The Shaolin Style is one of the three styles of Kung Fu, the other two being the temple-derived and the family style. The temple style has those art forms that have always been taught inside the temple and have their origin in the pre-Shaolin days.

The Shaolin styles perfected by the southern temples are: White Crane, Tiger, Dragon, Leopard, Snake, and Southern Praying Mantis. Most of these use hand-based fighting styles.

The Northern styles consist of Northern Praying Mantis, Black Crane and Black Tiger, and focus more on kicks and nimble footwork. The movements are representative of the animals that they are named after and concentrate only on the maneuvers of that animal. All the blocks and the attacks imitate the bird or the beast.

Each Shaolin style is therefore as different from the other as the mantis from the tiger. However, the systems are not rigid and there is a mutual give and take. The Northern Praying mantis style, for example, incorporates the Tiger techniques and some amount of Monkey and generic footwork.

Each style revolves around a particular training objective. For example, the Dragon style revolves around building alertness and concentration. The Tiger movements focus on developing the bones, tendons and muscles. The Snake movements are used to develop endurance and fluidity. Similarly, the Crane system is used to develop character and spirit.

These Shaolin systems are further divided into the high and low orders. The low systems use physical manoeuvres of the Crane, the Cobra and the Tiger. The application of chi in these forms is considerably less.

Snake is an intermediate level between the high systems and low systems. It is a creature of the earth yet somewhat spiritual because it has an element of mystery about it. The snake style therefore has all the physical applications of the low systems but its movements are essentially those of the higher order. Chi is present in the practitioner as his body mimics the coiling, undulating motions of the reptile.

Dragon, Praying Mantis, and Wing Chun are all seen as high systems because of their
efficiency of movement and the use of chi to either augment or replace physical techniques. These systems were taught in some measure to all monks as part of their training. The complete systems were, however, revealed to the few who remained in the temple after being granted priesthood.