STRIKE. THROW. DOMINATE THE CLINCH.
SANDA WUSHU
Boxing is the most fundamental striking skill in combat sports. Learn it from coaches who've done it at the highest level.
WHAT YOU’LL LEARN
Sanda — also known as San Shou — is Chinese full-contact kickboxing, and one of the most comprehensive striking disciplines in martial arts. Unlike western boxing or Muay Thai, Sanda integrates punches, kicks, takedowns, throws, and clinch work into a single, fluid system.
At ELEV8 you'll learn to strike effectively from range, close the distance, control the clinch, and finish with throws that would feel right at home in a wrestling room or on an MMA mat. It's a discipline that rewards athletes who can transition seamlessly between striking and grappling — and one that will immediately elevate every other martial art you train.
THE COMPLETE STRIKING SYSTEM.
STRIKING FROM EVERY RANGE
Punches and kicks from the outside, elbows and knees in close, and the clinch work to bridge the gap between them. Sanda covers every striking range.
Takedowns and throws
What sets Sanda apart from other striking arts is the integration of takedowns and throws. You'll learn to take the fight to the ground on your terms — not wait for it to happen.
Clinch control
The clinch is where most striking exchanges are decided. Sanda teaches you to dominate it — set up strikes, off-balance opponents, and execute throws from close range.
MMA crossover
Sanda's combination of striking and grappling makes it one of the most directly transferable disciplines for MMA. If you're building a complete game, this fills gaps nothing else does.
Why Sanda is different to everything else on the timetable.
Most striking arts keep striking and grappling separate. Sanda doesn't. You'll drill a punch combination and finish with a throw. You'll control the clinch and set up a kick. The transitions between striking and takedowns are built into every session — which means your whole game gets sharper, not just one part of it.
WHO IT’S FOR
Complete beginners are welcome — the class is coached from the ground up and every session builds foundational technique before adding complexity. But Sanda also rewards experience: if you already train BJJ, boxing, or Muay Thai, the Sanda program will connect the dots between disciplines you already know.
SANDA IS FOR EVERYONE.
COMPLETE BEGINNERS
No experience needed. You'll learn striking, clinch, and throws from scratch — progressively, safely, and with expert coaching every session.
Strikers (boxing / Muay Thai)
Add takedowns and throws to your striking game. Sanda will make your stand-up sharper and give you weapons your opponents won't expect.
Grapplers (BJJ / wrestling)
Build the striking foundation to complement your ground game. Sanda's entry techniques will feel familiar — but the striking combinations will open up a new dimension.
MMA athletes
Sanda is built for MMA. The striking-to-takedown transitions, clinch control, and throw entries are directly applicable to the cage or the competition mat.
FAQS
THINGS PEOPLE USUALLY ASK.
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Sanda (also called San Shou) is Chinese full-contact kickboxing. It combines punches, kicks, takedowns, throws, and clinch work into a single system — making it one of the most complete striking arts in the world. Wushu refers to the broader Chinese martial arts tradition it sits within.
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None at all. The class is open to all levels and taught from the fundamentals. If you've never trained before, you'll be coached every step of the way. If you already train another discipline, you'll find the crossover happens quickly.
No -Gi - Just wear something comfortable, preferably shorts and a t-shirt with no buttons or zips. If yo have a rash guard this would be ideal.
Also a great idea to bring a towel and a drink.
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For your first class, comfortable exercise gear and water. As you continue you'll want hand wraps, gloves, shin guards, and a mouthguard — we'll advise on exactly what you need once you've had your trial.
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The biggest difference is the inclusion of takedowns and throws. Muay Thai has clinch work but no throws. Boxing is purely hands. Sanda integrates striking with takedown and throw entries — which means you're learning to operate across ranges in a single system.
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Absolutely — and we'd encourage it. Sanda complements BJJ, boxing, Muay Thai, and wrestling. The techniques overlap and reinforce each other. Many members find that adding Sanda accelerates progress in the disciplines they were already training.
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Yes — once you've built the fundamentals to a safe standard. We introduce sparring progressively and in a controlled environment. You'll spar when you're ready, not before.