Hello Everyone,
This is an old article describing the Chinese martial art of San Shou (the Chinese now refer to it as Sanda). A fighting style recommended on this blog and truly a much more effective, efficient and practical fighting style than Kung Fu San Soo crap. Enjoy!
Sanshou
By Brian Radewitz
THE ART OF THE FREE HAND
One of the most popular martial arts in China is
Sanshou, a combat system that focuses on hand-to-hand self-defense. Other than
catching a fleeting glimpse of Cung Le scissor-kicking an opponent on ESPN3 at
4 a.m., it’s a sport that most Americans are not familiar with.
You know how boxing works, and kickboxing simply adds kicks.
Jiu-jitsu gets simplified to submission grappling, and wrestling is all about
takedowns and control. Sanshou is harder to explain, as it combines multiple
elements of boxing, kickboxing, judo, and wrestling, but typically stays away
from ground fighting.
There was a time, not so long ago, when hand-to-hand combat
was virtually guaranteed to occur in wartime—trench fighting in natural
elements where multiple enemies were attacking. Originally, Sanshou was
developed for soldiers who found themselves in this exact situation—facing an
enemy whose sole intent was to leave them dead in the muck. By combining
traditional Chinese wrestling (the standing variety, not the American version)
with boxing, kickboxing, sweeps, and throws, Sanshou became an ever-evolving
form of mixed martial arts. During its inception, ground fighting was deemed
unnecessary.
Strikes, both from the hands and legs, were to be thrown
with quick ferocity. Once the enemy was stunned, or you were close enough to
grab them, you would be in position to throw them to the ground and deliver a
lethal blow. Those lucky enough to still have a weapon in their hands could sink
a bayonet into the downed enemy. Others could deliver a kill shot with whatever
was handy—be it a knife, helmet, or fist. Then, it was on to the next enemy.
“Sanshou is one of the most effective ways to fight multiple
opponents,” says Ian Lee, the current head coach of the U.S. Sanshou Team and
instructor at United Martial Arts in Lubbock,
Texas. “The strategy in Sanshou
of going from strikes to takedowns is not matched in other sports.”
The art of the kick-catch-takedown is rarely seen in other
disciplines. Even though wrestlers and Muay Thai practitioners employ the
technique when entering the MMA world, they do not use it in their original
disciplines.
“Any time that you’re watching the UFC and you see a fighter
take an opponent down but remain standing—that’s a Sanshou thing,” says former
Sanshou competitor and current UFC fighter Cung Le. “Originally, a hip throw or
double-leg takedown was used to put an enemy in a vulnerable position, and at
that point, you would deliver a lethal blow and return to your feet. Wrestling
and many other combat sports don’t do that.”
FREE FIGHTING
Sanda, or “free fighting” is the sport form of Sanshou, and
it has thrived in various countries around the globe. Much like its real-life
counterpart, Sanda employs many of the moves found in Sanshou—although you
cannot utilize chokes and joint locks—and the matches take place on a raised
platform (Lei Toi), which you can throw your opponents off of to score more
points. Countries such as China,
Iran, Russia, and Turkey have all become deeply
involved in the sport and attend the World Championships, held every two years
(on the odd year).
The most recent World Championships— held in Turkey in
October 201—had 354 athletes from 86 countries competing. Fighters from China, Iran,
Russia, and Turkey
dominated the field, while American Max Chen brought home a bronze medal in the
70kg class. The most successful Sanda athletes are not only praised by adoring
fans, but they are also rewarded by their own governments in many instances.
“I was friendly with a couple of Iranians when I was
coaching the U.S.
team,” says Cung Le. “I would see them at the World Championships from year to
year, and if they performed well, I would see them the next time and they would
tell me of the nice bonuses they received, like a new house or new car.”
In China,
when a Sanshou athlete retires from competing, they are offered jobs—not just
as a coach, but as high-ranking positions in the military or police force.
“If you win a gold medal in China, the government rewards you,”
says Ian Lee. “It’s definitely a way to make the sport more appealing to
athletes. Not only are they getting paid to compete for their town or country,
but they also get offered a job to support their family after they are done.”
HIGHER LEARNING
Unlike in the United States, athletes in many
countries treat martial arts as their profession. In China
and Russia,
for example, athletes attend sports universities and major in their respective
discipline. They don’t major in marketing and then join the wrestling team—
they major in their sport. Students learn the techniques and why they were
developed so they can teach others in their country.
“Academies in China
are very different than in the United States,”
says Lucas Geller, a former U.S. Sanshou team member and current instructor
based in Albany, New York. “In America, we have private gyms all
over—gyms anyone can join where you can go as much or as little as you would
like. In China,
there are two types of schools, professional and amateur. Both are fairly
difficult to get into and difficult to stay at. If you’re slacking, the coach
won’t let you stay.”
Academies, such as the Beijing Sports
University, recruit the
best of the best from around the country and mold them into high-caliber instructors
and competitors. “In China,
it’s a way to make a living,” says Cung Le. “You become part of a team in a
province. It’s a way of putting food on the table.”
TORCH BEARER
The biggest MMA star to hone his craft in the Sanshou system
is Cung Le, who won the Strikeforce Middleweight Championship in 2008 and now
competes in the UFC. The Vietnamese-born fighter also teaches his own version
of Sanshou at his school in San Jose,
California.
“Sanshou is a mix of traditional arts where individuals can
add their own methods that work in a particular situation,” says Cung Le. “As a
coach of the U.S.
team, I would teach my students to prepare for certain types of fighters at the
World Championships. Every nation is strong in something different. The
Russians are really good boxers and wrestlers. The Iranians have great power
moves, as do the Egyptians. The Chinese are good with throws and kicks. Each
nations brings a specialty to Sanshou, and they developed it to fit their
situation. They learned quickly what worked and didn’t work in a real-life
setting.”
Sanshou has grown from its beginnings, as fighters have
added their different strategies to accommodate their varying backgrounds. What
worked on the battlefield may not work (or be legal) in the sport setting.
“Sanda is one of the best arts to learn about real-life
fighting techniques because it’s full contact,” Geller says. “You will learn
quickly what works and what doesn’t work against an angry opponent who’s fully
resisting and whose sole purpose is to win the fight. Sanda is much more
realistic than other martial arts that emphasize scenario-training with a
cooperative partner and a rubber knife.”
THE FUTURE
In traditional martial arts schools, Sanshou seems to be
gaining steam as a self-defense mechanism, but it still remains relatively
unknown when compared to Muay Thai or Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu.
With the UFC expanding into more and more countries every
year, expect to see more Sanshou competitors make the transition to the MMA
arena. Don’t be surprised if many enjoy the success that Cung Le has, either,
as the athletes have years of experience in taking their opponents to the
ground and stuffing takedowns.
As bigger promotional companies move into Iran, Turkey,
and China,
they may find a new crop of athletes ready to emerge. Say what you will about
their ground prowess, but you cannot deny the level of excitement that these
fighters bring to the Lei Toi—and hopefully the cage.
SANSHOU IN THE CAGE
CUNG LE
Sporting a 16-0 record in Sanshou, Le transitioned to MMA
and rattled off six straight victories, including a knockout over Frank
Shamrock to win the Strikeforce Middleweight Championship in 2008. Le recently
made the move to the UFC, earning Fight of the Night honors in a TKO-loss to
Wanderlei Silva in November 2011.
ZHANG TIEQUAN
The “Mongolian Wolf” is making his mark on the MMA scene,
going 15-2 with wins in the WEC and UFC. After winning the Inner Mongolian
Wrestling Championships at 16 years old, Tiequan was recruited to attend a
Sanshou academy in China
before moving to the United
States in 2010.
PAT BARRY
Barry earned a spot on the U.S. Sanshou National Team and
won a silver medal at the World Championships in 2003. The UFC heavyweight
prospect trained with the Chinese National Team before moving to K-1
competitions and eventually MMA, where he sports a 7-4 record, including a KO
of Christian Morecraft in January.
SANDA RULEBOOK
LEGAL TECHNIQUES
All forms of boxing in combination with kicks to the body
and head. Low kicks to the thighs.
Rear (reverse) kicks to the body or the head, spinning
back-kicks to the body and to the head with full contact to knock out the
opponent, also foot sweeps are permitted.
Any kind of throwing.
Holding the opponent’s leg while executing striking or
punching techniques.
SCORING
Best 2 out of 3 rounds—scoring varies from tourney to
tourney.
1 POINT
Any legal punch to the body or head.
Any legal kick to the body or legs.
When the contestants do not fight for 8 seconds, the referee
chooses which of the two athletes is to attack. If the athlete chosen does not
attack within 8 seconds, he loses one point.
When the person doing a throw falls on top of the opponent.
When using a sacrifice technique (sweep, scissors, flying
kick, etc) an athlete falls to the ground without touching the opponent, the
opponent gets 1 point.
Any legal foot sweep if the balance is broken or the
opponent is downed.
2 POINTS
Any legal kick to the head
Any legal jumping kicks to the body
The opponent falls to the ground and the person doing the
throw remains standing.
3 POINTS
Any legal punch that makes the opponent fall to the ground.
Any legal kick that makes the opponent to fall to the ground
Jumping kicks to the head.
Forcing the opponent off the platform.
THE ROUND IS AWARDED IF:
The opponent is forced off the platform twice.
THE FIGHT IS AWARDED IF:
The opponent is knocked out or incapacitated.
Questions or Comments?
JimmyHWoo2016@gmail.com
Recommended Fighting
Styles:
Southeast Asian
Boxing
Muay Thai, Muay Lao, Pradal Serey, Lethwei, Tomoi
East Asian Boxing
Sanda (San Shou, San Da), Kyuk Too Ki, Shoot Boxing, Yaw Yan
Western Striking
Dutch Kickboxing, Savate, Western Boxing
Grappling and Other
Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu, Wrestling, Sambo, Pankration, Judo,
Shuai Jiao, Kali/Arnis/Escrima
