Jason Yee Kung Fu & Kickboxing Champion
San-Shou and San-Da Kickboxing
| San-Shou (Chinese, meaning free hand) its formal name, is also popularly called San-Da (Chinese meaning, free hit) in China. San Shou is a style of kickboxing that started in China in the early 1970s It became hand to hand combat training for military exchanges between China and Russia (then U.S.S.R.). It then spread through Chinas allied countries such as Iran and Egypt. In the 1980s, San-Shou was a popular sport in the U.S.S.R. When the government dissolved, the once mighty US.S.R. team, became individual country teams such as Ukraine, Belarus, Turkmenistan, Kazakhstan, Uzbekistan, Kyrgyzstan, and Tajikistan. |
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To the Western world of kickboxing, San-Shou was then known as Eastern Block Style kickboxing. Its features are kickboxing with quick throw and take downs. Commonly used techniques are lift & hip throws, a variety of kicks, boxing and sweeping moves, with an emphasis on linear kicks such as side & front kicks. In 1986 China began having invitational international San-Shou matches which several countries attended. This paved the foundation for the official 1st World San-Shou Championships held in Beijing, China in 1991 in which over forty countries attended. |
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| In the Western World, Jason Yee is a pioneer being the first American to compete and medal in the 1st World San-Shou Championships in 1991. He was a major influence in the spread of this sport through out the United States. In 1994 the W.K.F. (Wushu Kung-Fu Federation) was formed uniting several regional organizations and the first legitimate U.S. national San-Shou competitions where held. |
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| By the end of the 1990s there were five World San-Shou Championships sponsored by the I.W.F. held every two years. Cung Le, a world-class champion fighter and coach, helped to popularize the sport in the Western organizations. Soon after, other western organizations started sponsoring San-Shou Championships such as the I.K.F. (International Kickboxing Federation), the I.S.K.A. (International Sport Kickboxing Association), and the U.S.K.B.A (United States Kickboxing Association). |
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| Coaches and promoters such as David Ross, Steve Ventura, Josh Bartholomew, Marvin Perry, Brent Hemby, Scott Sheely, Mike Altman and Shawn Liu helped to propel the sport in the U.S. into the 21st century. In 2000 Chinese TV and commercial sponsors began promoting pro boxing ring-style San-Shou fights for Asian TV and named these competitions after the popular term, San-Da. Today, San-Shou/San-Da fighting has spread throughout the world and has become widely popular. |
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