Lou Fu Institute

Sanda - The Striking Bridge

Sanda combines boxing-style punches, kicks from Northern Chinese styles, and limited clinch throws. It is fast, versatile, and excellent for developing timing, distance management, and conditioned reflexes.

When combined with Choy Lee Fat Kung Fu, Sanda becomes even more dangerous. The circular handwork, explosive power generation, and low stances of Choy Lee Fat flow naturally into Sanda's framework. Our students learn to strike from angles that Sanda alone does not teach.

Shuai Jiao - The Art of the Throw

Shuai Jiao is one of China's oldest continuous martial arts, dating back thousands of years. It focuses on off-balancing an opponent through grip fighting, footwork, and precise application of leverage – then finishing with a throw or takedown.

For Choy Lee Fat practitioners, Shuai Jiao complements our striking arsenal perfectly. After closing distance with Choy Lee Fat's powerful hand techniques, the fight often enters clinch range. Shuai Jiao provides the answer for what comes next. The two arts are natural partners.

A Shared Origin, Two Separate Paths

Sanda (Chinese kickboxing) and Shuai Jiao (Chinese wrestling) share a common root in the ancient military combat traditions of China. For centuries, soldiers trained in integrated systems that combined striking, kicking, and throwing without separation.

In the modern era, as these arts were codified for sport and civilian practice, a distinction emerged. Shuai Jiao – the art of throwing and takedowns – was recognized as exceptionally effective but also highly traumatic on the body when trained at full intensity.

To preserve the long-term health of athletes, competitions began separating the disciplines. Sanda developed as the striking-focused art, while Shuai Jiao remained as the dedicated throwing system.

At Lou Fu, we respect this distinction. We train both, but we understand their different purposes and intensities, and only advanced students can practice Shuai Jiao.

Sanda & Shuai-Jiao

The Takedown Arts of Chinese Martial Tradition