Introduction
Wushu, the Chinese term for Martial Arts, covers a great variety of styles and all of them include combat as a very important aspect of their systems. To take a few examples, Taiji Quan has the specific fighting techniques of Tuishou (Push Hands), Bagua Zhang has the fighting techniques of Roushou (soft hands), and Wing Chun Kuen / Yong Chun Quan has its very well-known Chee Sau / Jieshou (Sticky Hands). These, however, are not the only fighting techniques for each of these styles. A variety of drills and skills practiced in pairs are fundamental for the development of Wushu combat, and include movement applications from the different forms and conditioning of the body for fighting.
Application of the Movements
In Chinese Wushu, the training of the movement-applications is a vital part of the development of combat skills. Regardless of the school, all the movements we practice in the solo forms have useful applications in a combat situation. Sometimes people think that because movements may look very artistic or flowery that they are ineffective, however, in the hands of the expert of that particular school, they can be effective combat techniques. A person applying these movements can vary them to:
- Evade
- Control (grab)
- Intercept (block)
- Strike
Push Hands – Master Huang Kang Hui
from China & Orlando Garcia
That’s to say there is more than one way to use the application of each movement. For instance in Taiji Quan the applications of the movements have been varied from time to time. These days, Masters of Taiji have been re-incorporating the Jina (locking techniques) which were techniques that were not emphasized for many years. In the origins of Taiji (Chen style) different variations of each of the applications were part of the regular practice. Yang, and Wu styles concentrated for a long time on the passive and soft side of the applications of each movement but now practitioners of these styles are once again incorporating the full set of the movement-applications. Taiji Quan was developed from the combination of many different schools of Chinese Wushu. It is important to bear in mind that Taiji Quan is still predominantly a passive/defensive style. The applications of the styles are constantly evolving. An example of this is Master Guo’s Ying Shou branch of the Northern School of Eagle Claw (Ying Zhao Quan), which has recently incorporated further variations of the movement-applications, taking the traditional system into another level of more practical combat techniques.
Meditation and Combat Techniques
Another way of training the movements and combat techniques is by sitting in the lotus position and visualizing the movements of the forms, the applications of the forms and combat with an imaginary opponent, in order to develop confidence at a sub-conscious level.
In practicing the solo forms, we are also training the visualization of the movement-application. Within the performance of the forms, however, we should neither concentrate 100% on the application of the movement, nor totally on the artistic appearance of the movement. Ideally the performance should be a combination of both in order to show the fluidity of the movements as well as the shadow fighting intent.
Dui Lian (set sparring training)
Weapons Dui Lian
Another important aspect of Wushu combat is the Dui Lian training. All schools of Chinese Wushu have sets of pre-arranged techniques that are practiced in pairs. Some of them include weapons drills alongside the bare hand routines. The number of participants can also be varied – one against one, one against two or multiple attacks (as in the case of Bagua Zhang and its Nine Palace training methods). Dui Lian develops confidence in fighting by going through the application of different techniques used in a relatively safe and controlled fighting situation. It is a training method to develop and improve speed and power of the applications of the movements in order that these techniques become second nature to the practitioner.
Once a Chinese Wushu practitioner has practiced and developed these different types of training methods for combat they will be ready to move into the free style of fighting, which in Chinese Wushu is Sanshou.
The Definition of Sanshou
A friendly inter-club
Sanshou training session
Sanshou means “continuous fighting” or “free fighting” and is the final stage in the pyramid of development of martial skills. All of the above mentioned techniques will ultimately lead to Sanshou.
The term Sanshou is used separately within all the schools of Chinese Wushu, however nowadays Sanshou (or Sanda) is a term used more to describe the free fighting in a competitive and safe environment using specific rules and regulations developed over the last century.
The History & Development of Sanshou as a Competitive Sport
Ancient Times:
In the Qin Dynasty (221BC – 207BC) competitions became much stricter, with the enforcement of rules, the placement of referees and the development of the lei tai (raised open platform). This meant that fighters had to display not only the skill of combat, but also the ability to stay on the lei tai.
Many of the famous generals of the time were very skilled in armed and unarmed combat, and by this time martial skills were continually being refined and modified to keep up with the developing weaponry.
During the Tang Dynasty (518 – 907AD) officers had to take examinations so that they could be ranked according to their skill. These examinations consisted of armed and unarmed combat.
During the Ming Dynasty drawings were unearthed, dating back to the primitive ages, depicting men wrestling (Shuai Jiao) in difference combat stances.
Modern Times:
In 1928 the Central Wushu Institute was established in Nan Jing by the Chinese Government to develop Wushu as a structured training syllabus, not just for self defense, but also for the obvious health benefits it affords. After its establishment, local Wushu institutes were established in provinces, cities and counties. Two National Wushu meets were held by the Central Wushu Institute in 1928 and 1933 in Nan Jing. These events featured competitions in long weapons, short weapons, Wushu Sanshou (free sparring) and shuai jiao (Chinese wrestling). Officially regulated competition in Wushu Sanshou began in 1979 and it became an international event at Wushu competitions in 1988. Since 1991, at the first World Wushu Championships in Beijing, Sanshou has played a major role in the development of Wushu. The participation in Sanshou has steadily increased at subsequent World Wushu Championships, and the 1st World Sanshou Cup was held in Shanghai in 2002. This is a bi-annual event with the 3rd World Sanshou Cup being held in China later this year. Sanshou tournaments for professional competitors are held regularly in China. Even though Sanshou is regulated to be contested on a lei tai (raised platform), since the beginning of this century it has also been contested in a ring for events such as “The King of Sanda” (Sanda is a term used for Sanshou within China), and competitions matching China against Thailand, Korea and Japan.
Sanshou in New Zealand
The first Sanshou tournament to be held in New Zealand was in Wellington in 1997 and in the same year New Zealand sent the first representative Sanshou team to the 4th Wushu World Championships in Rome. Teams were subsequently sent to the World Wushu Championships in 1999 in Hong Kong and in 2005 in Hanoi. New Zealand competitors received bronze medal placings at both the 1999 and 2005 events. Since then there have been regular tournaments and competitions. New Zealand has had internationally accredited judges since 1997 and a body of judges who officiate at national events.
Sanshou will be a major attraction at the Blue Wing Honda Auckland Wushu Festival being held at the Tamaki College Community Recreation Centre on the weekend of May 27th and 28th. (The Sanshou competition will be held on the 28th). The Wushu Culture Association holds a once-a-month weekend training session for the development of Sanshou and the interpretation of the rules and regulations. Further details can be found on https://wushu.nz
The New Zealand Kung Fu Wushu Federation will be holding trials for a Sanshou Development Squad (juniors and adults) on May 13th in Takapuna, Auckland.
The New Zealand Kung Fu Wushu Federation is working hard to develop a squad of both junior and adult Sanshou athletes to prepare for International events. For details please contact Mr. Grant Butcher (Executive Member & Events Coordinator of the NZKWF) through www.wushu.org.nz
