What are the fouls in sanda?
I · Intermediate · Fouls and results · 5 of 5Sanda has two kinds of foul. A technical foul, such as holding passively or delaying, brings an admonition and gives the opponent one point. A personal foul, such as hitting the groin or striking after the stop call, brings a warning and gives the opponent two points. Three personal fouls mean disqualification from the bout.
How it works
- Technical fouls: passive clinching; passive evasion; calling a time-out when in a bad position; delaying on purpose; disrespect or disobedience to the officials; entering without a gum guard, spitting it out or loosening gear; ignoring competition etiquette.
- Admonition: one for each technical foul. One point to the opponent.
- Personal fouls: attacking before "Kaishi" or after "Ting"; striking a prohibited area; using a prohibited method; deliberately injuring the opponent.
- Warning: one for each personal foul. Two points to the opponent.
- Three personal fouls: disqualified from the bout.
- Deliberate injury: disqualified from the whole competition, with all results cancelled.
- Doping, or oxygen in the rest period: disqualified from the whole competition, with all results cancelled.
- In a tie: fewer warnings, then fewer admonitions, wins the round.
The glossary has the admonition and warning, the passivity, the clinch, the scoring areas, the ting and kaishi calls and the protective gear.
Tricky cases
A fighter lands a punch a moment after the judge shouts "Ting". Does it score?
No. Attacking after "Ting" is a personal foul: a warning, and two points to the opponent.
A fighter asks for a time-out to fix their hair while being pressed on the edge of the platform. Allowed?
It is a technical foul. Calling a time-out when in a disadvantageous position is listed, and a request to fix hair or clothing is treated as delaying.
A fighter has two warnings and then kicks the opponent in the groin by accident. What happens?
Disqualification from the bout. The rule counts three personal fouls and makes no exception for accidents.
Can a fighter take oxygen between rounds?
No. Inhaling oxygen in the rest period means disqualification from the whole competition.
Why the rule exists
The two tiers separate fouls against the contest from fouls against the opponent. Stalling harms the bout and costs one point. A blow to a forbidden target can harm a person and costs two, and repeated or deliberate harm removes the fighter altogether.
Where it differs
| Where | What changes | Source |
|---|---|---|
| Technical foul | Admonition; 1 point to the opponent | Sanda Rules, Art. 5 and 6 (slides 59 and 67) |
| Personal foul | Warning; 2 points to the opponent | Sanda Rules, Art. 5 and 6 (slides 57 and 67) |
| Three personal fouls | Disqualified from the bout | Sanda Rules, Art. 6 (slide 67) |
| Deliberate injury, doping or oxygen | Disqualified from the competition; results cancelled | Sanda Rules, Art. 6 (slide 67) |
| Taolu | No fouls of this kind; errors are deducted from a score | See the taolu set |
From the rule book
International Wushu Federation, Sanda Rules and Judging Methods (2017 rules, as set out in the federation's 2023 judges' training course slides), Scoring Criteria (Article 5) and Fouls and Penalties (Article 6). Checked 14 October 2026. Official document: the federation's Sanda Competition Rules and Judging Methods (not saved; a training copy was used).