(Beijing, June 13, 2026)–Carrying the thousand-year legacy of Chinese martial arts and building on 26 years of brand heritage, China’s original premier fighting championship “SANDAWANG” officially opens its new season in 2026. On June 13, the press conference for the 2026 Season China Wushu SANDAWANG Championship was held at the Beijing National Convention Center, marking the official launch of this classic combat sports event.

 Launch ceremony

The championship is jointly organized by the Wushu Sports Management Center of the General Administration of Sport of China, the Chinese Wushu Association, and Guowu Media. Featuring five men’s weight categories and two women’s categories, the competition will be held in four stages, with a total of 203 high-level bouts throughout the season.

Attendees included Zhang Yuping, Secretary-General of the International Wushu Federation; Chen Chong, Shen Zhengang, and Li Yongqiang, Deputy Directors of the Wushu Sports Management Center; leaders from relevant provincial sports bureaus and wushu management centers; heads of renowned wushu schools; Xu Weining, Chairman of Guowu Media; and Chi Yongjun, CEO of Guowu Media. Former SANDAWANG champions Liu Hailong, Bao Ligao, Yang Xiaojing, Liu Xianwei, and Li Jie gathered on stage, joining more than 200 guests and nearly 100 media reporters to mark this historic moment.

Chen Chong, Deputy Director of the Wushu Sports Management Center, delivering a speech

Fair & Scientific Format: Seven Categories, One Champion – Virtue and Skill in Harmony

At the press conference, Deputy Director Li Yongqiang detailed the competition structure. The championship features seven weight categories: Women’s 56kg and 65kg; Men’s 60kg, 70kg, 80kg, 90kg, and 90kg+.

The season runs from July 2026 to January 2027 and is divided into four stages:the SANDAWANG qualification match, champion challenge match, China championship, and the Annual Finals.The qualification round uses single-elimination; the champion challenge match uses double-elimination; the China championship adopts a single round-robin points system; and the Annual Finals will see the top two athletes from each weight category compete for the title of China SANDAWANG Champion and the championship belt.

 Li Yongqiang, Deputy Director of the Wushu Sports Management Center, announcing the competition regulations

All matches take place in a hexagonal ring – a signature feature of original Chinese martial arts culture. Each bout consists of three 3-minute rounds, allowing core techniques such as punching, kicking, knee strikes, and wrestling. Scoring comprehensively considers effective strikes, active offense, technical versatility, rhythm control, and physical condition. The championship places special emphasis on traditional wushu etiquette: athletes must perform the “bao quan” (fist-palm salute) before matches, between rounds, and after matches – embodying the principle of “learn courtesy before learning the art, learn virtue before learning martial arts.”

In addition, the championship has established 11 annual individual awards, including “Fastest Leg,” “Iron Fist,” “Golden Knee,” “Quick Throw,” “Bravest Fighter,” “Rookie of the Year,” “Most Popular Athlete,” and “Chinese Martial Virtue Award,” among others – providing comprehensive recognition for competitors.

Zhang Yuping, Secretary-General of the International Wushu Federation, attending the conference

Elite Lineup: Five Major Highlights to Watch

All 112 competitors are top-tier athletes from China’s sanda scene, including world champions, Asian champions, and national champions. Every matchup represents the highest level of competition. The championship offers five key attractions:

1. Champions collide.112 elite fighters on one stage – each victory showcases the true core strength of Chinese sanda.

2. A suspense-filled path to the crown.203 bouts, four escalating stages – the tension builds all the way to the final.

3. Women and men shine equally.The inclusion of women’s categories provides a premier platform for female sanda athletes, highlighting the comprehensive development of Chinese martial arts.

4. Rich rewards for skill and integrity.The most competitive prize money in the industry, along with 11 annual awards, competition tokens, and category champion titles, incentivize excellence.

5. A fresh “China-Chic” brand identity.The championship launches four core IPs: Culture, Competition, Stars, and Creative Products. Newly designed trophies, medals, championship belts, and the mascot “Awu” have been unveiled – alongside exclusive China-Chic apparel, anime, and animated content – bringing wushu from the arena into daily life and from China to the world.

 Xu Weining, Chairman of Guowu Media, delivering a speech

Brand Renewal: Building an Original Chinese Sports Super-IP

In his speech, Xu Weining, Chairman of Guowu Media, stated that the relaunch of SANDAWANG is not a simple repeat of the past, but an effort to set a new benchmark for professional wushu championships in a new era. The championship adheres to the positioning of “national platform, national standards, national brand” and follows a strategy centered on competition, driven by culture, and amplified by media – aiming to create an original Chinese sports IP with global influence.

On the cultural front, the championship deeply explores the essence of martial arts, using the hexagonal ring, original championship belts, and a China-Chic visual system to give wushu both traditional depth and a youthful, international appeal. On the media front, it builds a four-part IP matrix to fully embrace the new media ecosystem.

 Heritage ceremony

Immersive Experience: Five Themed Exhibitions at the Press Conference

The press conference fully showcased the cultural charm of Chinese martial arts. Five themed exhibitions were on display: a Wushu Culture Exhibition, a Wushu Calligraphy Exhibition, a SANDAWANG Original Anime Exhibition, a China-Chic Wushu Costume Exhibition, and a SANDAWANG Creative Products Exhibition – allowing guests to immerse themselves in wushu’s profound heritage and contemporary vitality.

Chi Yongjun, CEO of Guowu Media, delivering a keynote speech

Significance for Our Time: Energizing the Era, Supporting National Rejuvenation

In his address, Deputy Director Chen Chong noted that the SANDAWANG championship holds a special place in the history of Chinese wushu development. Relaunching the event as a “passing of the king’s legacy” is an important step in the creative transformation and innovative development of outstanding traditional Chinese culture.

Group photo

“Strong sports build a strong China; a thriving nation brings thriving sports.” The 2026 Season China Wushu SANDAWANG Championship is a vivid example of building a sporting powerhouse while preserving and promoting traditional Chinese culture in the new era. With competition at its core, culture as its soul, industry as its engine, and media as its reach, the championship showcases Chinese strength, spirit, and confidence to the world – allowing Chinese wushu to shine even brighter in the new era.

Starting from the Beijing National Convention Center, the 2026 Season China Wushu SANDAWANG Championship is now officially underway.