Know your major: sanda
* Source: Global Times
* [21:27 December 29 2009]
By Xue Fei
Brimming with ancient wisdom and millennia of culture, there is a lot to learn in China, providing for some of the rare and unusual majors offered that are otherwise unavailable in other parts of the world.
In this first installment of Know Your Major, the Global Times touches gloves at Beijing Sports University (BSU) with young martial art masters in the making, getting the low down on the daily punch-up that is sanda school.
Femme fatale
There is a Chinese saying, "train either in the hottest days in summer or the coldest days in winter," which unfortunately for Duan Xunyuan is an accurate description of the curriculum.
"It is really tortuous, sometimes I just want to give up," said Duan, a sanda junior and one of only 16 female students in the program.
"Every time when I come back to the dorm and undress I find new bruises. You know, all girls want to look beautiful," she joked.
Studying since she was 15, Duan was a scrappy tomboy who often fought with local boys at home. However, she rarely uses her sanda outside the ring.
"We know it would be a disaster if we used it in our daily life. If we did, it would send people to the hospital and ever trigger legal disputes," Duan explained.
Kick out of history
Today's sanda, or "free fighting," is a modern incarnation of much older mixed-style kung fu and wrestling with elements of Western boxing. Scientifically synthesized for maximum efficiency in real-life fighting scenarios during the early part of the 20th century, sanda is taught to most Chinese military and police forces as standard hand-to-hand combat training.
Focusing on street practical throws, locks and grappling, sanda is now one of the most widely practiced martial arts in China. Notorious for its Lei Tai matches, a traditional Chinese competition format that was originally conducted bare-knuckled, sanda's no holds barred slugfests usually end in one of three ways: a surrender, one opponent being forced of thrown from the ring or a breaking of a bone/excessive bleeding.
Despite new regulations requiring the use of thinly padded gloves, the sport still is brutal, drawing not only blood, but also large crowds and many students.
"Sanda is usually considered to be a symbol of strength, but in fact, it's an art of wisdom which draws strength from the essence of taijiquan," Guan Yu, a sanda junior, told Global Times as he recounted his first match against a gargantuan middle school classmate.
Weighing 56 kg, the 13-year-old met his adversary – a 65 kg giant of a kid who had cheated during the weigh-in. Guan attempted a throw down, but found he couldn't lift his lumbering opponent off ground. He was swiftly pummeled and lost the match.
After the match, his coach imparted a bit of insight that Guan echoes today, "Sanda is not about rashness and rage, but rather strategy and wits."
Killer classes
Sanda fighters are constantly training, rain or shine. Before competitions, all athletes must participate in a month of intense conditioning, focusing on stamina, weights, technique as well as "fighting psychology."
"Other students' college life is mostly spent in the classroom, while ours is spent on training grounds covered in sweat," Guan said with a smile.
Taking their final exams in the ring, sanda students throw down for grades in matches held every May and December, all with the hopes of earning national-level certification, a requirement for being selected for municipal or national special police squads, both coveted jobs for sanda students.
During their tests and sparring sessions, although classmates are pitted against each other and don't hold back, whatever happens in the ring stays in the ring.
"We're opponents in class and friends outside. Nobody ever holds a grudge," said Guan.
Girls vs Boys
Although the tipped male-female ratio (4:1) would make for many a desert of a dating scene, Li Guoguan, a sanda freshman at Beijing Sport University, says sanda fighters are hot commodities back at home.
"Since not many girls choose this major and opportunities for us to meet girls are rare, most of my classmates have girlfriends in their hometowns."
However, Duan doesn't see her major an obstacle to love, but rather an asset. After fighting over 100 matches and getting the silver in the 2005 National sanda Championships, she sees female sanda fighters like herself quite the catch.
"Sanda girls don't only make great girlfriends, but also bodyguards for their men,"she said.
Warrior workout
Students at BSU let us in on some of their daily strength, balance and agility exercises anyone can do at home with minimal equipment.
Shuttle run
Mark off two parallel lines 30 feet apart and place two blocks of wood or similar objects behind one of the lines.
Sprinting as fast as you can, sprint over, grab one, sprint back and leave it at the starting line. Without stopping, run back and do the same with the second block. Repeat with 15-second rests in between.
Forward roll
Start in a squat position on the balls of your feet while holding your arms out in front for balance.
Tuck your head into your chest and start to roll forward onto the back of your shoulders. Keep your legs tucked in as you roll.
As you roll, keep your legs tucked in. Push off with your arms and return to the starting position on your feet.
Backward roll
Start in a squat position on the balls of your feet with knees and legs together, back straight.
Let your heels drop to the floor, tucking your chin to your chest and roll, point elbows skyward.
Put your hands on the floor near your ears and push off. Straighten your arms and feel your feet hit the floor.
Static weight training
Tie weights to both thighs and stand in a seated-position (squatting mid air), back straight, feet shoulder-width apart. Do 15-second iso-reps.
Dumbbell exercises
Keep your feet apart shoulder width, raise dumbbells out on both sides of your body.
Bend down deeply and then jump up with a kick forward. Keep both arms straight throughout the exercise.
