There is no mat or groundwork in shuaijiao. After the opponent is
thrown to the ground, one strives to maintain the superior standing position.
This is particularly the case against a larger opponent, who because of greater
body weight will generally have the advantage in grappling on the ground. In
a self-defense situation, after the opponent is thrown a shuaijiao, the practi-
tioner immediately applies a joint lock and executes hand strikes or kicks
with the knee or foot to vital areas of the falling or downed opponent.
Modern shuaijiao training utilizes individual drills, work with part-
ners, and exercises employing apparatus. Balance, flexibility, strength, and
body awareness are developed through movement such as hand and foot
drills. After attaining proficiency in solo drills, the trainee advances to
work with a partner. Practicing with a partner allows one to add power and
coordination to techniques. Drills against full-speed punches, kicks, and
grappling attacks are practiced to aid in training for san-shou(Chinese
freestyle kickboxing) and self-defense. For the inexperienced novice student
to learn, remember, and deploy martial art techniques quickly, while diffi-
cult in training, becomes more so under stress. In order to teach effective
physical applications of shuaijiao techniques, free sparring drills and re-
lated mock-physical-encounter situations are of paramount importance in
the training. Work with various types of equipment (striking and kicking
the heavy bag, weight training, and work with canvas bags filled with steel
shot) supplements the solo and partner practice of techniques.
Contemporary shuaijiao utilizes a ranking system divided into ten lev-
els. The first version of the ranking system was created by Grand Master
Chang Tung-sheng for the Central Police College of Taiwan. The ranking
system follows the Japanese model of beginner (chieh) levels in descending
order of fifth through first to expert (teng) levels of first through tenth. A
colored belt signifying rank is worn with the uniform. The current ranking
system was developed by Chang and Chi-hsiu D. Weng and is recognized
by the International Shuai-chiao Association and the United States Shuai-
chiao Association.
Shuaijiao has developed an international following. In the United
States, the United States Shuai-chiao Association oversees the activities of
the system, and in the spring of 2000 the Pan-American Shuai-chiao Fed-
eration was established in São Paulo, Brazil. The first Pan-American Shuai-
chiao tournament was held in the following year.
Chi-hsiu D. Weng
See alsoChina
References
Chen Panling. Shuaijiaoshu(Wrestling). Taibei: Zhenshanmei Press, 1969.
Cheng Dali. 1995. Zhongguo Wushu—Lishi yu Wenhua(Chinese Martial
Arts—History and Culture). Chengdu: Sichuan University Press.Wrestling and Grappling: China 709