What is the platform in sanda, and what happens if a fighter falls off?
B · Beginner · The bout · 2 of 6Sanda is fought on a raised square platform called the leitai, 8 metres by 8 metres and 80 cm high, with no ropes. A fighter who falls off gives the opponent two points. A fighter who falls off twice in one round loses that round.
How it works
- The platform: 8 m by 8 m, 80 cm high, covered with a soft mat.
- The edge: a red line 5 cm wide.
- The warning line: a yellow line 10 cm wide, 90 cm in from each edge.
- Round the platform: protective mats 30 cm high and 2 m wide.
- Falling off: any part of the body touching, with weight, the protective mat or the ground outside the platform, between "Kaishi" and "Ting".
- The score: two points to the opponent.
- Twice in a round: the opponent wins the round.
- Both fall off: no points.
- Still holding on: it counts as one side falling off only if the fighter has lost contact with the opponent's body.
The glossary has the leitai, sanda, the scoring in sanda, the bout, the ting and kaishi calls and the deliberate fall.
Tricky cases
A fighter is pushed off the platform with a shove, not a strike. Does it count?
Yes. The rule is about falling off, however it happens. The opponent scores two points.
A fighter's foot slips over the edge but they do not touch the mat below. Off the platform?
No. Falling off means a part of the body touching the protective mat or the ground outside, with weight on it.
Both fighters go over the edge together, still gripping each other. Who scores?
Nobody. When both fall off the platform, no points are awarded.
A fighter pushes the opponent off, but their own glove comes off in the process. Does the fall count?
No. The fall is invalid, and the fighter whose glove came off is given a technical foul.
Why the rule exists
The open platform comes from the old challenge matches fought on a raised stage, where being thrown off meant defeat. In the modern sport it makes position a weapon. A fighter backed up to the yellow line has to fight their way out or risk being pushed over.
Where it differs
| Where | What changes | Source |
|---|---|---|
| One fighter falls off | Two points to the opponent | Sanda Rules, Scoring Criteria (slides 43 to 45) |
| Twice in one round | The round goes to the opponent | Sanda Rules, Winner and Loser (slide 72) |
| Both fall off | No points | Sanda Rules, Scoring Criteria (slide 60) |
| Taolu | A flat mat of 14 m by 8 m; stepping out costs 0.1 | See the taolu set |
| Boxing and kickboxing | A roped ring | C |
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), Determining Winner and Loser (Article 1) and the Competition Area chapter. Checked 14 October 2026. Official document: the federation's Sanda Competition Rules and Judging Methods (not saved; a training copy was used).