Shuai Jiao: China’s oldest martial art

Shuai Jiao 摔跤 is Mandarin for “wrestling”. But we’re discussing a very specific style of ancient Chinese folk wrestling where the competitions wear a short sleeved jacket, and try to throw their opponents without going to the ground themselves.

You might be shocked to learn that many Chinese people do not know that this martial exists, including some of my own students. So, let’s fix this!

In this video, we will showcase some shuai jiao techniques, and break down the scoring system as we spar. At the end of the video, there is some commentary on the history of quilted jackets (not unlike the shuai jiao uniform) as battlefield armor throughout the cultures of the world, such as the European gambeson and the Aztec Ichcahuipilli, which could withstand cuts from blades, allowing warriors to more easily bridge the distance and grapple.

Battlefield wrestling (which Shuai Jiao and Sanda emulate) is notably different from MMA wrestling, since the focus is to remain standing while your opponent goes down, which can allow a fighter to defend himself against other attackers on the battlefield who are standing close by.

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Ramsey Dewey is a retired pro fighter, combat sports coach, referee, and fight commentator… and occasional musician based in Shanghai, China.

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I fought professionally in Mixed Martial arts, Sanda, Muay Thai, K1 and American kickboxing from 2004-2011 when I was forced to retire due to a broken skull and being blinded in one eye. I hold a brown belt in Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu, Black belts in multiple traditional martial arts, including Taekwondo and kyokushin karate. I also train in catch wrestling, sambo, taijiquan, judo, and boxing.

I currently coach at the Animal MMA gym, the Extreme Fight Lab, and the Mordor Fight Club, all in Shanghai, China.