What is New York Jianghu?

Wulin (武林), the martial forest, is where the path begins—the sacred ground of forms, lineage, and discipline. It is the home of warriors, teachers, and seekers who’ve chosen to walk the martial path.
But within the forest lie the rivers and the lakes—that is Jianghu (江湖).
A hidden world. A society within a society.
Made not just of fighters, but of elders, hustlers, healers, lion dancers, bodyguards, herbalists, outcasts, and legends whispered about but rarely seen.

THE APPAREL YOU SEE ON THIS SITE FEATURES ORIGINAL ARTWORK FROM MASTER TAK WAH ENG.

New York Jianghu is a documentary that searches for this underground realm within the Chinese martial arts community of New York City.
It’s not just about punches and postures—it’s about the people who carry ancient systems in their bodies while navigating a modern world that’s always moving, always forgetting.

We explore:

• The forgotten kung fu schools tucked above bakeries and behind acupuncture clinics

• The masters who still train before sunrise in Columbus Park

• The uncles and sifus who once fought in Chinatown street wars, now passing on wisdom in hushed tones

• The youth who walk the line between tradition and survival

This is the Wulin—and within it, the living, breathing New York Jianghu.

A martial world. A cultural undercurrent.
A code that survives in silence.