Beginning his martial arts life with the study of Xingyiquan, he later went to Yiquan, and finally settled with Liuhebafa.
Originally, Zhang studied Xingyi and Bagua under Ma Yue Tong, and in 1928 he became a student of Wang Xiang Zhai, the founder of Yi Chuan.
Zhang continued Yi Chuan but also took up the Liuhebafa tradition studying diligently and learning the art quite deeply.
Though he taught the Liuhebafa form "zhu ji chuan" it was highly modified, and using the power Xingyi and Bagua at its core.
They were: Han Xingqiao, Zhang Changxin, Zhao Daoxin, and Gao Zhen Dong 高振東.