Muay Thai Vs San Shou (sanda)

**abeldaddy** · Posted On: 6/17/2008 1:02pm

Which one do you think would be most effective at a high skill level in a mma fight or a real life situation

**Anna Kovacs** · Posted On: 6/17/2008 1:06pm

Sanda seems like it would lend itself to MMA rather well with takedowns but i dont think it allows knees and elbows

Personally Id probably just train muay thai, knees and elbows included, but include throws/takedowns aswell. Then all your bases are covered.

**Scott Larson** · Posted On: 6/17/2008 1:13pm

Whichever one you are better at.

**hoodedmonk** · Posted On: 6/17/2008 1:24pm

Muay Thai has been proven to work well with mma a billion times however I think Sanda in time, will find it's way into a lot more gyms. I also think the side kick is a very under used weapon but that is just my opinion.

**BudoMonkey** · Posted On: 6/17/2008 1:27pm

Styles cannot fight eachother. Only people can fight eachother. There is no clear answer here. Are you asking what is better, using elbows and knees to the head or using takedowns? Neither. Both work well, it is the fighter that determines the outcome.

**Anna Kovacs** · Posted On: 6/17/2008 1:30pm

When a fighter is deprived of certain tools it helps determine the outcome aswell. Style matters.

**moonwatcher** · Posted On: 6/17/2008 1:35pm

both seem pretty good, I do sanda so I'm biased towards it since it has the take down aspect.

**BudoMonkey** · Posted On: 6/17/2008 1:36pm

Sure it does, Anna. I think what he meant to ask was how these two styles would fair against one another in an arena where neither were deprived of any tools, in nhb combat.

Style matters, absolutely, I was just sayin when you have two styles as close to eachother as muay thai and sanda, anything can happen.

**BudoMonkey** · Posted On: 6/17/2008 1:37pm

It's true sanda has takedowns, but not really finishing moves. Elbows and knees to the head, on the other hand, are well proven to finish fights. I say this having fought in both sanda and muay thai.

Although, landing a good sanshou throw on hard concrete is much different than inside of a ring. So who the hell knows? It can go either way.

***Omega Supreme*** · Posted On: 6/17/2008 1:47pm

Originally Posted by BudoMonkey

It's true sanda has takedowns, but not really finishing moves. Elbows and knees to the head, on the other hand, are well proven to finish fights. I say this having fought in both sanda and muay thai.

Although, landing a good sanshou throw on hard concrete is much different than inside of a ring. So who the hell knows? It can go either way.

Dropping people on their head is a very good finishing maneuver.

*

I've trained both Muay Thai and San Shou. I'm better suited to San Shou, I don't know why. After saying that though I like the fact that Muay Thai toughens their fighters up better than most San Shou fighters.