~* mY rEmiNiScEncES *~

Not all types of Wushu will be competed in the Asian Games. In 2014 Incheon Asian Games, Wushu will be comprised of 2 major events: Taolu and Sanda.

Originally developed by the Chinese military after integrating traditional martial arts and modern combat fighting techniques, Sanda (散打) was born and today serves as an exciting free-fighting combat sport. The simple concept of Sanda (Chinese kickboxing) is two-people fighting without the use of any weapons. It can be traced back to its roots in the 1920’s, when the Guomingdang (China Nationalist Party) established the Huangpu Military Academy (formerly known as Whampoa) in Guangdong, China to form a modern military force.

Since its strategic alliance with the Soviet Union, the academy emulated the Soviet methods of military training and then adapted it to the hand-to-hand combat training in the military force. Today, it has evolved a bit and has become more of a self-defense system. Today, it is the national combat sport in China for martial arts and fighting competitions. It has also been selected to be one of the sports Asian Games since 1998.

Sanda, or Sanshou is a calisthenics sport that employs 4 key ranges of combat: ti (kicks), da (punches), shuai (throws) and chin-na (seizing). In fact, it stresses the joint use of punches, sweeps, grabs, and throws in a very unique way. In accordance with the Rules for International Wushu Sanda Competition, head, elbow, knees, and twisting the opponent’s joints, are strictly prohibited in the Asian Games for safety reasons. In the 17th Incheon Asian Games, there will be 5 Sanda categories for men: 56kg, 60kg, 65kg, 70kg and 75kg whereby women’s Sanda category is comprised of 52kg and 60kg weight divisions only. Also, the Sanda competitions held will be based on the knock-out system; the winner of each round continues to fight to win.

During the competition, the fighters must wear an internationally adapted set of equipment, which include boxing gloves, head gear, and chest protectors specified by the organizer. The weight of boxing gloves shall be 230 grams for 65kg category and under, including the women category; 280 grams for the 70kg category and above. However, the contestants have to use their own gum shields and cup protectors (under their trunks). Female fighters are allowed to wear close-fitting undergarments.

Some notable Sanda practitioners include Zhang Tie Quan, Bao Li Gao and the “Conqueror of Muay Thai” Liu Hailong as well as the famous American fighter – Cung Le. Sanda was being featured in action movies and TV series like the Police Story 2013, Kung Fu Fighter, Ip Man, Four Dragons (Kinta 1881) and so on.

Sanda is very similar to kickboxing or Muay Thai which also includes kicking range, striking range, and the takedown range in its use of different techniques. Sanda is a close combat system that will have fierce competition in the upcoming Asian Games in Incheon. It is deemed as one of the rising sports in the future as it not only improves physical qualities such as responsiveness, sensitivity, flexibility, strength, and endurance, but also people’s health both physically and mentally. Catch the exciting and dynamic full-contact fighting this September as Korea hosts the 17th Asian Games in Incheon!

The official 2014 Incheon Asian Games Writer ‘IAG-Crew’ ㅣKit Yee Thoong