Sambo - Quick Guide
Sambo - Overview
Sambo is a Soviet martial art and combat sport which stands for SAMozashchita Bez Oruzhiya (meaning “self-defence without weapons”). It’s one of the modern form of martial arts and also has been recognized as the third style of international wrestling by United World Wrestling. It is inspired by Jujutsu, Judo, and other forms of martial art and is mostly referred as a self-defence art.
In this sport, two people fight with each other within certain rules and regulations. While playing, the players apply different blows and tricks against each other and based on their tricks, they get points. The player with highest points wins the match. The players can also win the match by successfully attempting different locks or submission tricks on each other and can end the match before time.
Sambo players go through a rigorous training phase in order to get a hold of this sport. The players must have the ability to strike and grapple in the clinch. While playing, the match demands a lot of aggressiveness. In order to excel in the match, the players need to excel in different kinds of skills.
Players need to be agile and flexible and have to learn different kinds of throws, joint locks, strikes, kicks and suffocation skills that are used throughout the match. It takes years of training and dedication to learn the art as this sport demands excellent control over all skills.
A Brief History of Sambo
Sambo was originated in Russia mostly by the individual effort of Vasili Oshchepkov and Viktor Spiridonov. Initially, they invented this art in order to improve Soviet military’s hand-to-hand combat techniques. In 1923, Oschepkov and Spiridinov collaborated with Russian government to improve the Red Army's hand-to-hand combat system.
In 1968, sambo was accepted as the third style of international wrestling by FILA. In 1985, the Federation International Amateur Sambo (FIAS) was founded to operate as the first official organization for Sambo which was later on divided in to FIAS East and FIAS West. In 1938, sambo became the official combat sport of the Soviet Union. In 1980, sambo was a demonstration sport at the Olympic Games in Moscow, Russia but could not make it to the list because of boycott.
Participating Countries
Even being one of the most modern forms of martial arts, sambo is practiced and played in many countries today because of its universal appeal and unique techniques. Even though it is much famous in Russia, slowly and steadily its popularity is spreading all over the world. Players from different forms of martial art have started practicing sambo.
A list of countries where sambo is practiced, played, and is quite popular are Russia, Bulgaria, Belarus, Mongolia, Ukraine, Kazakhstan, Uzbekistan, Venezuela, Serbia, Japan.
Sambo - Playing Environment
The match takes place on a combat mat which has a size of 11x11 meters to 14x14 meters. The mat is made of synthetic fabric and has a smooth surface with the thickness of 5 cm or below.
The central surface of the mat where the bouts are conducted and also considered as the main working area is a circle with 6 to 9 meters in diameter. The rest part of the mat is considered as protective area with a width of 2 to 5 meters.
The platform where the mat is placed shall be up to 2 to 5 meters wider than the mat on every side. The whole surface of the mat is covered with coverlet made of firm soft fabric or some synthetic material without rough seams.
The covering must be tightly stretched and fastened. The authenticity and stability of the mat is decided by the Chief official, doctor, and representatives of the organization conducting the competition.
Sambo - Equipment
The equipment used in sambo are very much similar to that of mixed martial arts. Players use different protective equipment including helmets, gloves, guards etc. The uniform in sambo includes sambovka and belts during a fight. Some of the equipment are as follows −
Sambovka
It is a jacket or kimono type material intended for trainings and participation in competitions of all levels of sambo. Usually a player uses red or blue coloured sambovka accompanied by same colour of shorts and belts.
Protective Guards
Different protective equipment are used by the players for avoiding any kind of injuries or accidents and these equipment protect the players against the fatal and dangerous strikes of the opponent. Some of the commonly used protective guards are as follows −
Boxing Helmets − These are mostly padded helmets worn by the contestants in most of the boxing or wrestling events for providing protection against head injury, cuts, scrapes, and swelling. Usually these helmets are open-faced with soft or hard plastic ear covers and straps around the chin and back of the head.
Gum Shield − It is a mouth guard used inside the mouth by the players in order to avoid injuries to mouth, gums, lips, teeth.
Groin Guards − These are more of an undergarment used by the players in order to avoid injuries to groin areas and are mostly used in case of different formats of wrestling or in sports that involves vigorous physical activity.
Sambo Gloves − The gloves are cushioned globes which the fighters wear on their hands in order to provide protection to hands during a fight. These are designed in a way to reduce injuries to the opponents.
Sambo - How to Play?
Sambo has conceptualized both freestyle wrestling and martial arts and its techniques and wrestling styles are more about self-defence rather than attack. For Viktor Spiridonov and Vasili Oshchepkov, it took years to develop the basics of this martial art and after their departure, the sport has been largely conceptualized, improved and perfected by many legendary pioneers of the sport.
In this sport, two players initially face each other in the ring and different points are there for each successful grappling or locks. Players start grappling and putting various holds on each other till the end. Most formats of sambo prohibits the player to strike the opponent to the ground.
Rather than fast body work, it’s agile movements and different locking skills that decide the winner. While playing, if an opponent quits during the submission locks, the player is declared winner. Otherwise, the winner is decided on the points gained by a player at the end of the match. There are certain rules regarding the duration of the holds and locks and for declaring a winner which are explained in rules section.
Sambo − Basic Strategies
Initially, sambo was developed as a basic martial art for improving hand-to-hand combats. With time, different formats of the art has been developed. Mostly in all formats of sambo, the basic style followed is a joint result of wrestling with Judo. Players work really hard on their leg lock skills and on ground control skills. In case of striking, the opponents follow different grappling techniques which mostly involves takedowns and submissions.
Mostly in case of Russian sambo, the basic focus is given on finishing the match as quickly as possible. Presently, there are different offshoots of sambo, only five of them have got worldwide recognition, which are: Sport Sambo, Combat Sambo, Self-defence Sambo, Freestyle Sambo, and Special Sambo. Among them sport sambo, combat sambo and freestyle sambo has been recognized by FIAS.
Combat Sambo
Among all formats of sambo, combat sambo includes the most aggressive forms of wrestling which involves different types of striking and grappling. It was developed to prepare an individual for any kind of situation and survive. It was mostly developed and utilized for the military training and allows different aggressive techniques like punches, kicks, elbows, knees, headbutts and groin strikes. In Russian military, combat sambo is employed as the training sport for close combats and for self-defence.
It includes techniques from both sport sambo and self-defence sambo but uses them in different ways. Combat sambo allows most of the techniques that are very dangerous and prohibited in other wrestling sports. The techniques of this format of sambo are very much similar to modern mixed martial arts. Players in combat sambo wear jackets similar to sport sambo. Players also use additional hand protection and sometimes shin and head protection.
Sport Sambo
Sport Sambo involves a lot of throwing, ground work and submissions. In case of this format of sambo, it has a lot of resemblance with Olympic Freestyle Wrestling or Judo, but the difference mostly lies in uniforms, rules, and protocols. For example, unlike Judo, sport sambo allows some of the leg locks excluding chokeholds. But in comparison to Judo, very less restrictions are there on gripping and holds.
Freestyle Sambo
Freestyle sambo was created and added to the sport by American Sambo Association in 2004. This format of the sport differs from other formats in case of certain rules such as choke holds and other submissions like certain neck cranks and twisting foot locks which are allowed in this format. Here, no strike is allowed and players mostly focus on throwing skills and fast ground work while playing.
Self-Defence Sambo
This format of the sport is mostly used for preparing an individual for self-defence against any kind of armed or unarmed forces. Self-defence sambo has resemblance with Aikijujutsu. This is mainly developed to train individuals like bank employees and women for self-defence.
Sambo - Rules
There are certain cases where victory is awarded to the player.
In case of a total throw, which can also be explained as a throw where the attacker doesn’t fall down but the defensive player falls down on his/her back or rolls over his back rapidly.
In case of a painful hold, where the opponent gives up or shows a submission signal by clapping twice on the mat or loudly saying yes.
In case of total superiority against the opponent, where a player scores more than 12 points than his/her opponent.
In case of opponent’s elimination from the bout
Technical reasons and Warnings
Technical Results
If a match ends in a tie, the player with more points for technical actions will be declared winner. Similarly, in case of a bout, to avoid ties, the player with maximum number of activities will be declared winner. In case of both the players have got same evaluation points, victory goes to the player with more number of evaluated holds during the bouts.
Each of these holds have certain points which enhance the total points of the player at the end of the bout. Similarly, after the end of the bout, if both of the players have scored zero points, the winner is declared by the number of activities during the match.
Based on Warnings
In case both players have zero technical points or same number of warnings, the player, who has got the last evaluation of warning against his/her opponent, is declared winner.
Elimination
A player is eliminated or gets disqualified from the bout in case of breaking or disobeying certain rules which are as follows −
If a player attempts a prohibited hold for the second time.
If a player exceeds the two minutes awarded for medical intervention. In this case, the player is declared medically unfit to continue the bout.
Based on doctor’s decision, where the player has got an unavoidable disease or injury.
If the player gets the third warning during the match, which can be decided by the three officials present at the ring.
If the player doesn’t step of on the playing mat within the 5 minutes of the first call.
In case of rude or unethical behavior towards the opponent or against any of the officials or match referee or refusing to shake hands with his/her opponent player.
Prohibited Holds
Certain holds and actions are completely prohibited in case of sambo and the player who uses it can be disqualified. Some of those holds are as follows −
To throw the opponent on the head with a painful grip.
To apply any strangling holds or squeezing the opponent’s mouth and nose and interrupting his/her breathing process.
Make any painful scratches or bites intentionally
To apply holds on opponent’s fingers and toes.
Applying painful holds on opponent’s spine or squeezing his/her head with arms or legs
To rest arms, legs or hands on opponent’s face.
Apply painful holds in standing position.
Apply holds by jerk. Apply holds on the opponent’s foot by the heel portion.
Sambo - Champions
International Federation of Amateur Sambo (Fédération Internationale de Sambo) works as the international governing body of sambo and is responsible for the worldwide publicity and sambo events. In 1993, FIAS split into two organizations, as FIAS East and FIAS West. While FIAS East works for the development of sambo in the Russian territories, FIAS West works for the US and Western European countries.
Some of the major worldwide Sambo events recognized or organized by FIAS are as follows −
- European Sambo Championship
- World Sambo Championships
- FIAS World Combat Sambo Championships
- Russian Armed Forces Championships
- Sambo World Cup
- World Combat Games
Now we will discuss about some of the champions who have made their mark in this sport.
Fedor Vladimirovich Emelianenko
Fedor Vladimirovich Emelianenko is from Ukrainian SSR and is a Russian heavyweight mixed martial artist (MMA), sambist, and judoka. Throughout his career, he has won numerous awards and accolades in different forms of wrestling sports including FIAS World Combat Sambo Championship (Heavyweight Champion 2002, 2005, 2007).
He was inducted into the FIAS hall of fame in 2012. He also won one gold in Russian Armed Forces Championships in the year 1998. He also has been the SportAccord World Combat Games brand ambassador in 2010 and 2013.
Vitaly Viktorovich Minakov
Vitaly Viktorovich Minakov is from Russian SFSR and is a Russian sambist, judoka and an undefeated mixed martial artist.
He has won four golds and one silver in the Russian Sambo Championships in the year 2008, 2009, 2010, 2011 and 2013.
He also has won the Sambo World Championship in 2008, 2009, 2010 and 2011.
He has also been the Russian Presidential Cup Sambo Champion three times in the year 2008, 2009 and 2010.
Igor Yakimov
Igor Yakimov is a professional Russian sambist, judoka. He is considered as one of the most accomplished sambo champions and has won the World Combat Sambo Championship in year 2001.
He has won Pan American Sambo Championship in the year 1998 and 1999. He has also won Russian National Sambo Championship in the year 1985 and 1988.
Along with these wins, he also won the International Sambo Champion in the year 1990.
Rosen Dimitrov
Rosen Dimitrov is from Sofia, Bulgaria and is a professional sambist. He has won two golds in the year 2007 and 2011, and two silvers 2008 and 2010 in the World Sambo Championships. He also won the European Sambo Championships in the year 2008.
He along with his twin brother Rumen Dimitrov founded the organization TWINS MMA and presently working on producing more talents in it. In his full career he has won 21 matches out of which five were won by knockout, thirteen by submission, and three by decision.
Alexander Vladimirovich Emelianenko
Alexander Vladimirovich Emelianenko is from Russian SFSR, and is a Russian mixed martial artist and sambist. He is the brother of famous sambo fighter Fedor Vladimirovich Emelianenko.
He has won three golds in the Sambo World Championships in the year 2003, 2004 and 2006. He has also won five golds and one silver in Russian Championships in Sambo in the year 2003, 2004, 2006, 2010 and 2012. He also has won a gold at the European Championships in the year 1999.
Khabib Abdulmanapovich Nurmagomedov
Khabib Abdulmanapovich Nurmagomedov is from Russian SFSR and is a professional mixed martial artist and sambist. He has won the Combat Sambo World Championship event twice.
He also has participated and won Combat Sambo Russian National Championship and Russian Combat Sambo National Championships.
He is also a mixed martial artist and he currently holds one of the longest undefeated streaks in MMA with 23 straight wins in which eight were won by knockout, seven by submission, and eight by decision.
Andrei Valeryevich Arlovski
Andrei Valeryevich Arlovski is from Byelorussian SSR, and is a professional mixed martial artist and sambist.
He won the European Youth Sambo Championship at the age of 19. He also got second place in Sambo World Cup. He also has won a bronze medal at the World Sambo Championship.
Presently he is more concentrating in his MMA career and is competing in the Ultimate Fighting Championship.
