Sanda (sport) facts for kids

Quick facts for kids
Sanda / Sanshou
(散打 / 散手)

A Sanda match in Brazil
Also known as	Sanshou, Chinese boxing, Chinese kickboxing, free combat
Focus	Hybrid
Hardness	Full-contact
Country of origin	China
Parenthood	Changquan, bajiquan, Northern Shaolin, shuai jiao, Chin Na, wushu, Choy Li Fut, Tai Chi, Ang Quan

Sanda (Chinese: 散打; pinyin: Sǎndǎ), also known as Sanshou (Chinese: 散手; pinyin: Sǎnshǒu), is a full-contact combat sport from China. It's often called Chinese boxing or Chinese kickboxing. Sanda was first created by the Chinese military. They studied traditional Chinese martial arts and modern fighting styles.

Sanda combines different techniques. It includes quick punches and kicks, like in boxing and kickboxing. It also uses wrestling moves, such as takedowns, throws, and sweeps. Sometimes, even elbow and knee strikes are allowed. The Chinese government developed a standard way to teach Sanda as part of sport wushu. This is often called Wushu Sanda.

What is the history of Sanda?

Sanda's history comes from ancient barehanded fights. These fights happened on raised platforms called Lei Tai. Back then, there were no rules in these fights. Over time, Sanda became a competitive sport in the military. Soldiers would fight to test their skills.

Rules were added to make it safer. Fighters started using protective gloves. Sanda was first used in the 1920s at a military academy in China. Later, the People's Liberation Army also adopted it. The Sanda training program was based on traditional Chinese martial arts. Today, there are different versions of Sanda. The Chinese government created one for civilians to learn self-defense and play as a sport.

What do you learn in Sanda?

Modern Sanda training combines different Chinese martial arts styles. It also includes moves from Western Boxing. The focus is on what works best in a fight. Wushu Sanda teaches many combat skills. These include striking (hitting) and grappling (wrestling).

When Sanda became a sport, some moves were limited. This was to make it safer and less violent. However, many schools still teach Sanda as a complete martial art. They only change their training for competitions. Sanda tournaments are one of the two main types of International Wushu Federation events.

Hand Strikes

Sanda teaches you how to use your hands to hit.

• Jab
• Cross
• Hook
• Overhand
• Uppercut
• Back-fist

Elbows and Knees

You also learn to use elbows and knees.

• Horizontal
• Vertical
• Diagonal

Kicks

Kicking is a big part of Sanda.

• Front Thrusting Kick
• Front Snap Kick
• Side Kick
• Hook Kick
• Spinning Back Kick
• Roundhouse Kick
• Axe kick

Two Dutch fighters in a sparring session of Sanshou.

Throws

Sanda includes many wrestling and throwing moves.

• Hip Throw
• Shoulder Throw
• Sweep
• Double leg takedowns
• Single leg takedowns
• Body lock takedowns
• Kick catch throws
• Trips
• Scissor takedown

A Sanda fighter tries to take down their opponent.

Sanda combines many traditional Chinese fighting techniques. It's often taught alongside older Chinese styles. Sanda focuses on being able to fight in many different ways.

A Sanda kick during practice.

How is Sanda played as a sport?

Yundong Sanda (Chinese: 运动散打; pinyin: Yùndòng Sàndǎ) or Jinzheng Sanda (Chinese: 竞争散打; pinyin: Jìngzhēng Sàndǎ) is the sport version of Sanda. It's a modern fighting style influenced by traditional Chinese boxing. In competitions, you can use throws and takedowns. All kinds of strikes with arms and legs are also allowed. It includes Chinese wrestling moves like Shuai Jiao and grappling techniques like Chin Na.

Sanda looks a lot like Kickboxing, but it has more grappling moves. Sanda competitions often happen at the same time as taolu (form) competitions. Sanda is a modern version of the old Lei Tai fights. However, it has rules to prevent serious injuries. Many Chinese martial arts schools teach Sanda rules. They try to include their style's moves and ideas.

Chinese martial artists also compete in other combat sports. These include boxing, kickboxing, and mixed martial arts. For safety, some self-defense moves are not allowed in Sanda tournaments. These include elbow strikes, chokes, and joint locks. Fighters can win by knocking out their opponent. They can also win by earning points. Points are given for hitting the body or head, throwing an opponent, or pushing them off the raised platform.

Fighters can only hold onto each other for a few seconds. If they don't break the clinch or throw their opponent, the referee will separate them. In the U.S., competitions are held in boxing rings or on raised Lei Tai platforms. Amateur fighters wear protective gear.

"Amateur Sanda" allows kicks, punches, knees (but not to the head), and throws. A big competition in China is called the "King of Sanda." It's held in a ring similar to a boxing ring, but bigger. Professional Sanda fighters wear less protective gear. They only wear gloves, a cup, and a mouthpiece. "Professional Sanda" allows knee strikes, including to the head. It also allows kicking, punching, and throwing.

Some Sanda fighters have competed in other fighting tournaments. These include K-1 and Shoot Boxing. They have done well, especially in Shoot boxing, which is similar to Sanda. Sanda fighters have also competed in Mixed Martial Arts (MMA) events. These include Art of War Fighting Championship and Ranik Ultimate Fighting Federation. Many top MMA fighters in China come from a Sanda background. Some Sanda fighters have even fought in the UFC. Sanda is often compared to other styles like Muay Thai, Karate, Kickboxing, and Tae Kwon Do.

What is Military Sanda?

Junshi Sanda (Chinese: 军事散打; pinyin: Jūnshì Sǎndǎ) is a special unarmed combat system. It was created for Chinese Elite Forces. They studied traditional martial arts like Kung Fu, Shuai Jiao, and Chin Na. They also looked at modern hand-to-hand combat. The goal was to create a realistic fighting system for the military. Junshi Sanda uses all parts of the body as weapons. It focuses on four main 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.
• Chin-Na – Seizing – which includes joint locks and other ways to control an opponent.

Where are Sanda competitions held?

The International Wushu Federation (IWUF) promotes wushu around the world. Sanda and taolu (forms) are the two main types of competitive wushu. The IWUF is recognized by the International Olympic Committee (IOC).

World Wushu Championships

Number	Year	Host City, Country
1	1991	Beijing, China
2	1993	Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia
3	1995	Baltimore, U.S.
4	1997	Rome, Italy
5	1999	Hung Hom Bay, Hong Kong
6	2001	Yerevan, Armenia
7	2003	Freguesia da Sé, Macau
8	2005	Hanoi, Vietnam
9	2007	Beijing, China
10	2009	Toronto, Canada
11	2011	Ankara, Turkey
12	2013	Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia
13	2015	Jakarta, Indonesia
14	2017	Kazan, Russia
15	2019	Shanghai, China
16	2021	Dallas, United States

Sanda World Cup

No.	Year	Host City, Country
1	2002	Shanghai, China
2	2004	Guangzhou, Guangdong, China
3	2006	Xi'an, Shaanxi, China
4	2008	Harbin, Heilongjiang, China
5	2010	Chongqing, China
6	2012	Wuyishan, Fujian, China
7	2014	Jakarta, Indonesia
8	2016	Xi'an, Shaanxi, China
9	2018	Hangzhou, Zhejiang, China
10	2020	Melbourne, Australia

Who are some famous Sanda fighters?

Sanda Fighters

Sanda Fighters in Kickboxing

Sanda Fighters in Mixed Martial Arts (MMA)

Sanda Fighters in Lethwei

• Dave Leduc

Sanda Fighters in Professional Boxing

• Alessandro Riguccini

See also

In Spanish: Sanda para niños

• Kickboxing
• Folk wrestling
• Kumite
• Shoot boxing
• Sambo
• Muay Thai
• Lethwei
• Pradal