Traditional gongfu typically isn't 'systematic' in the same way modern styles of training might be, and most Shaolin practitioners don't receive the most basic of fighting theory before diving into forms. For example, 云盖掌 (cloud cover palm) is one of the first blocking methods you might come across since it is right at the beginning of Xiaohongquan, but it's a side-on defensive stance that personally I would teach after learning a more aggressive forward facing guard with the hands up, blocking by pulling the forearms and elbows tight to the head. Even worse is when Shaolin schools teach tongbiquan as a beginner form because it's so short, but the techniques in it aren't really meant for a beginner to train. The cross block or cross guard (虎头盾) or leaning against a mountain guard (靠山) are cool but a person should be relatively seasoned to work those into sparring.
I don't really find a problem in traditional gongfu being unsystematic, as I already have basic stand up fighting as a base, so picking apart the forms 'trick by trick' isn't so obnoxious to me, but I imagine how a person wanting to learn Shaolin as a practical art would be frustrated.
"I'm a highly ranked officer of his tong. HE is the Dragon Head. our BOSS. our LEADER. the Mountain Lord." - hskwarrior