18 Styles and Luohan Duanda
The Northern manits' version of 18 styles story was originated with a manuscript, Luohan Duanda, wrote or edited by a native Shandong Daoist (possibly just a pen name) called Shengxiao Daoren. He was believed to have lived during the mid 1700s CE. He also might have sojourned in the former capital of Manchurian territories where his student supposedly took the original copy. Shengxiao re-edited it out of his memory or so the story goes.
It is said that Luohan Duanda was created by Fuju (IMHO a rendition of Fuyu) monk of Shaolin. However, there are so many holes in the story that the theory of this being Shaolin origin is very shakey at best. For example, there are plenty of Confucius and Daoist quotes plus mockery of the Sangha in the text that one would have to wonder why on earth a monk would write something like that. BTW, there are plenty of quotes straight from Mengzi who was Confucius' most famous student.
Luohan Duanda was possibly developed out of Shandong indigenous MA. It is also possibly an attempt to white wash some cult militia's Kung Fu (ie White Lotus or its derivitives such as Meihua Zhuang.)
It is believe that other systems that have come across the list would have slight variations on the list. For example, Mantis would be listed as No. 17 instead of No. 18. and the wording would be different in Chinese as well. There is also a parallel at least in number between 18 styles (hand to hand) and the 18 weapons.
Anyway, just some thoughts to share.
Mantis108
The Heavenly Taoist's Praying Mantis Strikes
Eighteen Famous Boxing Styles comes from ShengXiao Daoren's Shaolin's Transmission of Robe and Bowl manual. it is properly called Surnames of the Founders of Eighteen Styles.
These Eighteen styles are linked together with the Seven Maneuvers.
The manual states
‘Seven Maneuvers Gathered Within Continuous Fist Make The Eighteen Combinations. They are seven types of maneuvers that take the techniques of eighteen styles and combine them into a way that continuously interconnects without end.’
I don't think that this is now part of Shaolin. Here is an article on the Seven Maneuvers.
The Heavenly Taoist's Praying Mantis Strikes