SAN SHOU (SAN DA)

Chinese Free-Style Fighting / Kickboxing

San Shou is a martial art which was originally developed by the Chinese military based upon intense study of various traditional methods and combined with modern advanced in sports medicine and training methodology. San Shou is practiced as a combat sport, meaning that training is conducted with safety equipment, and competitions are conducted under rules restricting certain tactics and techniques designed for the safety of the participants. However, San Shou is also a complete martial art that teaches striking, kicking, leg kicks, kick catches, sweeps, takedowns and throws. The current sport of San Shou does not include elbow and knee strikes but most San Shou gyms teach these techniques as well. 

Sport San Shou utilizes striking, kicking and wrestling but not submission and/or ground grappling. Originally, elbows and knees were utilized in inter-military San Shou competition but they have been removed from the international sport version which was established in 1991 with the first world championships. In 1997, the first attempts were made both in China and in the United States to establish professional San Shou matches conducted in a manner similar to other kickboxing styles such as Muay Thai (Thai Kickboxing). Matches are conducted without protective gear (without headgear, shin guards and the chest protector) and are held in a boxing ring. The Chinese often refer to professional San Shou as "San Da" an older term which was originally used to describe full contact fighting. Professional San Shou/San Da has grown incredibly over the last decade and professional San Shou fighters have recently fought successfully in K-1 and Mixed Martial Arts events.