UFC's Zhang Weili Explains Sanda vs. Muay Thai

Zhang ‘Magnum’ Weili is a mixed martial artist, she is the former UFC Women's Strawweight Champion and is the first-ever Chinese champion in UFC history.

Zhang was born in Handan, Hebei, China. She started training in martial arts at a young age, beginning at 6 with Shaolin Kung Fu under the tutelage of a local master, after she was inspired by Kung Fu films. When she was 12, her parents sent her to a specialized martial arts school in Handan where she began training in Sanda and a Chinese style of wrestling called Shuai Jiao. Her life led her down many different career paths which took her from working as a front desk receptionist to teaching and eventually becoming a UFC Champion.

Join us today for a spinning backfist of an episode with the Fruiting Body Podcast, Zhang joins us to talk about her upcoming fight with Carla Esparza at UFC 281. We discuss the preparations needed for a championship fight, why she has chosen to train in Thailand at @Bangtao Muay Thai & MMA and how each coach has a different influence on her fighting style as well as winning mentality.

Finally, find out more about Zhang’s Shaolin training, the difference between Sanda & Muay Thai and what she wishes to be remembered for in her legacy as a leading Chinese Woman in the sport of MMA.

#zhangweili #ufc281 #fruitingbodypodcast

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[terenceangelo]

This is why I think Sanda is a much better base for MMA than Muay Thai. Yes, there's a lot of power in Muay Thai Strikes, but that kind of overshooting makes it easier for wrestlers to hit you with a takedown.

Sanda fighters on the other hand fight wrestlers pretty much their entire careers since wrestling is a vital part of the sport - so their takedown defense is much better honed than that of a Muay Thai fighter.

[kevthegoat]

Sanda should be mentioned up there as one of the more practical Martial Arts for self defense

[Drappaport]

Love that in the cage she can meld the two styles together

[MuaythaiPGM]

I appreciate how respectful he was towards Muay Thai and what I study now. I appreciate when other martial artists show respect for each other even at the basic level

[SaintSanic]

It's interesting cuz the Sanda I learned is from a Chinese special forces agent and it has a lot of elbows. I don't doubt this person's expertise, at all. but the spinning elbow i learned from Sanda is one of my favorite strikes.

[WallKenshiro]

The Sanda I was learning up until around a decade ago incorporated knees and elbows too; was a lethal combination.

[Dr.Serbian]

I trained Sanshou Sanda, all aspects of training are involved. Alot of individual training for the practicioner. You train in close combat, mid combat and long distance fighting :) I feelt like it was something close to JKD

[Fachrul_R_Siraj]

The only minus thing about Sanda when compared to Muay Thai is that Sanda is not as popular as Muay Thai. Western people are more in Thailand, so it helps the spread of Muay Thai worldwide rather than Sanda, which is relatively new arts in China, the development of Sanda somewhow is not as hype as Muay Thai due to the culture aspect. I think chinese people are more closed minded when it comes to spreading their arts heritage, at least they used to.

[bluex]

I'm not sure how true, but Josh Hinger said he showed Zhang Weili that choke she did on Carla. Seems plausible since it looks like she was setting that up twice that fight.

[Robert-rlrd]

As much as people want to hate on kung fu, sanda IS kung fu. The only difference is the Western boxing punches.

[PathtoMidnight]

Muay Thai is scored on balance, composure, and ring control. That’s why they’re much more upright and throw from a solid base. More of a war of attrition as opposed to the in and out guerrilla warfare of sanda

[mactysonkarate]

Is the translation right? Since Grappling isn’t allowed in Muay Thai (sweeps and clinch work are) but it is allowed in Sanda (up to 3 seconds)

[Mek-ix]

I train sanda and they taught us kicks with knees

[koyomiaragoto]

So sanda in general is just another version of kickboxing

[MrRourk]

The Muslim 7 Postures and 18 Elbows of the Hui are easily added to Sanda for MMA.

[whitejodeci]

Muay thai lacks hands and footwork, lets be real. It's essentially kicks and knees with some punching.

[PRAVINRAAJRAAJ]

Everything is from Bodhidharma Tamil Kanchipuram Pallava Dynasty

[thunderkatz]

Sanda is like karate people hate but once you master it you become a master

[lps]

Sanda is scuh a great Martial art but what a shame...they should at least allow the knee in the fight and extended the wrestling duration, so it can be a more complete sport