Sanshou  散手; "free hand"

Sanda 散打"free fighting"

Sanshou  - is a modern combat sport, hand to hand and self defense system. Not seen as an independent style, it is rather considered just one of the components of Wushu.
The term Sanda has a longer history and is more commonly used. Sanshou was the official name given to the martial art when it was formalized and standardized by the Chinese government. Later the official name reverted back to Sanda.
It is composed of some aspects of traditional Chinese martial art fighting styles and is composed striking and grappling. Sanda tournaments are one of the two sport wushu disciplines recognized by the International Wushu Federation.

Sanshou's history involved barehanded or lei tai fights in which no rules existed. Competitive events developed in the military, held between soldiers to test and practice barehanded martial skills.
As an unarmed self-defense, close combat system, Sanshou includes da (punches), ti (kicks), shuai (grappling), and na (throws, locks, chokes).

Sanda unlike other stand up fighting styles, has a very great emphasis on throws. One of its most distinguished techniques is the "kick catch". When the one person kicks and the person performing the throw catches the kick and then trips the person kicking when he's on one leg. While other kickboxing styles, such as Muay Thai also allow this, the kick catch is emphasized in Sanshou because of the importance it is given by the judges.