Sanda is the sporting side of san shou, with strict rules regarding the techniques that may be used. It is also known as Chinese kickboxing.
San shou is a form of Chinese self-defense and martial art. It consists of free fighting and incorporates various elements of styles within wushu.
Origin of Sanda
In the 1960s, san shou was developed by the Chinese army at the request of the Chinese government. This followed their experiences during the Korean War. Various traditional styles were studied, from which techniques were selected and 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 comprehensive, as it includes throws, joint locks, chokes, kicks, strikes, punches, 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 permitted, with the exception of X-treme sanda.
It is also possible to win by forcing the opponent out of the ring, which would obviously be an irrelevant criterion in self-defense. Originally, the ring or mat was supposed to be a platform measuring eight by eight meters and standing sixty centimeters high.
This represents a mountain or the roof of a building. Permitted techniques include punches, kicks, and throws. A match can also be won by K.O. or on points.
Sanda is practiced with headgear and chest protection, shin guards, a mouthguard, and boxing gloves. There is also ‘X-treme’ sanda, which is practiced without chest, head, or shin protection. Knee and elbow techniques are often permitted in this version.
