Posted by " modifier@operamail.com"

I've been reading alot of the posts and comments regarding the IKF sanctioned event in China and I want to mention some things that some of you may be interested in.

First of all, none of the fights were very close, contrary to some posts I'm reading. Team USA did very well considering the lack of experience they went in there with (and did a hell of a lot better than the Japanese team has the last two years here- talk about an embarrassment!) but the Chinese athletes had an easy time with our boys. Some posts on this page mentioned things like " but there were no good throws." On the contrary, most of the throwing was great: those little trip-ups and fall-downs are what skillful grappling is all about in Sanshou. Yes, we like to see people hip-thrown and picked clear off the leitai, and it happens occasionally, but it's inefficient to use strength and energy to perform those sorts of throws when the opponent is allowed to get right back up. Rather, those side-steps and subtle twist-downs we saw again and again are the way to accumulate points and tire your opponent without tiring yourself as well. Also, against the US team, these little trippy-dippy throws kept working for the Chinese so they kept doing it. There was nothing sloppy about the throwing, only defending against them. The US needs to work on those sorts of techniques, and most importantly, defending against them. Our striking was impressive but we seemed confused and frustrated at times which really shouldn't have happened. I kept wanting to say to our guys "Yes, it didn't hurt you at all, but look! Your ass is on the ground... again!" Part of the reason for the higher skill level of the Chinese is something I would like to comment on next.

These Chinese athletes are different from our IKF and other fighters. We grow up, become interested in a martial art or sport, take it up as a hobby, maybe get serious about it eventually and make it a lifestyle and turn pro. But these Chinese fighters are different. Most of them were chosen at a very early age to practice their sport; from Wushu, to diving, to gymnastics for the olympics. Most of them are from the countryside of China and have no opportunity other than to pursue what is chosen for them. To simplify my point of differentiating our IKF fighters from their Sanshou fighters: they all began training as very small children, enrolled in schools that had them training for hours every day, and fighting Sanda (Sanshou) or competing in Wushu events is all they have, all they will ever have, and is all they have ever done. Most of them never went to "school" as such, but essentially began a "pro" career as kids, sponsored by the government here. The second "Sanda King" in the "Sanda Wang" pro circuit in China (Hailong was the first Sanda King three years ago) was a fighter from the Beijing University of Physical Education where I trained in Sanshou for a year back in 2001 (I'm still in China for anyone interested). I know the lives of these people, how they train, and who they are. My coach at BUPE is one of the referees for the Sanda Wang and was one of the Chinese judges at the IKF event. I can tell you that China now has thousands and thousands of kids training in Sanda for hours every day, usually sparring 2-3 times a week, fighting once a week, beginning Sanshou as early as 8 years old, and Wushu as early as 5, and is the only opportunity they have in life. The fighters we see and hear of are the best of these, and these cream-of-the-crop all are veterans of the Sanda Wang circuit where fighters fight each other with only about 3-4 weeks rest between matches for 9 months of the year. These events are now second nature to them. Did you all notice the absolute lack of fatigue in all the Chinese fighters? Notice the confidence? They are products of a lifestyle very different from even our hardest of professional athletes.

You'd be very surprised to know how young they are. Some of the fighters in the pro circuit here aren't even 20 years old yet, but have 12-15 years experience and impressive fight records. I can't find Han Yuzhu's (the victor over Calleros) age at the moment, but it's early 20s at most.

After watching around 50-60 Sanda Wang fights here, usually live, I can tell you that our guys weren't much for the Chinese fighters chosen for the event last week. The Chinese judges were good, so no whining about that. The cold hard fact is that it was a wipeout: out of 3 fights totaling 15 rounds, the US won only 1round. That's 1 out of 15 rounds- this should be a major reality check gentleman- why is no one addressing this with these posts?

I want the US team to become strong, and I know we can if we start to give this sport of Sanshou the seriousness it deserves. It is not just "kickboxing with throws" as people like to say. It's firstly a game of technique, strategy and finesse, and secondly of the speed and power that the IKF always delivers. We have a ways to go, but I'm confident we can reach the top if we decide it's worth it. Next time guys!