Tai chi Sanshou 散手 or Sanda 散打

Sanshou (散手 "free hands") or Sanda (散打 "free fighting") is a modern Chinese hand to hand combat / self-defence training system, and sport. It is not a style as such. It is rather considered one of the components of Chinese martial arts and is normally taught alongside other styles of wushu. The term Sanda has a longer history and is more commonly used. Sanshou was the official name given to the martial art when it was formalized and standardized by the Chinese government. Later the official name reverted back to Sanda.

Every martial arts has some method for bringing all the martial skills together in a way that more realistically reflects the conditions of actual combat. However, it would be impossible and very foolish to train by actually fighting. Such a practice would be disastrous for both participants, especially if one or both had real skill. There are tournaments for sanshou. But these have rules established to minimise the risk of serious injury. There are always risks in such training however, which is why it is reserved for only certain advanced students who have reached a high level of skill and self control. Not everyone will be permitted to practice sanshou.

Tai chi Sanshou is typically trained in a more gentle manner than sparring sessions in other styles. In tai chi, the emphasis is on relaxation, emptiness, alignment and the focus of clear intent and internal power. There is usually less emphasis on speed. It is believed that with proper training, speed should come naturally when all else is in place.

In practising tai chi sanshou, it is generally considered better to loose and gain understanding than to win and not know how you did it.

Also, by training slowly, students are conditioned to relax in combat instead of becoming tense. Tension, whether physical, mental, or emotional, is the enemy of the tai chi student and should be avoided like the plague.