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Sanshou

In Chinese, Sanshou (loose hands) refers to the free application of all the realistic hand-to-hand combat skills of kung-fu. It is divided into three categories: sport Sanshou (Chinese kickboxing), civilian Sanshou  , and military Sanshou (AKA Qinna Gedou).

After fighting directly with the superior American forces during the Korean War, the Chinese government realized it needed a new way of fighting for its military forces. Army chief, Peng Dehuai, directed a great military training campaign (Da Be Wu) after the war. Martial arts masters from each of China's 92 provinces were brought together with medical experts to compare and evaluate their techniques. A new hand-to-hand combat system was developed based on three criteria: simplicity, directness, and effectiveness against a larger, stronger opponent. This system of fighting was thoroughly tested in training camps throughout China, and in border conflicts with Soviet troops. The Chinese military published manuals on Sanshou in 1963 and 1972.

Because of the increase of violent crimes in China, civilian Sanshou was created by the Chinese government so that Chinese civilians may learn self-defense skills. It is a complete system of striking and grappling, but without the lethal techniques required in the military. Along with military Sanshou , civilian Sanshou continued to be developed, but its development was by underground martial arts schools and individual martial artists in communist China. Civilian Sanshou warriors sharpened their skills by street championships where they challenged each other. These kinds of challenges were very popular during the cultural revolution (1966-1976) and usually were ended by the police.

In recent years, sport Sanshou has been developed and promoted by the Chinese government. In the early years (1980's), there were no formal championships for Sanshou , but there were demonstrations available on national television. Most  Sanshou participants were military and policemen, so sport Sanshou kept its links with military kickboxing and wrestling. Lately, the Chinese government has promoted Sanshou into a nationwide sport and held formal national and international championships every year.

Sanshou  as practiced by the Chinese military is based upon the Chinese Art of War, physics, anatomy, bio-mechanics, and human physiology. It is a complete system of realistic unarmed combat covering the skills of striking, grappling, wrestling, ground fighting, and weapon defenses taken from various Chinese and foreign martial arts and hand-to-hand combat styles. It focuses upon applying the principles of combat rather than upon techniques. The various divisions of the military and police forces have slight differences in technique, but they all employ the same principles.

Military and civilian Sanshou training involves many punching, kicking, grappling, wrestling, ground fighting, and weapon defense drills with a partner. Contact sparring with protective gear is also emphasized. This is where the different skills are blended together into one fluid art. There are no patterns or formal stances, and no qigong exercises.

The sport of Sanshou is rising in popularity all over the world. It is a kickboxing style that is fought on a platform called a "lei tai." Fighters wear boxing gloves, headgear, and body protectors. It is full-contact kicking and punching with throws and sweeps allowed. Knees, elbows, head butts, joint manipulation, and chokes are not allowed, but fighters may be thrown off the platform, a fighter is awarded 5 points for forcing an opponent off the platform.

Sport Sanshou training is similar to kickboxing training, except that throws and sweeps are also drilled extensively. Physical conditioning is also important in sport full-contact fighting.

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