RED BELT

FUNDAMENTALS

Objective: Develop basic movement, coordination, balance, safe falling and fundamental striking techniques.

• Ready position.
• Fighting stance.
• Forward and backward movement.
• Side stepping and pivoting.
• Advancing and retreating.
• Fighting distance and guard position.

• Jab.
• Cross.

• Front push kick.
• Front snap kick.
• Basic roundhouse kick.
• Low roundhouse kick.
• Basic side kick.

• High and low guard.
• Basic blocking.
• Parrying straight punches.
• Moving out of range.
• Basic kick checking.

• Backward breakfall.
• Left and right side breakfall.
• Forward breakfall.
• Safe falling from standing.
• Technical stand-up.

• Basic fighting clinch.
• Introduction to pummelling.
• Inside and outside arm position.
• Maintaining balance when pushed or pulled.
• Breaking a basic clinch.

• Basic guard position.
• Side control awareness.
• Mount awareness.
• Basic ground escapes.
• Returning safely to standing.

• Demonstrate fundamental stances and footwork.
• Demonstrate basic punches and kicks.
• Perform all fundamental breakfalls.
• Demonstrate a basic punching and kicking combination.
• Complete controlled partner exercises.

YELLOW BELT

BASIC STRIKING AND DEFENCE

Objective: Develop striking combinations, defensive reactions and introductory throwing skills.

• •Forward and backward fighting movement.
• •Lateral movement.
• •Circling.
• •Changing stance.
• •Angled entry and exit.
• •Distance management.

• Jab and cross.
• Double jab.
• Jab-cross-hook.
• Lead and rear hooks.
• Basic uppercut.
• Body punching.
• Punching while moving.

• Lead-leg roundhouse.
• Rear-leg roundhouse.
• Front push kick.
• Side kick.
• Low kick.
• Mid-level roundhouse.
• Basic knee strike.

• High and low blocking.
• Slipping straight punches.
• Bobbing and weaving.
• Parrying and countering.
• Checking low kicks.
• Catching controlled body kicks.

• Backward breakfall from crouching.
• Side breakfall from a low position.
• Introduction to forward rolling.
• Breakfall following a controlled push.
• Partner-assisted falling.

• Basic body clinch.
• Single-leg takedown.
• Introduction to double-leg takedown.
• Outside trip.
• Basic foot sweep.
• Push and pull imbalance.
• Defending against a basic leg grab.

• Basic underhooks and overhooks.
• Pummelling.
• Escaping a body lock.
• Basic guard retention.
• Hip escape.
• Technical stand-up under pressure.

• Demonstrate five striking combinations.
• Demonstrate fundamental kicking techniques.
• Demonstrate basic defensive skills.
• Perform a controlled single-leg takedown.
• Perform a basic foot sweep.
• Demonstrate backward and side breakfalls.
• Complete controlled technical sparring.

ORANGE BELT

COMBINATIONS AND TAKEDOWNS

Objective: Develop effective Sanda combinations, kick catches, clinch fighting and offensive wrestling.

Punching (Quán(Chwen))

• Jab-cross-hook.
• Jab-cross-uppercut.
• Double jab-cross.
• Hook-cross-hook.
• Body and head combinations.
• Punching while advancing.
• Counter punching.

• Fast lead-leg roundhouse.
• Rear-leg roundhouse.
• Jumping front kick.
• Side kick.
• Low kick combinations.
• High and low kick combinations.
• Kick-to-punch combinations.
• Punch-to-kick combinations.

• Slip and counter.
• Parry and counter.
• Catching and controlling body kicks.
• Evading roundhouse kicks.
• Blocking and countering side kicks.
• Countering advancing opponents.

• Single-leg takedown.
• Double-leg takedown.
• Outside leg trip.
• Inside leg trip.
• Basic hip throw.
• Foot sweep.
• Catch-and-dump.
• Basic body-lock takedown.

• Breakfall from controlled standing throws.
• Side breakfall from a low-amplitude trip.
• Forward roll from standing.
• Rolling recovery.
• Breakfall following a controlled sweep.
• Safe landing and recovery.

• Maintaining top position.
• Basic guard passing.
• Side-control escape.
• Mount escape.
• Rear body-lock escape.
• Armbar recognition and defence.
• Introduction to controlled submission application.

• Demonstrate eight striking combinations.
• Demonstrate six different kicks.
• Perform four different takedowns.
• Demonstrate three clinch escapes.
• Demonstrate breakfalls in different directions.
• Complete positional grappling exercises.
• Complete controlled Sanda sparring.

GREEN BELT

INTERMEDIATE SANDA

Objective: Develop the ability to combine striking, wrestling and grappling fluidly.

• Double and triple punch combinations.
• Changing levels.
• Body-head-body combinations.
• Counter punching.
• Punching into clinch range.
• Punching while changing angles.

• Switching roundhouse.
• Spinning back kick.
• Spinning side kick.
• Jumping roundhouse.
• Rear-leg side kick.
• Double kick combinations.
• Low-to-high kick combinations.
• Kick feints.

• Straight knee.
• Curved knee.
• Knee from double collar tie.
• Knee from underhook position.
• Breaking clinch and striking.
• Controlling posture while striking.

• Advanced kick catching.
• Catch and counter.
• Countering spinning kicks.
• Intercepting kicks.
• Countering combinations.
• Defending takedown entries.

• Double-leg variations.
• Single-leg variations.
• Inside and outside trips.
• Hip throw variations.
• Body-lock takedowns.
• Foot sweeps.
• Leg reaps.
• Countering takedowns.
• Defending against kick catches.

• Forward and backward rolls under pressure.
• Breakfalls from higher controlled throws.
• Rolling through a takedown.
• Recovering to fighting stance.
• Partner-assisted falling and recovery.

• Guard passing.
• Side control.
• Mount control.
• Introduction to back control.
• Escaping side control.
• Escaping mount.
• Basic armbar.
• Introduction to straight ankle lock mechanics.
• Rear naked choke recognition and defence.

• Demonstrate ten striking combinations.
• Demonstrate five kick-to-throw combinations.
• Demonstrate five throw-to-control combinations.
• Demonstrate defensive takedown skills.
• Complete positional grappling rounds.
• Complete controlled Sanda sparring.

BLUE BELT

ADVANCED STRIKING AND WRESTLING

Objective: Develop technical versatility, effective throwing ability and transitions between striking and grappling.

• Double and triple jab variations.
• Advanced hooks and uppercuts.
• Body punching combinations.
• Punching while angling.
• Counter striking.
• Feinting and drawing attacks.
• Switching stance during combinations.
• Striking after defensive movement.

• Advanced roundhouse variations.
• Spinning back kick.
• Spinning hook kick.
• Jumping side kick.
• Jumping roundhouse.
• Double and triple kick combinations.
• Kick feints into punching combinations.
• Kick combinations into takedowns.

• Double collar tie.
• Single and double underhooks.
• Overhook control.
• Inside arm control.
• Head positioning.
• Knee strikes from clinch.
• Breaking and entering the clinch.
• Clinch control against the boundary.

• Advanced single-leg takedowns.
• Advanced double-leg takedowns.
• Hip throws.
• Shoulder throws.
• Inside and outside trips.
• Leg reaps.
• Foot sweeps.
• Counter throws.
• Catching kicks into takedowns.
• Punching combinations into takedown entries.

• Breakfall from controlled hip throws.
• Breakfall from shoulder throws.
• Forward rolling recovery.
• Sideways rolling recovery.
• Recovery following a failed takedown.
• Falling and immediately defending.

• Guard passing against resistance.
• Knee-on-belly control.
• Mount transitions.
• Back control.
• Escaping back control.
• Armbar.
• Triangle choke.
• Rear naked choke.
• Kimura.
• Straight ankle lock.
• Positional transitions between top and bottom.

• Demonstrate ten advanced combinations.
• Demonstrate five striking and takedown combinations.
• Demonstrate six different throws.
• Demonstrate six grappling escapes or controls.
• Complete positional grappling against resistance.
• Complete controlled Sanda sparring.

PURPLE BELT

INTEGRATED COMBAT SKILLS

Objective: Develop the ability to use Sanda as a complete striking and throwing system, with supplementary ground-fighting ability.

• Advanced counter punching.
• Combination attacks from different angles.
• Drawing and countering attacks.
• Attacking while moving backwards.
• Intercepting punches and kicks.
• Combination striking under pressure.
• Advanced body punching.
• Striking into takedowns.

• Spinning back kick combinations.
• Jumping kick combinations.
• Advanced switching kicks.
• Double and triple kick attacks.
• Feinting and changing kick levels.
• Countering kick catches.
• Kicking while changing distance.

• Combination takedowns.
• Countering single-leg attacks.
• Countering double-leg attacks.
• Catch-and-throw combinations.
• Hip throw variations.
• Advanced foot sweeps.
• Leg reaps.
• Introduction to controlled sacrifice throws.
• Chain wrestling and follow-up takedowns.

• Advanced guard passing.
• Open guard control.
• Half guard.
• Back takes.
• Mount transitions.
• Armbar variations.
• Triangle choke variations.
• Kimura and americana.
• Straight ankle lock.
• Escaping submissions.
• Ground control against an opponent attempting to stand.

• Breakfall from dynamic takedowns.
• Rolling through throws.
• Recovery from failed throws.
• Breakfall under controlled resistance.
• Recovery into counterattack position.

• Controlling the pace of a fight.
• Understanding ring positioning.
• Using the boundary to control movement.
• Attacking a retreating opponent.
• Defending against aggressive opponents.
• Switching between striking and wrestling strategies.

• Demonstrate twelve combinations.
• Demonstrate eight throws or takedowns.
• Demonstrate eight ground techniques.
• Demonstrate striking-to-grappling transitions.
• Complete technical sparring and positional grappling assessments.

BROWN BELT

ADVANCED APPLICATION & STRATEGY

Objective: Demonstrate a high level of technical ability, tactical awareness and practical application.

• Advanced combination construction.
• Countering combinations.
• Intercepting attacks.
• Controlling distance.
• Attacking from both stances.
• Advanced feinting.
• Combination attacks against different fighting styles.
• Effective striking under fatigue.

• Complete kicking arsenal.
• Advanced spinning techniques.
• Jumping techniques.
• Kick catches and counters.
• Combination kicking.
• Defensive kicking.
• Effective kicking under pressure.

• All major Sanda takedown families.
• Single and double-leg variations.
• Advanced hip throws.
• Advanced foot sweeps.
• Leg reaps.
• Catching and dumping kicks.
• Counter throws.
• Chain wrestling.
• Takedowns against resistance.
• Maintaining balance while throwing.

• Dynamic forward and backward breakfalls.
• Controlled breakfalls from all major throw categories.
• Rolling recovery under pressure.
• Safe falling when caught during kicking.
• Immediate recovery to standing or defensive position.

• Full positional grappling.
• Guard passing under resistance.
• Advanced escapes.
• Back control and retention.
• Submission application.
• Submission defence.
• Transitioning between wrestling and ground fighting.
• Returning to standing against resistance.

• Developing an individual fighting style.
• Identifying opponent strengths and weaknesses.
• Managing fatigue.
• Controlling fight tempo.
• Ringcraft.
• Tactical adjustments between rounds.
• Competition rules and etiquette.
• Understanding the difference between sport Sanda and self-defence.

• Complete a full technical demonstration.
• Demonstrate fifteen striking combinations.
• Demonstrate ten throws and takedowns.
• Demonstrate ten grappling techniques.
• Complete controlled Sanda sparring.
• Complete positional grappling assessment.
• Demonstrate tactical understanding.
• Pass an oral theory examination.

GRAPPLING AND GROUND FIGHTING

• Clinch control.
• Wrestling and takedowns.
• Guard positions.
• Guard passing.
• Positional control.
• Escapes and reversals.
• Submission techniques.
• Submission defence.
• Returning to standing.