Sanda is the sportive side of san shou, with strict rules regarding the techniques that may be used. It is also called Chinese kickboxing.
San shou is a form of Chinese self-defense art and martial art. It consists of free fighting and includes various elements of styles within wushu.
Origin of Sanda
San shou was developed in the 1960s by order of the Chinese military. This followed their experiences during the Korean War. Various traditional styles were studied, and a selection was made, combined with modern insights.
It can therefore be seen as a modern form of wushu, in which an attempt was made to combine the essence of various traditional styles. As an unarmed self-defense art, san shou is complete, as it includes throws, joint locks, chokes, kicks, punches, strikes, and so on.
Rules of Sanda
Sanda is a full contact competitive sport. Sanda is practiced in tournaments. Certain techniques that are part of the self-defense art, such as elbow strikes, chokes, and arm locks, are not allowed, except in X-treme sanda.
It is also possible to win by forcing the opponent out of the ring, which would obviously be an unimportant criterion in self-defense. Originally, the ring or mat should be a platform of eight by eight meters and sixty cm high.
This represents a mountain or a roof of a building. Allowed techniques are punches, kicks, and throws. Victory can also be achieved by K.O. or on points.
Sanda is practiced with head and chest protection, shin guards, mouthguard and boxing gloves. There is also ‘X-treme’ sanda, which is without chest, head, and shin guards. Knee and elbow techniques are often allowed here as well.
