How are throws and takedowns scored in sanda?
B · Beginner · Scoring · 4 of 6A fighter scores two points when the opponent falls and the fighter stays on their feet. A fall means touching the floor with any part of the body other than the feet. If both go down, the one who lands second gets one point. If they fall at the same moment, nobody scores.
How it works
- A fall: touching the ground with any part of the body other than the feet.
- Why the opponent fell does not matter: knocked down, thrown down or down by their own slip, the standing fighter gets two points.
- Both fall: one point to the fighter who falls later.
- Both fall together: no points.
- Sacrifice throws: a fighter who goes down on purpose to bring the opponent down gets two points only by standing straight up in one flowing motion.
- Without the flowing rise: one point.
- A failed deliberate fall: no points to the opponent if the fighter is up within three seconds, and one point to the opponent if not.
- Stoppage: the judge stops the fight when a fighter falls, except for a deliberate fall.
The glossary has the deliberate fall, the scoring in sanda, the clinch, the ting and kaishi calls, the leitai and sanda.
Tricky cases
A fighter throws a kick, slips and sits down. Does the opponent score?
Yes, two points. Falling by one's own mistake counts the same as being knocked or thrown down.
A fighter throws the opponent and is pulled down on top of them. What is the score?
One point to the thrower, as the fighter who fell later.
A fighter drops into a scissor takedown, brings the opponent down and stays on the floor. Points?
One. Two points need the fighter to stand up immediately in a flowing motion.
A fighter touches one glove to the floor to keep balance after a kick. Is that a fall?
Yes. Any part of the body other than the feet touching the ground is a fall.
Why the rule exists
In a real fight the person still standing has won the exchange, and the scoring copies that. Dropping to the floor to drag someone down gives up that advantage, so it scores in full only when the thrower is back on their feet before the judge can call stop.
Where it differs
| Where | What changes | Source |
|---|---|---|
| Opponent down, fighter standing | 2 points | Sanda Rules, Art. 5 (slides 43 and 46) |
| Both down, one after the other | 1 point to the later | Sanda Rules, Art. 5 (slide 58) |
| Both down together | No points | Sanda Rules, Art. 5 (slide 60) |
| Deliberate fall with a flowing rise | 2 points | Sanda Rules, Art. 5 (slides 47 and 50) |
| Deliberate fall, not up in three seconds | 1 point to the opponent | Sanda Rules, Art. 5 (slide 59) |
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 Match Stoppage (Article 7). Checked 14 October 2026. Official document: the federation's Sanda Competition Rules and Judging Methods (not saved; a training copy was used).