A Brief Introduction of Wushu Sanda
Wushu Sanda, or Sanda, is a Chinese self-defense system and combat sport, a system of unarmed combat that was designed by Chinese Elite Forces based upon their intense study of traditional martial arts such as traditional Kung Fu, Shuai Jiao, Chin Na and modern hand-to-hand fighting and combat philosophy to develop a realistic system of unarmed fighting for the Chinese military. Sanda employs all parts of the body as anatomical weapons to attack and counter with, by using what the Chinese consider to be the four basic martial arts techniques:
Da – Upper-Body Striking – using fists, open hands, fingers, elbows, shoulders, forearms and the head
Ti – Lower-Body Striking – including kicks, knees and stomping
Shuai – Throws – using Wrestling and Judo-like takedowns and sweeps, and
Chin-Na – Seizing – which includes joint locks, strangulation and other submissions
Modern Sanda tournaments appears much like Kickboxing but includes many more grappling techniques. The generalized modern curriculum practiced in modern Sanda schools is composed of different traditional martial arts fighting styles from China, but mainly based on scientific efficiency. Sanda is composed of Chinese martial arts applications including most aspects of combat including striking and grappling, however when Sanda was developed as a sport, restrictions were made for safety reasons as well as to promote it as a non-violent sport.
Examples of such restrictions included no blows delivered to the back of the head, throat, spine or groin and the discontinuation of the combat when any of the fighters fall to the ground. For safety reasons, some techniques from the self-defense form such as elbow strikes, chokes, and joint locks, are not allowed during tournaments. However, many schools, whether traditional or modern, practice it as an all-round martial arts system with no restrictions, only adapting their training in relation to competition rules prior to the event. Sanda tournaments are one of the two disciplines recognized by the International Wushu Federation. (IWUF)
Sanda’s competitive history involved barehanded or LeiTai fights in which no rules existed. However, even Sanda as a competitive event developed in the military as these bouts were commonly held between the soldiers to test and practice barehanded martial skills, ability and techniques. Rules were developed and the use of protective gloves etc. was adopted. It was originally used by the Kuomintang (Chinese National Party) at the first modern military academy in the 1920s. Later it was also adopted as a method by the People’s Liberation Army of China.
One can see Wushu Sanda as a synthesis of traditional Chinese fighting techniques into a more amorphous system and is commonly taught alongside traditional Chinese styles, from which Wushu Sanda techniques, theory and training methods are derived. The emphasis of Sanda is on a more amorphous fighting ability.
Sanda athletes also compete in non-Chinese or mixed combat sports, including boxing, kickboxing and mixed martial arts. Competitors can win by knockout or points which are earned by landing strikes to the body or head, throwing an opponent, or when competition is held on a raised LeiTai platform, pushing them off the platform. Fighters are only allowed to clinch for a few seconds. If the clinch is not broken by the fighters, and if neither succeeds in throwing his opponent within the time limit, the referee will break the clinch. In the U.S., competitions are held either in boxing rings or on the raised lei tai platform. Amateur fighters wear protective gear. “Amateur Sanda” allows kicks, punches, and throws. “Professional Sanda” allows elbow and knee strikes (including to the head) as well as kicking, punching and throwing.
Some Sanda fighters have participated in fighting tournaments such as K-1 and UFC. Some Sanda fighters well known in the United States include the IKF and former Strikeforce middleweight champion, Cung Le, and Marvin Perry. Other Sanda-based fighters who have entered MMA include KJ Noons, Pat Barry, Zhang Tiequan, Zabit Magomedsharipov and Muslim Salihov.
In addition of teaching the sophisticated techniques, an important part of the mission of Arizona Sanda Association is also to educate the public about the traditions and value of Chinese Martial Arts such as Responsibility, Integrity, Perseverance, Discipline and Indomitable Spirits.
*Reference from Wikipedia