San Shou - Chinese Kickboxing

What is San Shou?

Is it a new Chinese style of wushu (martial art), a sport, or just full-contact sparring? It is all of that and more. San shou has become the consolidation of Chinese martial art theories and techniques into a new forum that consists of rules and the ability to execute techniques at full power. San shou is not a sport for the timid; it is equivalent to any form of full-contact fighting but with the added twist of incorporating the art of throws or sweeps. San shou consists of standard kicks and punches, but then it enters into entrapment, which leads to throws or takedowns. Another added feature is that a competitor can push or throw his opponent off a lei tai (platform), adding excitement to the bouts.

Not a new notion

The art of san shou or sparring on a lei tai is nothing new. In fact, it dates back through centuries of Chinese history. For instance, China's great classic novel, Outlaws of the Marsh (written in 14th century), depicts a fictional account in the Sung dynasty (A.D. 960-1127) of a match between the prodigy Yan Qing, an outlaw, against Ren Yuan, know as "Sky Supporting Pilla5" on a lei tai. "The prodigy darted forward grasped Ren's shoulder with his right hand, his crotch with his left, shoved his shoulder under Ren's chest, and lifted. Five times he spun with his hopeless foe, who was angling, feet in the air, to the edge of the platform. 'Down you go,' he yelled and tossed Ren, head first, to the ground. " San shou means free hand; otherwise it could be considered as freefighting. It carries a generic name because most martial arts rely on some form of freesparring, especially in the advanced stages of training. Presently, san shou is being classified into a self-contained art which borrows classical techniques and theories to be used in full-contact sparring without maiming someone. San shou's fighting concepts date back to arts such as shtrai chiao (throws horns/throwing-tumbling art) thought to be the oldest Chinese martial commencing around 700 B.C. Lei tai (platform) matches were popular across China throughout the centuries, and carry the rich legacy of shaolin and wu tang fighting techniques.

Dark ages

Chinese martial arts or wushu flourished throughout centuries in China, even during the suppressed period of the Ching dynasty (A.D. 1644-1911) when the Han (Chinese) were ruled by the Manchu. But the dark ages of Chinese martial arts in China arrived with the formation of the Chinese People's Republic in 1949. The practice of wushu or any form of combative competitions were suppressed by government officials who feared an uprising within the wushu community (most often wushu practitioners were involved in uprisings such as T'ai P'ing Rebellion, Boxer rebellion, etc.). But a few years later (1952), the officials realized the significance of wushu as a national treasure, and that it was well-suited for the youth of Chinaas a physical education curriculum and a highly energetic sport. The officials also realized that wushu was a beneficial form of exercise for adults. With that notion in mind, the officials restructured existing wushu forms such as Yang tai chi chuan into a 24-style simplified taijiquan form, which was simpler to teach and could be practiced by the masses. Competitions re-emerged and consisted only of tao lu (forms), be it solo or group forms with or without weapons. Any form of freesparring was discouraged on the notion "that Socialist comrades have no business fighting each other". This notion, too, also changed with the introduction of san shou bouts in provincial tournaments in the early 1970s, and by 1979 there were already 30 collegiate teams competing acrossthecountry. By the 1980s san shou was integrated into national competitions. And by the late 1980s China held the first of two tournaments that invited other nations to compete with Chinese athletes in wushu. Originally called the International Wushu Tianjin Daily Cup Tournament, it now has evolved into the present World Wushu Championship. It marked the first time other nations had the opportunity to observe san shou bouts. Even across the Pacific Ocean, san shou or wushu/kung-fu, had its own dormant period. First, prior to the late 1960s, kung-fu only existed within the confines of Chinese communities, and most of all it was usually only taught to Chinese. But with the wind of changes, Chinese martial arts emerged from the shadows of the Chinatowns across the country for all to learn. At the same time martial art tournaments were springing up across the country. Tournaments gave an opportunity for martial artists to test their skill, be it in sparring or forms, and to view other styles of martial arts. But originally kung-fu was not viewed as a competitive sport, but as a means of self-defense or betterment for health within the Chinese communities (this notion may still exist). But a few kung-fu stylists ventured forth into the tournament scene. The secondary aspect of kung-fu's dark period in the United States was that there was no true venue in which kung-fu stylists to compete. Things were even worse for those involved in san shoulsparring. Tournaments in the late 1960s and 1970s were usually organized by Japanese or Korean stylists. Kung-fu stylists who wanted to compete in the sparring matches had to adhere to Japanese or Korean rules.

Some kung-fu practitioners accepted the rules and adapted their fighting styles to fit the norm. But other kung-fu practitioners fell short because they did not compromise their fighting styles to fit into a forum that did not permit their techniques (i.e., entrapment, takedowns). And sadly at times some kung-fu stylists were not exposed to sparring. For instance, some kwoon (school) believed that if a student only practiced forms he would be able to defend himself on the street. And other kwoon believed that their techniques were too dangerous to be used in sparring. But in reality these were myths created by sifu (teachers) to cover up their inexperience with fighting or organized sparring. This led to the notion within tournament circuits that kung-fu stylists weren't fighters, and that they only looked good doing flowery movements in silk PJ's. The problem was not that kung-fu stylists could not fight or that kung-fu was inadequate, but that there were no true venues for Chinese stylists. By the mid-1970s, organizations such as the Fu Jow Pai Federation in New York City sponsored full-contact bouts, which were geared toward kung-fu practitioners, but remained open to any style of martial arts. This unfortunately led to a generic style of fighting and a host of excess injuries. By the 1980s, organizations such as the International Kuoshu Federation promoted fullcontact bouts geared for kung-fu stylists. But they too were plagued with injuries caused because of limited rules and a lack of proper protective gear (these factors have since been improved). Around 1989, the Kuoshu Federation introduced platform bouts in the United States. Both organizations helped sponsor fullcontact bouts in the dark period of wushu/kung-fu in the United States. But now the United States, Mainland China (People's Republic of China) and other nations have combined their efforts to organize a forum for full-contact bouts that will show the effectiveness of Chinese martial art theories and techniques in a safe environment that will lower the risk of serious iniuries but still retain the excitement of combative arts. It must be taken into account that some of the wushu/kung-fu stable of techniques (i.e., chin na (seize and control), kai shoulhoi sao (open hand), zhao/jow (claws), striking at the joints, etc., have been removed from san shou bouts to insure no maior iniuries.

The art

The art of san shou consists of a stable of wushu/kung-fu techniques (i.e., punches, kicking, entrapment, sweeps and throws /takedowns), making san shou among the few fullcontact sports that utilizes the four ranges of fighting (i.e., kicking, punching, entrapment, and takedowns). Matches are held on a lei tai (platform) which is 24 feet square (8m x 8m) and two feet (60 cm) high. The platform consists of a mat covered by a canvas. Competitors use eight-ounces gloves for 143 pounds (65 kgs.) and under, and ten-ounce gloves for 154 pounds (70 kgs.) and up. Matches consists of three, two-minute rounds and a one-minute break between rounds. The system of winning Mro rounds out of three has been adopted. Fighters are divided into ten weight categories. Points are accumulated as follows:

Accumulating one point:

Hitting the opponent on a valid part (i.e., head, the torso and the legs) once with a hand technique. Hitting the opponent on the head or legs once by a leg technique.

Accumulating two points:

Hitting the opponent with a kick to the torso.

The opponent has been given a warning once.

The opponent has fallen while you remain standing.

Accumulating three points:

Knocking an opponent off the platform in a round.

Executing a turn-body-backward-sweep while still remaining standing.

Hitting the opponent with a hooked kick, while you remain standing.

Making the opponent fall by a clever device (including deliberately fall-down techniques), while dodging defensively.

Putting the opponent down (any part of the body, except the feet) with a forward sweep or a backward sweep while you remain standIng.

Accumulating zero points:

Both fighters hit each other on valid parts at the same time or successively.

Both fighters fall down or off the platform at the same time or successively.

Throwing the opponent to the ground or off the platform after holding him for two secends or more.

The opponent falls on the ground after a tumbling.

Hitting the lower leg when the opponent is defending by raising his knee.

Hitting the valid part by a forward sweep or a backward sweep while pressing down by the opponent.

No clear techniques and no obvious hit at valid parts.

The opponent falls on the ground after a flying movement.

The opponent is hit by a fist during a hold.

Attacking with a defensive hold of the opponent's leg.

Conclusion This is just a brief description of san shou-the art, the sport, however you wish to see it. One thing is true, however: It is destined to be wushu/kung-fu"s saving grace and the shining star which will guide Chinese martial arts into the 21st century.

Traditional Shaolin
Tai Ji Quan
Contemporary Wushu

Conditioning is the most important aspect of San Shou training you must be prepared for this type of martial art or you risk serious injury.

If you have comments or suggestions, email me at newshaolin@geocities.com

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