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The Li family of kung fu (Chinese: 李家功夫; pinyin: Lǐ jiā gōngfū) is one of the five family styles of Southern Chinese martial arts.

Li Sou

The Li family is originally from Lanzhou in the Gansu province of China. Legend has it that prior to Li Sou's development of Wuxingquan (5 shape fist), he had learned various palm techniques that had been passed on to him by another member of the Li family. These techniques were called the Divine Immortal Palms, and consisted of Iron Bone Shattering Palm, Vibrating Palm, Cotton Palm, Burning Palm, Spiralling Palm, and Internal Iron Palm, which were taught to the Li family by a Taoist immortal and other traveling hermits from the Wudang and Emei Mountains.

Shaolin Wuxingquan/Ng Ying Kuen (5 Shape Fist)

Originating from the 18 Luohan hands, Jueyuan in the 13th century expanded its 18 techniques to 72. Still, he felt the need to seek knowledge from outside the confines of the temple. In Gansu Province in the west of China, in the city of Lanzhou, he met Li Sou, a master of "red boxing" (紅拳; hóngquán). Li Sou accompanied Jueyuan back to Henan to introduce Jueyuan to Bai Yufeng, a master of an internal method and Wuzuquan.^[1] Li Sou's real name was Li Yuanshou (Li Sou means simply "old man").

They returned to Shaolin and expanded the 72 techniques to approximately 170. Additionally, using their combined knowledge, they inserted internal aspects to Shaolin boxing. They organized these techniques into five animals: the tiger, the crane, the leopard, the snake, and the dragon.

Li Youshan

From Guandong Xin Hui, Li Youshan (李友山, also written Lee Yau-san)^[2] entered the Shaolin Temple and became a student of the Monk Jee Sin Sim See and Monk Li Sik-hoi (Li Xikai).^[3] His training focused around the 5 shape fist method along with other arts to create Li family style, a short bridge style with long changeable footwork.

Li Yi（1744—1828) from Guandong is recorded as a founder of the Li family style. It is possible that the 2 individuals are the same. Li Yi was also the instructor to Chan Heung, the founder of the Choy Li Fut style.

Theory and principles

Li family style is a blending of the Hard Stable Southern Fist and the Quick Agility of the Northern School. The style is most famous for its long staff and leg skills.

Weapons

This family mainly has the single end stick, the odd and even fetters to block the stick, the long line stick, south the double knife, the single tool, the double crowbar, arrowhead, Lu Zhen, Sha Dao, the Spring and Autumn Period broadsword, ying the gun, the double dagger, the martial art combining various techniques fan, three whips, and the long and narrow bench

References