Chinese boxing: everything you need to know about the practice of sanda

What exactly is Chinese boxing?

There Chinese boxing East also called sanda, a Chinese compound word meaning “free and complete combat”. It is in fact a sport who split in two types of workouts :

• A sports training (in competition or not) practiced by anyone and which is called sanda for “free fight”.
• A martial training practiced by the military and we call sanshou for “unarmed combat”.

In the sanda, we find :

• THE sanda light (or qingda) where there is no KO and the blows are light
• THE sanda says classic, where the KO are allowed and the blows are powerful

Basically, it's like you have the leisure Chinese boxing just for fun and the competitive Chinese boxing to win medals.

In the end, whether in competition or just in leisure mode, sanda remains a foot-fist boxing which allows projections (brought to the ground). It is a complete sport which mixes boxing and kung fu techniques.

There Chinese boxing is often confused with the kick boxing, because in the broad outlines THE techniques are a bit similar.

But unlike kickboxing, you are allowed to fight standing in order to bring your opponent to the ground. What teaches you to manage all distances (melee, close, mid-distance and long distance).

In sanda, THE techniques are simple and practical. On the other hand, it remains a difficult sport to learn and that takes time to master them well.

In Chinese boxing, you go work a lot on bear paws, to paos and at punching bag. But there is also quite a bit of sparring to allow you to apply the different ones in combat situations!

In the sanda, there is a spiritual dimension, you shouldn't just look to hit and knock out It's kind of a physical and mental development which is done with combat techniques.

Is Chinese boxing a martial art?

Chinese boxing is not not really a martial style in itself. It is rather a component of Chinese martial arts.

It is both a combat and self-defense sport. In sanda you apply martial techniques. Some say it’s a sporting version of kung fu…

It's a very complete sport, but also complex, which can bring you many benefits !

Why practice sanda?

There is many reasons which make the Chinese boxing interesting to practice :

• She uses your whole body
• She is playful, because the movements are varied
• She you lets you let off steam
• She you helps channel your energy to use during your workouts
• It helps you to gain confidence in yourself

As we told you, Chinese boxing is a complete sport. And it's true, it allows you to have a better physical condition by improving your:

• Speed
• Concentration
• Endurance
• Precision
• Power
• Coordination

It is also a good self-defense sport, because the techniques are simple and you can potentially apply them outside of training.

The sanda is therefore a very interesting practice, but not just for its benefits. Her history is too !

The history of Chinese boxing

There Chinese boxing find his origins in 1924 within the chinese military forces. The reason ? The soldiers had need to strengthen their close combat capabilities.

For this, they have mixed several practices : THE Kung Fu, THE lei tai and the shuai jiao. And that’s when sanda was born. Subsequently, techniques from judo and boxing have been added to make it more complete.

In 1960, the Chinese government will regulate Chinese boxing so that she becomes a sport. This practice is therefore no longer only practiced by the military.

At this time, the goal of sanda was to bring together the techniques and rules of all Chinese arts into a single style. And it is in the 1980s that first rules are put in place. Which gave Chinese boxing its current style!

It is towards the 1990s-2000s that the sanda becomes a international sport, very popular in the East, but still little known in the West.

And yet, some fairly famous fighters have practiced Chinese boxing in their careers. Of course, they are not known to everyone, but still! We can notably cite:

• Liu Hailong (former world champion)
• Cung Le (former MMA fighter with UFC)
• Zabit Magomedsharipov (current MMA fighter in UFC)
• Moussa Niang (former French world champion)

Now that you know a little more about this sport and its history, we will take a look at the Chinese boxing rules !

The rules of sanda

Depending on the organizations and countries, Chinese boxing rules may vary. But the general rules are often the same.

First of all, a sanda fight is done on a square platform of 8 meters on each side and raised between 60 and 80 cm. It can happen that fights take place in a ring, but it is rare.

Then, for bringing home victory, it's the same as for other combat sports: by KO or to points at the end of the fight by decision of the judges.

THE fights are made over 2 to 3 rounds of 1 minute 30 or 2 minutes with 1 minute recovery between each round.

Here are the main points of Chinese boxing, now we will see what are the shots allowed, those who are prohibited and the protections that you are wearing.

Punches authorized in Chinese boxing

In sanda, there is a certain number of authorized techniques. But among the latter, there are 4 main categories :

1. Shooter (ti in Chinese): kicks/legs 
2. Hit (da in Chinese): punches
3. Project (shuai in Chinese)
4. To input (na in Chinese)

In addition to these 4 categories of techniques, in Chinese boxing, you are also authorized to make standing wrestling to bring your opponent to the ground. But the emphasis is mainly on foot-fist combinations and projections.

In combat, the Points are awarded based on the technique used :

• THE kicks are more valued than fists.
• THE Swipes and throws earn lots of points if you stay standing.

Note also that the powerful blows tend to give you more points. However, you must do be careful not to throw forbidden blows. Yes, sometimes due to lack of lucidity, it can happen...

Blows prohibited in Chinese boxing

Like most combat sports, Chinese boxing bans beating :

• Of elbow
• Of knee
• Behind the head
• To the neck and at neck
• In the parts
• In front of the knee
• In the spine

You also do not have the right to:

• Stay down and fight (choke, submission, etc.)
• Headbutting
• Make dangerous projections (through the neck or head first)

If you use these techniques in combat, you are sanctioned with a warning. And depending on the severity of the blow, you may even be disqualified.

Protections in Chinese boxing

When you fight in sanda, you are protected by:

• A helmet
• A shell
• A teath protecter
• A chestplate
• Of the gloves
• Of the Shin pads (and sometimes protects your feet)

There is certain categories (class A in particular) where the fighters do not wear no helmet or shin guards. But that’s only when you already have a lot of fights behind you!

The fact of wearing a helmet and one chestplate it’s actually a big one difference from other combat sports and with some Martial Arts.

Differences with other combat sports and martial arts

Sometimes the sanda is confused with kickboxing, when in truth both are different :

• There Chinese boxing authorizes standing wrestling phases and the distance fighting is enough close.
• THE kick boxing authorizes knees, but not the struggle phases and the distance combat is more distant.

There Chinese boxing is also different of muay thai :

• THE sanda authorizes the standing wrestling and takedowns, but not elbows and knees.
• In Thai Boxing, il n’y has no struggle and the elbows and knees are allowed.

THE sanda also differs from judo, Japanese martial art:

• At judo, THE screenings are allowed, to which are added lockdown And maintenance, but without feet or fists, for a style quite defensive.
• In Chinese boxing, there is no no lock and the feet and the fists are authorized for a offensive and defensive style.

Conclusion

You will have understood, the Chinese boxing it's a practice little known to us in the West. But she remains very interesting to practice in competition or in leisure to take advantage of its benefits.

So, if you want to discover a Chinese combat sport different from the others types of boxing and with a spiritual dimension, THE sanda is made for you !

Try combat sports at Le Cercle

Finally, the Chinese boxing seems a little too complicated to you ? In this case, we invite you to (re)discover the boxing at the Circle !

The circle it's what ? A boxing studio in the heart of Paris Who boxing mix And boot camp for a workout that hits!

Our sessions last 50 minutes and are divided into 10 rounds :

• 5 rounds or you box the aqua-bags with sequences of punches
• 5 rounds or you chain together fitness movements on the benches

During your workout, the aim Is simple : switch to off to give it your all ! And for that, the best coaches in Paname are here to motivate you And guide you on each movement.

In addition, at the Circle, everyone in their place ! No need to know how to box to enter the round, the sessions are made for everyone.

And guess what? There is no no fighting and no contact. You come out as fresh as when you arrived. Maybe a little exhausted, it’s true…

So, if you're excited to discover uninhibited boxing in a crazy atmosphere and stylish studios, we give you meet at the Circle !

And how nice we are, we give you the choice between Beaubourg or Montmartre. Our 2 studios just waiting for you to break everything ! 🔥