Sanda's competitive history is rooted in barehanded elevated arena or Lei Tai fights in which no rules were observed[6]. However, Sanda as a competitive event developed in the military as these bouts were commonly held between the soldiers to test and practice barehanded martial skills, ability and techniques. Rules were developed and the use of protective gloves etc. was adopted. It was originally used by the Kuomintang at the first modern military academy in Whampoa in the 1920s.[7] Later it was also adopted as a method by the People's Liberation Army of China. Sanda's curriculum was developed with reference to traditional Chinese martial arts. This general Wushu Sanda curriculum varies in its different forms, as the Chinese government developed a version for civilians for self-defense and as a sport.

The generalized modern curriculum practiced in modern wushu schools is composed of different traditional martial arts fighting styles from China, but mainly based on scientific efficiency. Wushu Sanda is composed of Chinese martial arts applications including most aspects of combat including striking and grappling, however when Wushu Sanda was developed as a sport, restrictions were made for safety reasons as well as to promote it as a non-violent sport. Examples of such restrictions included no blows delivered to the back of the head, throat, spine or groin and the discontinuation of the combat when any of the fighters fall to the ground. However many schools, whether traditional or modern, practice it as an all-round martial arts system with no restrictions, only adapting their training in relation to competition rules prior to the event.[8] Sanda tournaments are one of the two disciplines recognized by the International Wushu Federation.

Hand Strikes

• Jab
• Cross
• Hook
• Overhand
• Uppercut
• Back-fist

Elbows and Knees

• Horizontal
• Vertical
• Diagonal

Kicks

• Front Thrusting Kick
• Front Snap Kick
• Side Kick
• Hook Kick
• Spinning Back Kick
• Roundhouse Kick
• Axe kick

Throws

• Hip Throw
• Shoulder Throw
• Sweep
• Double leg takedowns
• Single leg takedowns
• Body lock takedowns
• Kick catch throws
• Trips

One can see Sanda as a synthesis of traditional Chinese fighting techniques into a more amorphous system and is commonly taught alongside traditional Chinese styles, from which Wushu Sanda techniques, theory and training methods are derived. The emphasis of Sanda is on a more amorphous fighting ability.[9]

Yundong Sanda (Chinese: 运动散打; pinyin: Yùndòng Sàndǎ) or Jinzheng Sanda (Chinese: 竞争散打; pinyin: Jìngzhēng Sàndǎ): A modern fighting method, sport, and applicable component of Wushu / Kung Fu influenced by traditional Chinese Boxing, of which takedowns & throws are legal in competition, as well as all other sorts of striking (use of arms & legs). Chinese wrestling methods called Shuai Jiao and other Chinese grappling techniques such as Chin Na. It has all the combat aspects of wushu.

Sanda appears much like Kickboxing but includes many more grappling techniques. Sanda fighting competitions are often held alongside taolu or form competitions. Sanda represents the modern development of Lei Tai contests, but with rules in place to reduce the chance of serious injury. Many Chinese martial art schools teach or work within the rule sets of Sanda, working to incorporate the movements, characteristics, and theory of their style.

Chinese martial artists also compete in non-Chinese or mixed combat sports, including boxing, kickboxing and mixed martial arts. Sanda is practiced in tournaments and is normally held alongside taolu events in wushu competition. For safety reasons, some techniques from the self-defense form such as elbow strikes, chokes, and joint locks, are not allowed during tournaments. Competitors can win by knockout or points which are earned by landing strikes to the body or head, throwing an opponent, or when competition is held on a raised lei tai platform, pushing them off the platform. Fighters are only allowed to clinch for a few seconds. If the clinch is not broken by the fighters, and if neither succeeds in throwing his opponent within the time limit, the referee will break the clinch. In the U.S., competitions are held either in boxing rings or on the raised lei tai platform. Amateur fighters wear protective gear.

"Amateur Sanda" allows kicks, punches, knees (not to the head), and throws. A competition held in China, called the "King of Sanda", is held in a ring similar to a boxing ring in design but larger in dimension. As professionals, they wear no protective gear except for gloves, cup, and mouthpiece, and "Professional Sanda" allows knee strikes (including to the head) as well as kicking, punching and throwing.

Some Sanda fighters have participated in fighting tournaments such as K-1 and Shoot Boxing. They have had some degree of success, especially in Shoot boxing competitions, which is more similar to Sanda. Due to the rules of Kickboxing competition, Sanda fighters are subjected to more limitations than usual. Also notable competitors in China's mainstream Mixed Martial Arts competitions, Art of War Fighting Championship and Ranik Ultimate Fighting Federation are dominantly of wushu background. Sanda has been featured in many style-versus-style competitions. Muay Thai is frequently pitted against Sanda as is Karate, Kickboxing, & Tae Kwon Do. Although it is less common, some Sanda practitioners have also fought in American Mixed Martial Arts competitions.

Junshi Sanda (Chinese: 军事散打; pinyin: Jūnshì Sàndǎ): A system of unarmed combat that was designed by Chinese Elite Forces based upon their intense study of traditional martial arts such as traditional Kung Fu, Shuai Jiao, Chin Na and modern hand-to-hand fighting and combat philosophy to develop a realistic system of unarmed fighting for the Chinese military. Junshi Sanda employs all parts of the body as anatomical weapons to attack and counter with, by using what the Chinese consider to be the four basic martial arts techniques:

• Da – Upper-Body Striking – using fists, open hands, fingers, elbows, shoulders, forearms and the head
• Ti – Lower-Body Striking – including kicks, knees and stomping
• Shuai – Throws – using Wrestling and Judo-like takedowns and sweeps, and
• Chin-Na – Seizing – which includes jointlocks, strangulation and other submissions

The International Wushu Federation (IWUF) promotes wushu and is the governing body for wushu in all its forms worldwide. Sanda and taolu (forms) are the two categories of competitive sport wushu . The IWUF is recognized by the International Olympic Committee (IOC).

World Wushu Championships

Main article: World Wushu Championships

Number	Year	Host City, Country
1	1991	Beijing, China
2	1993	Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia
3	1995	Baltimore, U.S.
4	1997	Rome, Italy
5	1999	Hung Hom Bay, Hong Kong
6	2001	Yerevan, Armenia
7	2003	Freguesia da Sé, Macau
8	2005	Hanoi, Vietnam
9	2007	Beijing, China
10	2009	Toronto, Canada
11	2011	Ankara, Turkey
12	2013	Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia
13	2015	Jakarta, Indonesia
14	2017	Kazan, Russia
15	2019	Shanghai, China
16	2021	Dallas, United States

Sanda World Cup

No.	Year	Host City, Country
1	2002	Shanghai, China
2	2004	Guanzhou, China
3	2006	Xi'an, China
4	2008	Harbin, China
5	2010	Chongqing, China
6	2012	Wuyishan, Fujian, China
7	2014	Jakarta, Indonesia
8	2016	Xi'an, China
9	2018	Hangzhou, China
10	2020	Melbourne, Australia

• Kickboxing
• Folk wrestling
• Kumite
• Sambo
• Muay Thai
• Lethwei