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San Sao, San Shou, San Da or Le Tai is a form of Chinese self-defense and a martial art. It is also an international combative sport that is described as "Chinese kickboxing and grappling". San Sao is a term that means, "unbound hand" and is a combination of striking, throwing and fast wrestling with no submission locks. It consists of free-fighting and is composed of various aspects of wushu styles. The two main styles that san shou is composed of is kickboxing and shuai jiao, a Chinese form of wrestling. Matches can be won by total points and or K.O. Others forms of this sport are known as Shoot Boxing in Japan and Draka in Russia.
San shou was developed by the Chinese army in the 1960s, which was a decision of the Chinese government. Various traditional styles were studied, as well as old-style lei tai fighting competitions, and a choices were made from these combined with modern insights. One can see san shou as a modern form of wushu, in which an attempt was made to combine the essence of the various traditional wushu styles.
As an unarmed self-defence, san shou is complete, as it includes throws, locks, chokes, kicks, hits, etc. As a sport, san shou is practiced in tournaments. Various techniques that are part of the self defence form of san shou are not allowed during these tournaments, like elbow hits, chokes and arm locks. Furthermore, it is possible to defeat the opponent by moving him outside the ring, which of course would not be an important criterion in self-defence. Continuous punching to the head is now allowed. Fighters are only allowed to clinch for a short few seconds. If the clinch is not broken by the fighters and if no one succeeds in throwing the opponent, the referee will break it up.
During 1967 in Los Angeles Chinatown, a group of martial artists led by the late Bruce LeeTM, integrated Eastern and Western methods, sparred full contact and included take downs. Bruce LeeTM first studied Wing Chun, a style of Chinese Gung Fu. According to many, early on Bruce LeeTM's goal was to be the best Wing Chun man around. However, Bruce LeeTM was already researching different styles of martial arts and was also influenced by other Chinese Styles, Western Boxing and Western Fencing. When Bruce LeeTM moved to the USA, he also began to research Judo, Ju Jitsu and Wrestling. Bruce LeeTM's research entailed both book/film research as well as hands on experience. This "hands on " experience was usually accomplished through exchanging his knowledge of Gung Fu with practitioners of a different styles willing to compare notes and experiment outside of their system. So, Bruce LeeTM conceptualized martial art as a whole and embarked upon a scientific course. One that was born of the idea of non-style, geometry and physics. One as he described as “simple, direct and non-classical” (functional). In a sense Bruce LeeTM's Jeet Kune DoTM is a martial art with no rules that is practiced like a combative sport with real impact (full contact) and live training.
This approach was very revolutionary during the time of its creation. International JKD (Formerly Boxer Rebellion International) was founded by Mark Stewart in 1992 in L.A.'s Chinatown. In 1987, after 7 years of competitive Kickboxing, Stewart began training Bruce LeeTM Lineage Martial Arts and had the opportunity of learning from three different instructors. The first, Dan Inosanto (JKD Concepts) was Bruce LeeTM's assistant at the L.A. Chinatown, school. The second was Inosanto's first graduate, the late Ted Lucaylucay. And lastly Ted Wong, Jeet Kune DoTM) a private student of Bruce LeeTM, that many consider Lee's protégé. Stewart has been a private student of Wong, since 1997. Many people consider Wong's teachings the final stage and purest strain of Bruce LeeTM's MA. From 1980-1994 Stewart competed in International Kickboxing and Savate with a record of (15-5-1) Since 1991, Stewart has trained and taught Stand Up/Kickboxing to Take Down/San Sao and more recently has integrated Ground Tactics/MMA.
Since the ideal of the JKD Model is to hit the opponent with the least chance of being hit back, it does not align well with grappling techniques that are complicated and take too much time or energy. After all, it must work on the street. Like striking, fast wrestling is based on a stable yet super-mobile base that facilitates explosive motion from both standing up and on the ground. Emphasis is on techniques that take one to two beats of time to finish, preferably one. Fast wrestling techniques are used primarily to clear a line of attack, unbalance, take down and immobilize the opponent IN ORDER TO STRIKE. Secondarily they are used to stun, disorient, dislocate, choke or submit the opponent through percussions or explosive constriction. (*Wrestling with striking quality) Like striking, fast wrestling is primarily proactive and seeks to use the appropriate technique(s) from a position of advantage. Secondarily fast wrestling is reactive and utilizes the water principle and spring energy to go with force instead of resisting it. This is accomplished through a stable yet super-mobile base and a keen eye/feel for alignment/ position and leverage. The criteria of fast wrestling technique or optimal function thereof, must facilitate striking, must be simple/direct/functional, must finish quickly, must have striking quality and must allow for quick disengagement and/or standing up.
The Asia Pacific San Shou League (APSL) headquarters in Bangkok, Thailand, will provide workshops, activities, competitions and rankings throughout the Asia Pacific Rim including the West Coast USA. APSL will also facilitate Kickboxing, Shoot Boxing and MMA style training and events. As of the date of this announcement we have support from USA, Australia, Japan, Taiwan, Indonesia and Singapore. If you are interested in participating in APSL at any level, please contact Director: Mark Stewart.