)
A classical long-fist form emphasizing extended reach, high kicks, wide stances, and full-body power generation. The long-fist tradition prizes range and momentum — this form develops both.
Fist of the Grand Ultimate Mercy & Praying Mantis Fist (Tai Tse Chien / Tang Lang Chien)
Two forms deepening the internal and Mantis threads of the curriculum — one meditative and rooted, one explosive and precise. Together they reflect the breadth of what Black Sash training encompasses.
Entwine the Dragon (Pang Lung Pang)
A form built on coiling, wrapping power — the dragon's entwining force applied to grappling-range striking and controlling techniques. Close-distance work at its most sophisticated.
Dance of the Dragon King, 7-Link Chain Whip (Tie Pien)
The chain whip is among the most difficult traditional weapons to master. Seven metal links must be controlled entirely through body mechanics — there is no rigid structure to rely on. Momentum, direction, and timing must all be managed simultaneously.
Butterfly Knives (Suang Tie Pa Chie Tao)
Paired short swords designed for close-quarters fighting. The butterfly knife form develops true independent coordination of both hands at fighting range — a different challenge than the paired broadswords learned earlier.
Tai Chi Broadsword & 2-Man Set (Yang Se Tai Chi Tao)
The Yang-family Tai Chi broadsword form and its partner application. Internal principles applied to the sword: yielding and redirecting rather than meeting force directly. The 2-man set makes those principles real.
4th Black Sash & Beyond
Drunken Immortals · Iron Bone · Advanced InternalThe Drunken Immortals system — seven legendary figures each with a distinct drunken personality — along with Chen Tai Chi, 8 Animal Pa Kua, and the complete 5 Animal form represent the pinnacle of the open-hand curriculum. Iron bone conditioning and the most advanced weapons of the system are introduced here.
Drunken Immortals — 5 Forms
Iron Crutch Li (Ti Ie Chien Li Tie Kuai), Stomping Drunken Fist (Ti Ar Chien Siang Chung Li), Acrobatic Immortal (Ti San Chien Chao Kou Chiu), Flexible Immortal (Ti Se Chien Lan Chai He), and Female Immortal / Drunk Maiden (Ti Pa Chien He Hsiang Ku). Each immortal embodies a distinct personality and fighting character expressed through drunken body mechanics.
Chen Style Tai Chi Chuan (83 Postures)
The oldest and most overtly martial of the Tai Chi lineages. Alternates between slow, flowing movement and sudden explosive releases of force — a sharp contrast to the smoothness of Yang-style, and a revelation for students who have practiced both.
8 Animal Pa Kua Palm (Pa Kua Pa Sing Chang)
Dragon, Tiger, Lion, Monkey, Snake, Bear, Hawk, and Swallow — eight animal energies woven into the circle-walking framework established at 1st Black. Each animal deepens the Pa Kua practice in a different direction.
Shao-Lin 5 Animal Form (Shaolin Wu Sing Chien)
Tiger, Crane, Leopard, Snake, and Dragon — the five animal spirits of Shao-Lin unified in a single form. A synthesis of everything that has come before, and a form that reveals new layers the longer it is practiced.
9-Link Supreme Whip (Chiu Chi Sen Pien)
The nine-section chain whip — longer, heavier, and more demanding than the seven-section learned at 3rd Black. Among the most technically difficult weapons in the system, requiring complete mastery of flexible-weapon mechanics.
Twin Tiger Swords (Suang Hu Chien)
Paired straight swords wielded with full Tiger-system aggression. Both hands must act independently while working in coordination — a demand that only becomes manageable with the foundation built across all prior Black Sash training.
Double Hero Axes (Li Kuei Suang)
Heavy, powerful, and unambiguous — the axes don't redirect or yield, they commit entirely to each movement. The demand on structural strength and body frame is unlike anything else in the system.
Three Section Staff (San Chie Kuen)
Three staff sections linked by chains — a weapon that functions as a whip, a rigid staff, and a trapping tool depending on how it is used. Mastery requires integrating everything learned across all previous staff and chain-weapon work.
Iron Bone Conditioning
Traditional body hardening methods that condition the bones, tendons, and striking surfaces through progressive training. Introduced here and continued throughout all subsequent advanced training.
Outside Transmission
Beyond the SystemForms and material taught outside the formal rank curriculum — passed down through personal instruction, seminars, and extended study beyond the standard system. These represent a living tradition that continues to grow.
Ground Monkey (Hou Quan)
A ground-fighting form built around low, evasive monkey movement — rolling, tumbling, and striking from unexpected angles close to the earth. Highly unorthodox and difficult to counter from a standing position.
Iron Bone Palm
A specialized form focused on developing the palm as a primary striking surface through progressive conditioning methods and targeted technique. Bridges the gap between conditioning practice and live application.
Cotton Fist (Mien Chien)
A soft-force form built on yielding, absorption, and redirection rather than direct power. Cotton appears weak but cannot be cut — this form trains the paradox of a strike that looks gentle and lands hard.
Heart and Mind Form (Sin Ie)
An empty-hand form built around relentless offense — brutal striking combinations delivered with full commitment and no hesitation. Where much of the curriculum teaches control and precision, Sin Ie teaches students what it looks like when neither is held back.
Snake Pa Kua — Road #1
A snake-style variation on Pa Kua circle-walking — low, sinuous footwork, coiling attacks, and serpentine body mechanics woven into the eight-trigram framework. A rare and distinctive combination.
Iron Fan (San Tze Chien)
A weapon form using the iron fan — striking, blocking, and trapping with both the folded and unfolded fan. Concealable and elegant, and in trained hands, devastating at close range.
Meteor Spear (Liu Hsing Chiang)
Explosive thrusting combinations and sweeping deflections delivered at maximum speed. The spear is already a fast weapon — this form pushes that quality to its limit.
Green Dragon Broadsword (Ching Lung Tao)
A broadsword form with a distinct character from the rank curriculum — flowing, sweeping cuts driven by rotational momentum rather than direct linear force. A different way of moving with the same weapon.
Lightning Dagger (Yin Yang Pi Sou Chien)
A short-weapon form from the White Eyebrow tradition. Trains the speed and absolute decisiveness that makes a short weapon viable against a longer one — hesitation removes every advantage the dagger has.
Purple Swallow Dagger (Tzu Yen Tao)
Tight, evasive footwork combined with sudden close-range strikes from angles that are difficult to track. The dagger's short reach becomes an advantage when the footwork is sharp enough to close distance before the opponent can adjust.
15 White Crane (Shih Wu Pai He Chuan)
A longer and more demanding White Crane form than those found in the rank curriculum — fifteen sections that explore the full range of the crane's movement vocabulary. Precise, patient, and technically exacting from beginning to end.
Golden Tiger (Chin Hu Chuan)
The same destructive force as earlier Tiger work — applied with greater precision and deliberateness. Power without control is just momentum; this form trains the difference.
Golden Leopard (Chin Pao Chuan)
Fast, compact strikes driven by whole-body momentum. Leopard style prioritizes speed and penetration over size — every movement is economical, nothing is wasted.
Classical & Rare Shao-Lin Five Animal Form (Wu Hsing Chuan)
An older version of the five animal form with a distinct character from the standard curriculum — Tiger, Crane, Leopard, Snake, and Dragon expressed through more traditional movement principles. Not widely available or taught.