Sanda is a martial art from China and is also referred to as Chinese kickboxing.
This martial art originates from Chinese Kung-fu as a combat system developed by the Chinese military by taking techniques from traditional Chinese kung fu and adapting them to realistic unarmed combat.
Sanda and Sanshou
Sanda is often used interchangeably with the term Sanshou which translates as ‘free hand fighting’ while Sanda translates as ‘free style fighting’.
In China where the sport originates, Sanda is the term more commonly used while Sanshou is more familiar in North America.
Today Sanda is China’s most popular combat sport.
Every province in and major city in China has a professional club that houses competitive Sanda fighters. At traditional wushu (martial arts) clubs across China, Sanda is also taught alongside the traditional wushu styles.
As a more recently established martial art, Sanda is hugely popular in China and there are also several international events held annually with competitors from across the world.
China, Russia, Turkey and Iran send the most competitors to these international martial arts tournaments as the sport remains relatively unknown globally in comparison to muay thai and Mixed Martial Arts.
Origins of Sanda
Sanda is translated to English as ‘freestyle fighting’.
It was created by the Chinese military in the time of the Chinese Nationalist Party’s (around the 1920’s) rule in Mainland China prior to the Communist takeover.
The Chinese Nationalist Party or Guomindang aka Kuomintang used Sada for the training of its military for unarmed combat.
The Sanda system of combat is based in traditional Kung fu as well Shuai Jiao (similar to Judo) and China Na (grappling and joint manipulation) as well as modern combat fighting systems and martial arts, to create a realistic and effective form of unarmed fighting for the military and Elite Forces.
Explosion of Popularity as a Combat Sport
Following the Communist takeover of China in 1949, Sanda was not widely practiced or taught for many years.
This was until the 1970s when the wushu or martial arts associations of China began creating sporting competition and tournaments for the traditional Chinese martial arts.
Wushu associations of China established rules and point systems for scoring Sanda matches as well as increasing competitor safety through protective gear and removing the more lethal and deadly techniques such as strikes to the throat.
The sport of Sanda began to really rise in popularity when competitive fighters and coaches began receiving consistent salaries from the State Government.
In the 1990’s with Sanda competition appearing more regularly on national television the sport virtually exploded in popularity.
Today in China the most prestigious and important martial arts even is the National Wushu and Sanda Championships. Competitors are well looked after in terms of salaries, medical bills, food and travel for fights.
Winners of the national championship enjoy generous cash rewards and sponsorship as well as national recognition for their Sanda accomplishments.
The Sanda ‘Style’ of Fighting
Technically Sanda is not regarded as a style but an amalgamation of different techniques from Chinese martial arts to be used in combat sports and competitions but also as a form of unarmed combat for the military.
Sanda works in three ranges: long (kicking, long punches range); close (knees, punches) and clinch (takedowns, grappling, clinching strikes).
In Chinese martial arts there are four basic techniques recognized.
These are commonly used in Sanda and are:
Da – Upper Body Strikes – fists, elbows
Ti – Lower-Body Strikes – kicks, knees
Shuai – Throws – similar to Judo using sweeps, hip throws, inner and outer reaps
Chin-Na – Grappling – joint locks, chokes and strangles
Despite not being regarded as a distinct standalone style there are features of Sanda that make it distinct from similar combat sports such as muay thai, kickboxing and MMA.
i)Wide Variety of Takedowns and Throws
A typical Sanda match looks very similar to a muay thai or kickboxing match.
However the notable difference is the inclusion of more grappling and especially takedowns such as throws similar to those in Judo and MMA.
The use of double and single leg takedowns, inside and outside reaps and hip throws make Sanda very distinct from muay thai and kickboxing that generally don’t utilize or allow such techniques.
This also makes Sanda more similar to MMA in the use of a much wider variety of takedowns and throws as well as striking.
Have a look at the variety of takedowns permitted in Sanda in the video below.
ii)Variety of Kicks Used
Like muay thai and kickboxing the powerful roundhouse kick and the teep or pushkick is also commonly used in Sanda.
However, Sanda includes a wider variety of kicks and include:
- Side pushkick – also used in muay thai and kickboxing
- Hook Kick – commonly used in Tae Kwan Do and Karate the hook kick is also a feature of Sanshou
- Back kick – another familiar kick seen in Karate and Tae Kwan Do as well as MMA. This involves turning your back to your opponent which is not favored in muay thai.
- Crescent kick – this kick is used a lot in Tae Kwan Do and Karate. In muay thai, Saenchai uses the inside crescent kick to vary up his kicking styles and aiming for his opponents head.
- Sweep kick – also known as the ‘Iron Broom’ this is a common kung fu technique that requires high accuracy and good timing and technique to execute.
- Stomp kick – this kick is used in MMA and is referred to as the ‘Oblique Kick’ aiming at the opponents quad on the front of his leg. Jon Jones uses this effectively in the UFC. Muay thai also utilizes the pushkick to the leg.
iii)Side on Lower Stance
In comparison to the traditional hips square muay thai stance, the Sanshou stance is more squared and with a lower center of gravity.
The stance looks more similar to the Tae Kwan Do and Karate stances which tend to be more bladed and side on to your opponent.
This stance allows for a better execution of the side kick which is favored in Chinese kickboxing as well as a low center of gravity to be able to execute and defend the wider range of take downs and throws.
Well Known Sanda Fighters
Probably the most internationally well known exponent of Chinese kickboxing is Cung Le.
Le fought in the UFC as a middleweight with a 2-2 record. As a kickboxer, Le was the IKF Light Heavyweight World Champion with a professional kickboxing and Sanda record of 17-0.
Before entering MMA Le finished his Sanda and kickboxing career undefeated.
UFC Women’s Strawweight Champion, Zhang Weili comes from a Sanda background and other Sanda fighters who have made a name in MMA include Pat Berry, KJ Noons, Zabit Magomedsharipov, Marvin Perry and Muslim Salihov.
Rules of Competition
In competition, fighters are able to utilize, punching, kicking, wrestling, takedowns, throws, leg sweeps, catches, and in some competitions, elbow and knee strikes.
In competition, fighters must wear protective gear. This includes a headguard, chest/torso guard, gloves, gum guard and groin protection.
Rather than a fighting ring as common in muay thai and kickboxing, sanshou fights take place on an elevated platform called a “leitai,” which is 80cm in height, 8m in width and 8m in length.
Fights consist of 3 rounds of two minutes with a one-minute break between rounds.
A winner is declared if they outscore their opponent and win 2 out of the 3 rounds or by KO.
Summary
Sanda or Sanshou today is the most popular combat sport in China with an audience in the many many millions.
It utilizes the techniques from Chinese kung fu which have a long history in development and application thus making Sanda a comprehensive martial art for unarmed combat and an effective self defense.
Globally the viewership of Sanda has a long way to go to eclipse the UFC and even muay thai as a spectator sport.
However the action packed, high paced Sanda bouts that are regularly viewed in China and the growing participation of even more countries in International Tournaments will only see the sport grow in popularity in the years to come.
