"Shaolin White Crane" was an art so named by the instructor of the school because of it's affilitation with the Southern Shaolin Temple in the Fukien province in china. More commonly, this was the Fukienese White Crane art, very different from the White Crane seen used by David Carradine in the TV series "Kung Fu: The Legend Continues". Carradine's White Crane is more of the Northern or Tibetean variety.
Many styles of "crane" exist. Even sets like "Tiger vs Crane" from Hung Gar. However, the concept of the crane is similar throughout the styles. The wings are the blocks and the beak is the attack. Like a real crane being attacked, the practitioner will attempt to use his arms as the "blocking wings", along with evasive footwork and attempt to strike with various hand techniques when he sees an opening. However, defense is still the priority.
Fukienese White Crane is further broken down into four families. Crying, Eating, Resting and Flying. The style that I studied was of the Flying Crane Family, made famous by the Grandmaster Li Kiang Ke, the founder of Wu Ing Tong in Sibu, Malaysia.
This style combines evasive footwork with explosive hand techniques. Emphasis is placed from the start on short, devastating punches with the Phoenix Eye fist. The primary weapon of the Flying Crane practitioner, the Phoenix Eye fist alone can leave opponents seriously wounded, sometimes leading to eventual death, by pin-point attacks to pressure points that disrupt qi meridians.
Sticky hands (called push hands in the style) is also practiced. When a Flying Crane practitioner blocks an attack, his "wing" will stick to the opponent, sensing the opponent's every move. While engaging the opponent with the free arm, the practitioner can sense an opening in the opponent's defense with his "sticking arm" without looking. He can then fill the gap in the opponent's defense with a devastating punch.
The Flying Crane practioner has a very limited variety of kicks, choosing to use his arms instead to attack and parry. However, the legs are very important in the style as they form strong stances, help with evasion and other techniques that can leave the opponent on the ground.
Here is a link to my Si Heng's school in Montreal.
http://www.shaolinwhitecranekungfu.com/styles/white.asp
All Masters in Mississauga
http://www.allmasters.ca/whitecrane.html