Taiji Sanshou 散手 or Sanda 散打

Sanshou 散手 (free hands) or Sanda 散打 (free fighting) is a modern Chinese hand to hand combat / self-defence training system, and sport. It is not a style as such. It is rather considered one of the components of Chinese martial arts and is normally taught alongside other styles of wushu. The term Sanda has a longer history and is more commonly used. Sanshou was the official name given to the martial art when it was formalized and standardized by the Chinese government. Later the official name reverted back to Sanda.

Every martial arts has some method for bringing all the martial skills together in a way that more realistically reflects the conditions of actual combat. However, it would be impossible and very foolish to train by actually fighting. Such a practice would be disastrous for both participants, especially if one or both had real skill. There are tournaments for sanshou. But these have rules established to minimise the risk of serious injury. There are always risks in such training however, which is why it is reserved for only certain advanced students who have reached a high level of skill and self control. Not everyone will be permitted to practice sanshou.

Taijiquan Sanshou is typically trained in a more gentle manner than sparring sessions in other styles. In taijiquan, the emphasis is on relaxation, emptiness, alignment and the focus of clear intent and internal power. There is usually less emphasis on speed. It is believed that with proper training, speed should come naturally when all else is in place.

In practising taiji sanshou, it is generally considered better to loose and gain understanding than to win and not know how you did it.

Also, by training slowly, students are conditioned to relax in combat instead of becoming tense. Tension, whether physical, mental, or emotional, is the enemy of the taijiquan student and should be avoided like the plague.

Martial Applications Duan shou (斷手)

Within the solo routines of taijiquan, are hidden a plethora of martial techniques. The knowledge and understanding of these techniques is something that has normally only been taught to advanced students who have proven their moral character and trustworthiness to the teacher. But the less dangerous of these techniques are often taught to novices as a means of improving the quality of their movements.

As with most martial arts include techniques for all ranges of combat:

• Ti Da (踢打) - punching, kicking and striking with all parts of the body.
• Qinna (擒拿) - joint locks and pressure point manipulation, (including ground techniques).
• Shuai (摔) - throws, takedowns, etc.
• Partner practice can also include choreographed routines, free sparring and competitive sanshou.

Sport Sanshou (Free Hands) competitions

Sport Sanshou employs many techniques of traditional wushu including most aspects of combat including striking and grappling, but is focused mainly on one-on-one combat efficiency as is considered safe for sport. Sanda tournaments are one of the two sport wushu disciplines recognized by the International Wushu Federation.

Sanshou's history involved barehanded or "lei tai" fights in which no rules existed. However, as a competitive event sanshou developed in the military as these bouts were commonly held between the soldiers to test and practise barehanded martial skills, ability and techniques. Rules were developed and the use of protective gloves etc. was adopted. It was originally used by the Kuomintang (KMT) at the first modern military academy in Whampoa in the 1920s. Later it was also adopted as a method by the People's Liberation Army of China.

As a sport, Sanda is practiced in tournaments and is normally held alongside taolu events in wushu competition. For safety reasons, some techniques, such as elbow strikes, chokes, and joint locks, are not allowed during Sanda tournaments. Furthermore, it is possible to defeat the opponent by moving (whether by throwing, striking, or otherwise pushing) him outside the ring. Fighters are only allowed to clinch for a few seconds. If the clinch is not broken by the fighters, and if neither succeeds in throwing his opponent within the time limit, the referee will break the clinch.

Most Sanshou competitions held in the US are on raised Leitai platforms with the fighters wearing protective gear, where punches, kicks and throws are allowed. This can sometimes be called "Amateur Sanshou". A competition held in China, called the "King of Sanda", is held in a ring similar to a boxing ring in design but larger in dimension. They wear no protective gear except for gloves and are allowed to use knee strikes as well as kicking, punching and throwing. Some Sanshou fighters have participated in fighting tournaments such as K-1 and Shoot boxing. They usually have not participated in the "King of Sanda" tournaments but have had some degree of success, especially in Shoot boxing competitions, which is more similar to Sanshou. Due to the rules of kickboxing competition, Sanshou fighters are subjected to more limitations than usual.

Sanshou has been featured in many mixed martial arts competitions.

Here is a clip from a sanshou demo by Cung Lee and Rudy Ott.