Tianjin Wuji Quan

Wújí Quán "No Extremity (Chaos/Void) Boxing" *
Tianjin Wuji Quan introduction video
This system is practiced in a few villages in the Cangzhou area of Hebei and in Tianjin. It is sometimes referred to as "Tianjin Wuji Quan" although it was introduced to Tianjin relatively recently (1930's), it became very popular there within just a few years.
Oral tradition on the origins of Wuji Quan vary, sometimes the art is associated with Yue Fei or Song dynasty royal guards.
The farthest back the art can be traced is the Jiaqing period of the Qing dyasty (1796-1820) when Liu XianDao from the Wenzhou area of Zhejiang went north and taught the art to Cai JinTang of Henan province's Xinyang prefecture, Huaibin county.
Later Cai Jintang traveled to Tianjin's Jinghai county and exchanged skills with Gao Zupo learning the Zi Long Da Qiang to augment his Wuji Quan system which up to that point contained no spear method.
Through the years forms have been added to the system by various masters such as the "Three Hand Luohan" methods of Bai Yunpeng, and the Six Harmony Big Spear method added by "Pole King" Wang Yuzhen.
Because of these additions and other changes the exact curriculum varies between the Cangzhou and Tianjin schools.
However the core of the original Wuji Quan system that Cai Jintang learned from Liu Xiandao is the 18 (Luohan) Power Methods, This consists of 18 postures each based on one of the 18 Luohan. These postures are held as a form of Zhan Zhuang but can also be linked into a form. Also each of the 18 postures represents a different method and energy, each one of these has it's own character (Keyword) and it's own sound. Included in this method is "Iron Body" exercises as well as other conditioning and strengthening methods.
The major forms passed down from Liu Xiandao are, 12 Shapes / 12 Earthly Branches (12forms each based on an animal of the Chinese zodiac), 5 Outer Shapes, Wuji Quan form (based on the 12 Shapes and 5 Outer Shapes), and Golden Crow Saber.
Aside from this he also passed down many unique training methods such as the "Eight Immortals Legs" stump kicking, the "Smashing Board" which is a large board as tall and wide as a man stuck deep into the ground and covered in cloth padding on which to practice whole body striking skills, "Eagle Claw" training, and the Wuji Tongzi Gong "Child's Skill" methods.
The vast majority of martial arts today that go by the name "Wuji Quan" are modern creations, usually blends of Taiji, Xingyi , Bagua, and other styles. A few of these arts are honest about their origins, however many are marketed as ancient, secret, Taoist martial arts. Some of these have even begun to adopt forms of the same names as Cangzhou/Tianjin traditional Wuji Quan to further muddy the waters by appearing to be related to a known historical style of the same name.

[@jadenng7569]

Another unknown flower to me in the great tree of Chinese martial arts. Thanks again for posting. By the way, I have two unrelated questions to ask, and it would help me so much if you answer them @Tea Serpent.
1. What martial art style(s) originated from Shenzhen?
2. Out of the different White Crane styles, Sleeping Crane (宿鹤拳) is often mentioned, but it also seems to be quite rare. The only Sleeping Crane material I can find is from Taiwan, so are there any Sleeping Crane lineages that are still around in Fuzhou?

[@Livingtree32]

1. I don´t think that any styles originated from Shenzhen, as a few decades ago, Shenzhen was just some random town. The economic importance it has today, is relatively new. Martial arts masters in the region would rather have gathered in Guangzhou and other more important places of the time.
2. The Taiwan classifications of "x crane", "y crane", "z crane", are developments from within Taiwan. In the root white crane styles in Fujian, these substyles don´t really exist.

[@jadenng7569]

@Sandro Vadacca 1. That is true, of course, but you never know.
2. Yes, I do agree Taiwan has unique White Crane styles like Madou Flying Crane and Long - Limb White Crane, but many of the White Crane practitioners in Fuzhou recognise Sleeping Crane as one of the Crane styles, and like Feeding and Flying Crane, this branch is relatively rare. Master Chen Wenjin teaches a Fuzhou lineage of Feeding Crane shown on this channel, and Master Lin Shanquan of Incense Shop Boxing fame teaches Flying Crane (also shown on this channel), but a Fuzhou Sleeping Crane lineage is something I have yet to see.

[@Livingtree32]

@@jadenng7569 OK, thanks for the information!

[@jadenng7569]

@@Livingtree32 I should be thanking you for the reply. Each piece of input I receive helps with my research.