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{{short description|Elevated fighting arena}}
{{italic title}}
{{more citations needed|date=August 2015}}
{{Infobox Chinese
|title=Lei tai
|pic=Leitai.jpg
|piccap=A fighter preparing to throw his opponent from the lei tai
|s={{linktext|擂台}}
|t={{linktext|擂臺}}
|p=lèitái, léitái
|j=leoi4 toi4
|l=striking platform
}}
The '''''lei tai''''' is an elevated fighting arena, without railings, where often fatal [[List of martial arts weapons|weapons]] and [[Bare-knuckle boxing|bare-knuckle]] [[Chinese martial arts|martial arts]] tournaments were once held. "Sanctioned" matches were presided over by a referee on the platform and judges on the sides. Participants would lose if they surrendered, were incapacitated, or were thrown or otherwise forced from the stage. The winner would remain on the stage (as its "owner") unless ousted by a stronger opponent. If there were no more challengers, they would become the champion. Private duels on the stage had no rules and were sometimes fought to the death.
The lei tai first appeared in [[ancient China]],<ref name="Brownell"/> and in its present form during the [[Song dynasty]].<ref name="wu">[http://www.eagleclaw.gr/en/historyw.htm] {{webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20060902133442/http://www.eagleclaw.gr/en/historyw.htm|date=September 2, 2006}}</ref> However, ancient variations of it can be traced back to at least the [[Qin dynasty]].<ref name=kuo>{{cite web|url=http://www.kuoshu.co.uk/History%20-%20SJ.htm|title=History|work=Kuoshu.co.uk|accessdate=2015-08-12|archive-date=2008-07-24|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20080724104434/http://www.kuoshu.co.uk/History%20-%20SJ.htm|url-status=dead}}</ref> Today it is used in [[Sanshou]]<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.ikfkickboxing.com/SanShouRules.htm|title=San Shou Rules|work=Ikfkickboxing.com|accessdate=2015-08-12}}</ref> and [[Kuoshu]]<ref>[http://www.twksf.org/tour_rules.html] {{webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20081226134506/http://www.twksf.org/tour_rules.html|date=December 26, 2008}}</ref> competitions throughout the world.
==Etymology==
According to ''Kung Fu Magazine'', the Chinese character '{{linktext|lang=zh|擂}}' (in Mandarin ''lèi'' or ''léi''<ref>{{cite web|url=http://dict.concised.moe.edu.tw/cgi-bin/jbdic/gsweb.cgi?o=djbdic&searchid=Z00000013351|script-title=zh:教育部簡編國語辭典修訂本|quote=【擂臺】 注音 ㄌㄟˊ ㄊㄞˊ 漢語拼音 léi tái}}</ref>) combines the word for "thunder" (léi 雷) with the radical for "hand" (shǒu 手). It can mean, "to give an open challenge."<ref name="water">[http://ezine.kungfumagazine.com/ezine/article.php?article=471] {{webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20070315152137/http://ezine.kungfumagazine.com/ezine/article.php?article=471|date=March 15, 2007}}</ref> But taken literally, it means to "beat (a drum)". ''Tái'' means "stage" or "platform." It is also commonly referred to as a ''Dǎ lèi tái '' ([[Traditional Chinese|Traditional]]: 打擂臺 [[Simplified Chinese|Simplified]]: 打擂台 – "Fight Beat (a drum) Platform").<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.easysea.com/cd/?keyword=%B4%F2%C6%C6 |accessdate=September 26, 2006 |title = Easysea.com search}}{{dead link|date=January 2017|bot=medic}}</ref> The character for ''Dǎ'' combines the word for "robust or vigorous" (dīng 丁) with the radical for "hand" (shǒu 手). This can mean, "to strike, hit, beat, or fight". In [[Cantonese]], using the [[Wade-Giles]] superscript number system, Lei tai is pronounced Leui<sup>4</sup> Toi<sup>4</sup>. A common English rendering of this is "Lui Toi or Loey Toy".<ref>{{cite web|url=http://ezine.kungfumagazine.com/info/glossary.php#L |accessdate=November 26, 2006 |url-status=dead |archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20061106041140/http://ezine.kungfumagazine.com/info/glossary.php |archivedate=November 6, 2006|title= The Kung Fu Glossary}}</ref> Da lei tai is pronounced Da<sup>1</sup> leui<sup>4</sup> toi<sup>4</sup> or Da<sup>2</sup> leui<sup>4</sup> toi<sup>4</sup>.
The Chinese military once used a ''Zhong Jun Lei Gu Tai'' (中军擂鼓台 – "Central Military Drum Beating Platform") to drum out commands on the battlefield and to tell time in the capital city.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.chinaforgroups.com/xian_travel.html|title=Xian Travel|work=Chinaforgroups.com|accessdate=2015-08-12}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|url=http://english.people.com.cn/features/music/instrument.html|title=WAR GU (Chinese war drum)|work=people.com.cn}}</ref> (see [[Gulou and Zhonglou]]) [[Three kingdoms]] general [[Zhang Fei]] used a "drum beating platform" to teach his soldiers troop movements.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.cnto.org/yangtzeriver-xiling.asp |accessdate=December 1, 2006 |url-status=dead |archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20061009152027/http://www.cnto.org/yangtzeriver-xiling.asp |archivedate=October 9, 2006|title= Welcome to Yangtze River}}</ref> It is possible that the lei tai received its name from this type of platform, since a superior fighter might "beat" his opponent like a drum.
==Dimensions==
The fighting area is square, but its exact size varies from source to source.
*The ''
*The ''[[Tien Shan Pai]] Association'' states it was either 24 x {{convert|24|ft|m}} or 30 x {{convert|30|ft|m}} and 2–{{convert|4|ft|m}} high.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.tienshanpai.org/tienshanpai/features/Feature_6.shtml |accessdate=February 19, 2016 |url-status=dead |archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20080827191955/http://www.tienshanpai.org/tienshanpai/features/Feature_6.shtml |archivedate=August 27, 2008 |title= The Toughest Tournament In The World}}</ref>
*The ''[[International Wushu Federation]]'' and ''Chinese Wushu Association'' commissions a lei tai which is 24 x {{convert|24|ft|m}} and {{convert|2|ft|m}} high. The surrounding mats are {{convert|6|ft|m}} long and {{convert|1|ft|m|adj=on}} thick. It is called the "Nine Suns Mountain Sanda Lei tai". It was used in the 8th ''World Wushu Championships'' held in [[Vietnam]] in December 2005.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.kungfusupply.nl/leitai.htm|title=Kungfu – Supply Nine Suns Mountain Sanda Leitai|work=kungfusupply.nl|url-status=dead|archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20070928030012/http://www.kungfusupply.nl/leitai.htm|archivedate=2007-09-28}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|url=http://iwuf.org/Competitions/8thWWC/TaoluRegulation.htm|title=蜗牛游戏|work=iwuf.org|url-status=dead|archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20061213031342/http://www.iwuf.org/Competitions/8thWWC/TaoluRegulation.htm|archivedate=2006-12-13}}</ref>
*The ''International Chinese Kuoshu Federation'' uses a stage 24 x {{convert|24|ft|m}} and {{convert|16|in|mm}} high.<ref name=rules>{{cite web|url=http://mhkungfu.com/Events/Tournaments/Competitors/CACMA_Divisions/Lei_Tai_Rules/lei_tai_rules.html |accessdate=February 19, 2016 |url-status=dead |archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20100219190009/http://www.mhkungfu.com/Events/Tournaments/Competitors/CACMA_Divisions/Lei_Tai_Rules/lei_tai_rules.html |archivedate=February 19, 2010|title=Lei Tai (Full Contact Demonstration) Rules 2005}}</ref>
*According to the book ''Chinese Fast Wrestling for Fighting: The Art of San Shou Kuai Jiao Throws, Takedowns, & Ground-Fighting'', it was 24 x {{convert|24|ft|m}} and {{convert|5|ft|m}} high.<ref name=liang>Liang, Shou Yu and Tai D. Ngo. ''Chinese Fast Wrestling for Fighting: The Art of San Shou Kuai Jiao Throws, Takedowns, & Ground-Fighting''. YMAA Publication Center, 1997 ({{ISBN|1-886969-49-3}})</ref>
*The ''World Sports Encyclopedia'' says it is "an 8x8m platform...elevated approx. 6 m and surrounded by rubber walls."<ref>Liponski, Wojciech. World Sports Encyclopedia. MBI, 2003 ({{ISBN|0760316821}})</ref>
==History (prior to 1928)==
In [[ancient China]], [[combat sport]] appeared in the form of Leitai, a no-holds-barred mixed combat sport that combined [[Chinese martial arts]], boxing and wrestling.<ref name="Brownell">{{cite book|last=Brownell|first=Susan Elaine|title=The olympic movement on its way into Chinese culture|date=1990|publisher=[[University of California, Santa Barbara]]|pages=29, 63|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=ita1AAAAIAAJ&q=ancient+leitai|language=en|quote=In both ancient China and Greece, the most popular sports were probably wrestling, boxing, and combinations thereof (Greek pankration, Chinese leitai). The same might be argued for ancient Egypt, India and Japan. [...] In both ancient China and Greece, the no-holds-barred combat sport (Greek pankration, Chinese leitai) was probably the most popular one.}}</ref> Lei tai in its present form appeared during the [[Song dynasty]] when it was used for boxing and [[Shuai Jiao]] exhibition matches and private duels.<ref name=wu/> According to the ''Chinese Kuoshu Institute'' ([[United Kingdom|UK]]), an ancestor of the lei tai was used during the [[Qin dynasty]] to hold Jiao Li wrestling competitions between imperial soldiers. The winner would be chosen to act as a bodyguard to the emperor or a martial arts instructor for the Imperial Military.<ref name=kuo/>
According to [[Cung Le]], a famous mixed martial arts fighter, "In the old days, if you wanted to announce yourself as a boxer in a new village, you built a lei tai, stood on it, and invited all comers to try and knock you off."<ref name=le>{{cite web|url=http://ezine.kungfumagazine.com/ezine/article.php?article=475 |accessdate=February 19, 2016 |url-status=dead |archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20131112224746/http://ezine.kungfumagazine.com/ezine/article.php?article=475|author=Herb Borkland|title=Salute to Wushu|archivedate=November 12, 2013 }}</ref> Some fighters issued their challenge in the form of a hand written letter to the person they wished to face.<ref name=swiss/> This form of challenge was illustrated in the movie ''[[Fearless (2006)|Fearless]]'', when [[Jet Li]]'s character challenges another warrior to a fight. The book ''Ultimate Sparring: Principles & Practices'' comments, "martial artists conducted 'Challenge matches' [on the lei tai] to test each other's skills, because of a personal dispute, or to prove one martial system's superiority over another system."<ref name=spar>Maberry, Jonathan. ''Ultimate Sparring: Principles & Practices''. Strider Nolan Publishing; 1st ed. Pb edition, 2002 ({{ISBN|1-932045-08-2}})</ref> Either fighter lost the match and his credibility if he fell, was forced off or was knocked to the floor of the stage. As a result, no one would want to learn boxing from him. The winner of the bout became the "owner of the platform" and remained on stage unless he was forced off himself.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://en.olympic.cn/china_oly/wushu_art/2003-11-27/19303.html|title=Official Website of the Chinese Olympic Committee|work=Olympic.cn|accessdate=2015-08-12}}</ref> If there were no more challengers, he became the champion and or established the dominance of his style in that area. Another way was to defeat an already established master on the lei tai and then take over his school.
In order to become a champion, a fighter had to defeat countless opponents. For instance, [[Lama Pai]] Grandmaster Wong Yan-Lam set up his own lei tai platform in front of ''Hai Tung'' Monastery in [[Guangdong]] after having worked as a famous bodyguard in [[Northern and southern China|Northern China]]. For 18 days, he fought over 150 other martial artists and was never defeated. According to [[Hop Gar]] Grandmaster David Chin, "Either the challenger was maimed or killed. Wong never let one challenger leave his school without injury. He was a master of using the technique of cruelty."<ref name=hop>{{cite web|url=http://ezine.kungfumagazine.com/magazine/article.php?article=661|title=Welcome to KungFuMagazine|work=Kungfumagazine.com|accessdate=2015-08-12}}</ref> Shortly afterwards, he was elected as the leader of the [[Ten Tigers of Canton]], who were the top ten kung fu men in Guangdong.<ref name=hop/><ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.liuhopafa.com/lama.htm |title=The Lama Style |publisher=Liuhopafa.com |accessdate=2015-08-12}}</ref> Eighteenth generation [[Chen-style tai chi]] Grandmaster [[Chen Zhaopi]], third nephew of [[Chen Fake]], set up a platform by [[Beijing]]'s "''Xuan Wu Men''" city gate after an unauthorized article claiming the superiority of Chen-style tai chi appeared in the ''Beijing Times'', causing many martial artists to challenge his skills. Over the course of 17 days, he defeated over 200 people and made many friends.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.chenstyle.com/masters/CZPtales.html |title=Chenstyle.com |accessdate=2015-08-12 |url-status=dead |archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20160117132347/http://www.chenstyle.com/masters/CZPtales.html |archivedate=2016-01-17 }}</ref><ref>Sim, Davidine, Siaw-Voon and David Gaffney. ''Chen Style: The Source of Taijiquan''. North Atlantic Books, 2001 ({{ISBN|1556433778}})</ref> If these examples are followed, it took a fighter anywhere from 17 to 18 days and 150–200 plus consecutive wins to establish their style's dominance in that area.
All weapons and boxing matches were conducted without protective gear like the ''[[Full contact karate|Jissen Kumite]]'' (full-contact fighting) of [[Kyokushin]] Karate. On top of being forced from or thrown to the floor of the stage, the fights sometimes continued until either boxer conceded defeat, was severely injured and could no longer fight, or was even killed.<ref name=swiss/> One example of a death on stage was described by [[Hung Gar]] Grandmaster ''Chiu Kow'' (1895–1995), father of Grandmaster [[Chiu Chi Ling]]. The fight took place between Hung Gar Master ''Leng Cai Yuk'' and a [[Triad society|triad]] boss named ''Ha Saan fu'', who was also a master of [[Internal martial arts]]. Because Ha dealt in prostitution, gambling, and drugs, Leng challenged Ha to a lei tai bout to halt the expansion of his criminal territory. Ha accepted the challenge and agreed to leave the area if he lost.
Ha had previously heard of Master Leng's ability to tear at the flesh of his opponents with his bare hands, so he wrapped his torso with a leather strap prior to the fight. Both men met on the lei tai some time later and signed a contract that stated the fight could end in death. The crowd watched as both initiated combat. After a few moments, Leng (apparently seeing the leather straps through his ripped clothing) bypassed Ha's armor by forcing his hand down from the top of the wrap and tore out the triad boss' [[bowels]]. When Ha fell dead to the stage, his men tried attacking Leng to exact revenge, but the local police quickly arrested Leng to protect him. He was eventually set free.<ref>Sewer, Martin. ''Chiu Kow – Memorial Book 1895–1995''. Books on Demand, 2005 ({{ISBN|3833428589}})</ref>
However, the railless architecture of the lei tai allowed a fighter to escape serious injury if they faced a more powerful opponent. All they had to do was leap down from the stage. This constituted a loss, but the boxer lived to fight another day.<ref name=water/> Despite this option, the [[Republic of China|Nationalist government]] banned the old traditions of private duels on the lei tai in 1928 because too many people were dying.<ref name=water/>
==Modern day (1928 to present)==
===National boxing competitions===
In order to screen the best practitioners for teaching positions at the newly founded [[Central Guoshu Institute]], and in the provincial schools, Generals Zhang Zhi Jiang (张之江) (1882–1966), [[Li Liejun]] (1882–1946) and [[Li Jinglin]] (1885–1931) held the first modern full contact, national competition in October 1928. Many traditional masters did not compete because they believed their skills could only be proven in serious duels and not "sporting" contests. However, the event attracted hundreds of the best Chinese martial artists who participated in boxing, [[weapon]]s and [[Shuai jiao|wrestling]] in a lei tai ring format. But after the first several days, the fighting competitions had to be halted because two masters were killed and many more seriously injured. The final 12 contestants were not permitted to continue for fear of killing off some of the greatest masters of the time. The overall winner was voted on by a jury of his peers. Many of the "Top 15" finishers (some being [[Xingyiquan|Xingyi]] boxers) went on to teach at the institute.<ref name=jeff>Yang, Jwing Ming and Jefferey A. Bolt. ''Shaolin Long Fist Kung Fu''. Unique Publications, Inc., 1982 ({{ISBN|0-86568-020-5}})</ref>
In 1929, the governor of [[Guangdong|Guangdong Province]] invited some of the institute's masters (including some of those that had competed in the 1928 lei tai) to come south to establish a "Southern Kuoshu Institute". General Li Jinglin chose five masters to represent northern China. These men were known as the ''Wu hu xia jiangnan'' (五虎下江南 – "[[Northern Shaolin|Five tigers]] heading south of [[Jiangnan]]"):
*[[Gu Ruzhang]] (1893–1952) of [[Shaolin kung fu|Northern Shaolin]] style. He was famously known as "[[Iron Palm]] Gu Ruzhang". He placed in the "Top 15" of the 1928 lei tai;{{citation needed|date=September 2017}}
*[[Wan Laisheng]] (1903–1995) of [[Shaolin kung fu|Northern Shaolin]] and [[Internal martial arts|Internal]] styles (including [[Zi Ran Men|Natural Boxing]]);
*[[Fu Zhensong]] (1881–1953) of [[Baguazhang]] style;
*Wang Shaozhou (王绍周) of [[Shaolin kung fu|Northern Shaolin]] and [[Chaquan|Cha]] styles and
*Li Xianwu of [[Shaolin kung fu|Northern Shaolin]] and [[Internal martial arts|Internal]] styles.{{citation needed|date=September 2017}}
In 1933, the institute again hosted the national competition. The rules said, "...if death occurs as a result of boxing injuries and fights, the coffin with a body of the deceased will be sent home."<ref name=mantis>{{cite web|url=http://www.mantisboxing.ru/articles1_eng.html |accessdate=February 19, 2016 |url-status=dead |archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20110721140029/http://www.mantisboxing.ru/articles1_eng.html |archivedate=July 21, 2011|title= Origins and the development of Praying Mantis Boxing|author=Xiao Mingkui|translator=Ilya Profatilov}}</ref> Winners of this contest include:
*[[Chang Dongsheng]] (1908–1986) of [[Shuai Jiao]] style. He won the heavy weight division and earned the martial nickname "Flying Butterfly";<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.changshuaichiao.com/chang_tung_sheng.htm |accessdate=February 19, 2016 |url-status=dead |archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20110912051622/http://www.changshuaichiao.com/chang_tung_sheng.htm |archivedate=September 12, 2011 |title=Chang Tung Sheng}}</ref>
*[[
*[[Li Kunshan]] (1894–1976) of [[Northern Praying Mantis#Plum Blossom Praying Mantis Boxing 梅花螳螂拳|Plum Blossom Praying Mantis]] style.<ref name=jeff/>
===Kuoshu (lei tai full-contact fighting)===
{{more citations needed section|date=August 2015}}
Differing mainly in regulations, such as Kuoshu's allowing competitors to strike the same place twice, kuoshu and sanshou are examples of how popular the overall concept of full-contact kung fu has become. Though a few see a stringent dividing line between the sports, some such as Anthony Goh, president of the [[United States of America Wushu Kungfu Federation]], see less contrast. "The rules will always be slightly different," says Goh, but "the various names all mean the same thing."
Others see the distinction as primarily historical. Huang Chien Liang, president of the ''United States Kuoshu Federation and The World Kuoshu Federation'', notes that "Kuoshu has another meaning as 'national art.' In 1928, the Central Kuoshu Academy was formed, and they sponsored a full-contact tournament, but when the Chinese Communist Party took over China, the Nationalist government moved to Taiwan, where, in 1955, they held a full-contact tournament, calling it lei tai. At that time, they used the original rules; no protection, and no weight class – whatever number you picked up, you fought together.<ref name="Welcome to KungFuMagazine">{{cite web|url=http://ezine.kungfumagazine.com/magazine/article.php?article=272|title=Welcome to KungFuMagazine|work=Kungfumagazine.com|accessdate=2015-08-12}}</ref>
In 1975, Taiwan sponsored the first ''World Kuoshu Championship Tournament'', and started to have weight class division. The second tournament also took place in Taiwan and was won by Peter Ralston, the first non-Asian to do so.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.blitzmag.net/people/kungfu-taichi-qigong/243-the-man-behind-bloodsport|title=The Man Behind Bloodsport?|accessdate=2015-12-15}}</ref> The current president of the United States Kuo Shou Federation Huang Chien-Liang brought six of his students as a team to the 3rd World Kuoshu Championship tournament in Hawaii in 1980. This world tournament, sponsored and organized by an international Kuoshu federation in Taiwan, featured top Chinese stylists from around the world. Although they were nervous about the competition, Huang's students performed surprisingly well. They captured top placing in several divisions, including forms and full contact fighting. In total, they took home six trophies.<ref name="tienshanpai.org">{{cite web|url=http://www.tienshanpai.org/articles/article-2/|title=The Three Paths Of Grandmaster Huang, Chien-Liang: What Will The Next 30 Years Bring?|accessdate=2015-12-15}}</ref> In 1986, Huang assembled another team to participate in the 5th World Kuoshu Championship. Huang served as Head Coach of the U.S. team.<ref name="tienshanpai.org"/> The 6th Championship took place in 1989<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.tienshanpai.org/articles/article-7/|title=Master And Commander: Taiwan's Chang, Fu Chen|accessdate=2015-12-15}}</ref> So by 1992, Taiwan had already sponsored seven Kuoshu lei tai fighting events.
Meanwhile, in China, "Kuoshu had been oppressed during the [[Cultural Revolution]]," notes president Huang, "and martial arts was then allowed only for performance until 1979, when wushu was allowed to include self-defense, so practitioners began writing the rules for the Sanshou Wushu tournaments, and the Communist government held a tournament called Sanshou."
Confirming the common direction of Kuoshu and Sanshou toward safety, however, president Huang approves of the rules changes in full-contact kung fu. "In 1986, at the fifth world tournament in Taiwan, they had a separate weight class, but still no protection. So many people suffered a broken nose and other injuries." As a result, the ''International Kuoshu Federation'' decided to change the rules. "So since 1988, the new rules apply."<ref name="Welcome to KungFuMagazine"/>
===Sanshou / Sanda===
{{main|Sanshou}}
As previously stated, martial arts were only allowed for performance purposes until 1979. But in March of that year, the Zhejiang Provincial Sports Training Center, Beijing Physical Education University (former Beijing Physical Education Institute), and Wuhan Physical Education College were convened by the government-appointed ''China National Sport Committee'' (CNSC) to transform [[Sanshou]] into a competitive sport. By October, the first three Sanshou teams were created from fighters chosen from the aforementioned wushu colleges. Even more teams were gathered in May 1980.
The first official Sanshou rules were drafted in January 1982 when the CNSC convened the ''National Sanshou Competition Rules Conference'' in Beijing. Six teams consisting of the Shandong, Hebei and Guangdong provincial teams, the Beijing Physical Education University and City teams and the Wuhan Physical Education College team were summoned to the conference to help formulate the regulations and points system of the sport. Ten months later, the very first Sanshou competition was held in November 1982. The original fighting area was a nine-meter diameter open circle, but it was later changed to a traditional square lei tai.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.wusociety.com/modules.php?name=Content&pa=showpage&pid=35 |accessdate=February 19, 2016 |url-status=dead |archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20120824070217/http://www.wusociety.com/modules.php?name=Content&pa=showpage&pid=35 |archivedate=August 24, 2012|title=A Brief History of Sanshou|author= Li, Yongqian}}</ref>
According to Shuai Jiao Grandmaster Liang Shou Yu, "In the past, San Shou competition was held on the Lei Tai, a 24 x {{convert|24|ft|m|adj=on}} platform {{convert|5|ft|m}} high. Victory was decided when an opponent was thrown off the Lei Tai or knocked to the floor. Therefore, Shuai Jiao is an important part of San Shou fighting. A martial artist without any Shuai Jiao skills would not easily survive a San Shou match."<ref name=liang/>
Kung Fu Magazine states just throwing someone off the lei tai in a Sanshou match is 3 points, which is "the [points] equivalent of a spinning hook kick to the head, or a perfect foot sweep."<ref name=le/>
(For '''Kuoshu and Sanshou competition rules''', see "Rule Books" in [[Lei tai#External links|External links]] below.)
===Water lei tai===
The city of [[Taizhou, Zhejiang]] hosted the first "On Water Contest of the 'Liqun Cup' International Traditional Wushu and Unique Feats Tournament" from May 22–26, 1999. It was here that 24 countries and 28 Chinese national teams, over a thousand competitors in all, gathered to test their skills against each other.
The water lei tai was held on the afternoon of the second day of competition (May 23). There were five divisions and it was the most attended event of the tournament. The event was made more difficult when it rained just prior to the matches, making the fighting surface very slippery. Also fighters were restricted to minimal safety equipment, only gloves and shorts. The defeated, who fell or was forced off the stage, landed in water. To improve safety, the lei tai was a meter shorter than a standard one, which lessened the impact and allowed assistants to quickly jump in the pool to rescue any fighter who might have been unconscious. No serious injuries were recorded during this event.<ref name=water/>
There have been more water lei tai's held since this event. In March 2004, the 9th International Chinese Kuoshu Federation (ICKF) World Championship hosted the 3rd water lei tai. The tournament venue was Aquatic Training Centre, Tainan Canal, [[Tainan City|Tainan]], [[Taiwan]]. This was the first International event hosted by the ICKF to be held entirely on water.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://home.mweb.co.za/ku/kuoshu/news.html|title=NEWS|work=mweb.co.za}}</ref>
==
''Kung Fu Magazine'' states the lei tai's railless architecture does not allow a fighter to trap an opponent in the [[turnbuckle]], so the fighting strategy shifts away from power boxing to more evasive "circling" maneuvers. Nor can a fighter just rush their adversary. A quick redirection will send a charging opponent off the stage. And falling off can hurt, so fighters must deal with an added psychological factor when they approach the edge. Like Japanese [[sumo]], a fighter must stand their ground. Falling out-of-bounds constitutes a loss.<ref name=water/>
===Sparring benefits===
According to the Swiss Open Kusohu Tournament, lei tai permits the kung fu student to show their understanding of the techniques, moves, rooting, breathing and control of character (i.e. anger). Kung fu together with lei tai trains the [[Aliveness (martial arts)|instincts and timing]]. It cultivates concentration and relaxation at the same time. It teaches practical combat applications of the disconnected moves learned from sets or [[Taolu (martial arts)|taolu]] ("Forms"). With lei tai a student receives personal feedback on their strengths and weaknesses.<ref name=swiss/>
==See also==
{{Portal|China}}
*[[List of famous lei tai fighters]]
*[[Dojoyaburi]]
*[[History of physical training and fitness]]
*[[Media about lei tai]]
*[[Mixed martial arts]]
*[[Pankration]]
==Notes and references==
{{Reflist|30em}}
{{DEFAULTSORT:Lei Tai}}
[[Category:Chinese martial arts terminology]]
[[Category:Ring (martial arts)]]
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