Whether it be Muay Thai, Karate, Tae Kwon Do or Boxing I think San Shou is a great sport to train in if you are primarily a stand up fighter. This is because it trains all the primary aspects of stand up fighting, punching, kicking and grappling, but most importantly, grappling. The fact is, even if most of us strikers cross train in Jiu Jitsu, we will never be as good at it as someone who spends most of his time on the ground. San Shou on the other hand teaches you not only how to defend against sweeps and take downs, but also teaches you how to execute throws that send your opponent to the ground very hard while you remain standing. This puts your opponent in disadvantaged position because he can’t pull you into the guard if you don’t go down with him.
Of course, you still need to learn the basics of ground fighting, because the chances are your throw will not be perfect and you will go to the ground sometimes. But San Shou training will help you stay on you feet longer and increase your chances of getting a knockout with the tools you know best, strikes.
So, in my opinion, San Shou is a great training tool for those who prefer to stand up fight.