| With so many martial arts out there we often | | | | combat. In 1991 San Shou became an integral |
| find ourselves wondering which of these arts truly | | | | part of the Wushu world championships and |
| is superior. The fact of the matter is no single art | | | | started to popularize as a sport. The matches |
| can really be regarded as superior but some of | | | | take part on a Lei Tai which is a raised platform |
| the newer hybrid arts can definitely make a valid | | | | much like a sumo wrestling ring. The techniques of |
| claim at that title. San Shou unlike any other | | | | San Shou consist of kicking, punching and |
| martial art combines two distinctively different | | | | takedowns. Chokeholds and arm locks were |
| arts to create a fighting system that is quite | | | | omitted from competition in order to keep the |
| extensive and capable of dealing with a myriad of | | | | fights as lively as possible. The fact that San shou |
| different circumstances.Kickboxing is known as | | | | addresses all the ranges of fighting (kicking, |
| the most well rounded striking martial art due to | | | | punching and grappling) makes the matches quite |
| the fact that you have more weapons at your | | | | real. The matches consist of two, two minute |
| disposal in the form of your hands and your feet. | | | | rounds and points are awarded for effective |
| The one aspect of kickboxing that was sorely | | | | strikes and takedowns. It is unfair to compare |
| lacking is its ability to both takedown an opponent | | | | San Shou to any traditional martial art, as it is |
| and defend against takedowns. Enter Shuai-jiao | | | | much more then striking and also a lot more then |
| also known as Chinese wrestling. Wushu is the | | | | just grappling.The search for a complete martial |
| most popular form of kung-fu and Shuai-jiao is | | | | art should stop right here. San Shou covers |
| the most popular form of grappling in China. The | | | | everything you would need to know in order to |
| way in which these two arts compliment each | | | | survive an attack. The only thing that puzzles me |
| other makes you wonder why it took so long for | | | | about San Shou is its lack of popularity through |
| them to be combined to form what we now call | | | | out the rest of the world. Here we have a martial |
| San Shou. The word San Shou also spelled Sanda | | | | art that allows you to kick punch and grapple yet |
| means unbound hand and is a martial art that was | | | | the majority of our society hasn't heard of it. The |
| created to closely resemble an actual | | | | fact is that there aren't many San Shou clubs in |
| confrontation. The fact of the matter is you may | | | | North America but if you happened to be one of |
| know how to kick and punch but what happens if | | | | the lucky ones who does have this martial art in |
| an assailant decides to grab you?San Shou is the | | | | your city, do yourself a favor and give it a try. |
| official self defense of the Chinese army which is | | | | You won't be sorry! |
| a testament to its effectiveness in unarmed | | | | |