Engchoon Kungfu White Crane Fist has been passed down for over 300 years. Its starting and closing forms are marked by the “White Crane Perches on One Leg” stance. The upper body techniques are swift and varies, while the lower body footwork is flexible and dynamic, emphasizing principles like “empty and solid, inhale and exhale, float and sink, attack and defence.”

According to tradition, Fang Qiniang, the founder of Engchoon Kungfu White Crane Fist, was the only daughter of Fang Zhong, a Shaolin martial artist from Lishui County, Zhejiang Province. Trained diligently by her father since childhood, she mastered exceptional martial arts skills. After experiencing disappointment in marriage, she became a nun at the Bai Lian Temple. One day, while weaving in the temple, she observed a white crane perching and dancing with remarkable grace and agility. Inspired by its movements, she integrated the crane’s graceful posture into the Shaolin martial arts that she had learned, creating a distinctive fist style known as “White Crane Fist.”

In Engchoon, there was a martial artist named Yan Qidan and his disciple Zeng Si, who traveled widely to exchange martial arts knowledge. After discussing martial arts with Fang Qiniang, Yan Qidan challenged her to a match. Impressed by her superior skills, Yan Qidan acknowledged her prowess and soon had Zeng Si become her disciple. Zeng Si, known for his intelligence and sincerity, studied and sparred with Fang Qiniang for over ten years at the temple, eventually marrying her and further refining his martial arts expertise.

After the founding of the People’s Republic of China, Engchoon Kungfu White Crane Fist participated in numerous provincial and regional martial arts competitions, achieving commendable results. During the Cultural Revolution, martial arts practitioners and elder boxers faced persecution. In 1979, Engchoon established a county-wide martial arts association, annually sending representatives to provincial and regional martial arts demonstrations and competitions.

In 1985, Engchoon held a conference to explore and document Engchoon Kungfu White Crane Fist. It was attended by Hong Zhengfu, vice chairman of the provincial martial arts association, who urged the comprehensive documentation of the history, techniques, and forms of Engchoon White Crane Fist into a specialized book.

In the 21st century, the Engchoon Federation in Malaysia continues to actively promote White Crane Fist. In recent years, intermittent efforts have been made to invite Engchoon Kungfu White Crane Fist masters to Malaysia for teaching sessions. Domestically, several Engchoon associations regularly offer courses, nurturing the cultural inheritance and dissemination of Engchoon Kungfu White Crane Fist martial arts.