San Sou

[StealthMode]

My Uncle knows SanSou. What's so good about sansou anyway. Is it better than Wing Chun? Please tell me more about the Sansou style, like how they attack and defend. Is it very effective for the streets when you are attacked?

[bvermillion]

i have always heard it described as muah thai with takedowns

[sanshou2]

san soo or san shou? San shou is basically like what bvermillion described, it is composed of strikes, throws, takedowns and was developed for the chinese military. While san soo is more like traditonal style kung fu.

[bvermillion]

i don't believe there are as many knee and elbow strikes in san shou as muah thai

[choylifutrocks]

If you wanna see some Sanshou aka San Da, here are a few links to video clips I found in another post:

http://kungfu.net/video/borntofightII.mov

http://kungfu.net/video/KFSS.mov

http://kungfu.net/video/Worlds.mov

Hope this helps.

[Tjang]

First, to explain the meaning of "san sou", of course we need to see how the words are actually written in the Chinese characters.

Second, I used to learn and practice Chinese kung-fu (also called kun-tau, wu-shu, kuo-shu, etc.). When we practice it, we may be practicing the routines or forms (like "kata" in Karate), and we may practice san sou, which is similar to "kumite" in Karate. It just means "free fighting" practice.

Does it include a lot of punching, kicking, throwing, or others? It depends on your style of school (something like "ryu" in Japanese). If it is Northern Shan-tung style, it may include lots of jumping and kicking, but if it is Southern Hokkian style, it will include shorter and stronger stances.

I hope my posting can give more information. Thanks.

[choylifutrocks]

Originally posted by Tjang
First, to explain the meaning of "san sou", of course we need to see how the words are actually written in the Chinese characters.

Second, I used to learn and practice Chinese kung-fu (also called kun-tau, wu-shu, kuo-shu, etc.).
I hope my posting can give more information. Thanks.

Ok, are we talking San Shou (San Da), or San Soo?

I also think that Kung Fu is a word that should be dropped off of the face of the earth. There are hundreds of different styles of Kung Fu, some make other's look bad. Therefore, they should not share the same name.

I'm not criticising Tjang, he just sparked a few thoughts in my head.

[Tjang]

My friend Choylifutrocks,

I agree with you that terminology is one of the problems that can make it more difficult for different people to have the same understanding. And the fact is those names have already existed in the world of Chinese martial arts, and so I personally like to hear different ideas, views, and explanations about the terms and try to use a single term consistently.

However, it is interesting to know the basic meanings behind the terms, for example: “kung-fu” (they say) means the high quality of doing something gained after a long period of practice, “wu-shu” means the skills related to wars and combats, while “kun-tao” only means the fist.

As to “san sou” and “san soo”, I honestly don’t know if they mean the same thing.

Choylifutrocks, I am new to this forum, and it seems that you are the first person to respond to my posting. Thank you very much. What should I call you? Just choylifutrocks? And allow me to ask you: have you practiced choy-li-fut for long?

Yours truly,
Tjang

[choylifutrocks]

Originally posted by Tjang
My friend Choylifutrocks,

Choylifutrocks, I am new to this forum, and it seems that you are the first person to respond to my posting. Thank you very much. What should I call you? Just choylifutrocks? And allow me to ask you: have you practiced choy-li-fut for long?

Yours truly,
Tjang

Call me whatever you want. I've noticed some people have been shortening my name to Choy. I've just started posting recently too. It's cool, the people are generally nice and full of useful information.

I havn't been studying CLF for too long, but I've been impressed with it, definately. There is a definate sense of reality involved. When you hear: "push yourself", "hit harder", "move faster", etc. it's usually a good sign. That and the fact that my shirt looks like I dropped it in a pool when I'm done. LOL. Do you know much about CLF?

Go ahead and send me a private message, or an e-mail if you want....I think we're going off of the threads topic. I go off topic a lot, and I"m trying to stop

Choy

[kid_chocolate]

re: Tjang

You are getting mixed up. In all Chinese MA there is "free hands" or san sou as you call it. Some styles do it harder than others but it sticks to to the confines of the particular style. Its a training exercise and can be done more/less intensely.

There is also a modern hard kickboxing/throwing art developed by the Chinese military and referred to as san shou or san da. Its a ringsport too and is comparable to Muay Thai in this respect. Its very good and contains combatives too.

I believe there might also be a trad CMA which calls itself san shoo or san soo. I have no idea what this is like but sounds as if it wasn't made up that long ago? Its all very confusing. You seem to be talking about the first definition while most others are talking about the hard boxing style.

[Tjang]

Dear Kid_chocolate,

You are right. I may have been mixed up. Thanks for your responds. In fact, there are still many things that still confuse me.

In my training, after practicing stances, basic strikes, basic movements, etc., then we studied a set of pre-arranged movements, called – for instance – Crouching Tiger (translation): punches, kicks, blocks, etc. (This is an individual practice.) After we could do this fairly well, we did it again, but this time, with a partner. I did the same punches, kicks, etc. but my partner would have to block my punches, kicks, and he would punch or kick me, and I would of course have to block (All are done with pre-arranged movements). What do you call this practice in your place? Here, we call it “tui ta” (It is a pair practice).

So, your responds and information really gives new perspectives to me. And, apparently, I will have to learn more about what people call what, and where. Thank you.

[ninjaiboy22]

San Sou

San Sou is basiclly the fighting form of Traditional Kung Fu,

I took both Northern Kungfu and San Sou in Ca under two different instructors. They bothed summed it up pretty easily. San Soo is for competers and fighters not interested in philosophy or history, just strategic fighting, were as Kung FU is traditional, and learn all aspects.

Cool

[Kakarot71]

q

[iliqchuan]

as I understand it Sanshou is the sparring element in chinsese martial arts, like chinna, or form, just another element of an art's training process. It is also the name of the sparring event at Wushu-Kungfu tournaments. This event is inclusive of all arts. Generally full contact with gear, and there are throws and takedowns but no ground fighting. This is probably nothing new to you guys, but I just wanted to try to add something to the answer.