San Shou

[jubaji]

San Shou is a lot of fun.

[pmosiun]

Sanshou is awesome.

[mellow]

Looks like it could be alot of fun

[Tom Yum]

As I understand it, San shou (free fighting) is a combat sport developed by kung fu practitioners. It looks like a mix of international style kickboxing (boxing, kicking, kicks to the leg) and shuajiao (free style wresting).

An example of a sanshou championship
YouTube - 2003 San Shou World Championship Highlights


Points are scored by landing kicks, punches, knees and takedowns. Fights can be won by points, TKO or KO.

I have practiced San Shou. The big difference between it and muaythai are the takedowns - sanshou guys prefer to throw or sweep from a clinch, rather than infight with knees or elbows. Getting taken down takes the wind out of you! If you have a boxing, muaythai or wrestling background it would be helpful - but not necessary.

I think its a good element for kung fu practitioners to toughen up, work in a real time environment and compete with modern combat athletes in addition to their forms, self-defense, healing arts etc.

What do you guys think?