Sambo
Sambo is a martial art created in the Soviet Union in the 1920s and 1930s; its name is a Russian abbreviation of self-defence without weapons. It combines judo with folk wrestling styles from across the region. There are two main forms: sport sambo, a wrestling sport of throws, pins and arm and leg locks, and combat sambo, which adds strikes and chokes.
What it is for
Section titled “What it is for”- Strength, endurance and explosive power for the whole body.
- Throws, pins and joint locks — a complete grappling skill set.
- Practical self-defence; combat sambo is close to MMA.
- Toughness, discipline and confidence.
- A competition path, in sport sambo or combat sambo, for those who want one.
Equipment
Section titled “Equipment”- A sambo jacket (kurtka), red or blue, with the belt threaded through loops at the waist, and shorts of the same colour. Clubs often lend a jacket at first.
- Sambo shoes: soft, light wrestling boots. Beginners can often start in wrestling shoes or clean indoor trainers.
- For combat sambo: light gloves, headgear, shin guards, a mouthguard and a groin guard.
- Mats are at the club.
How training goes
Section titled “How training goes”- 90 minutes is common. A warm-up with running, tumbling, rolls and breakfalls.
- Throws in pairs, many from judo and wrestling, with grips on the jacket, the belt and the legs.
- Groundwork: pins, turn-overs and submissions. Sport sambo allows arm and leg locks, such as knee and ankle locks, but no chokes.
- Combat sambo groups add strikes, pad work and sparring in protection.
- Free practice in rounds, then conditioning and stretching.
- Sambo traditionally has no ladder of coloured belts: the red or blue jacket and belt mark your side in a match, and progress shows in sport ranks and results.
Who it suits best
Section titled “Who it suits best”- Children and teenagers who want a structured sport; sambo is widely taught across Eastern Europe and Central Asia.
- Adults who want throws and leg locks in one art — see also Judo.
- People interested in practical self-defence, or preparing for MMA through combat sambo.
- Judo players and wrestlers who want to add submissions.
- It is less suited to anybody with knee, ankle, shoulder or back problems, as throws and leg locks load these joints. Combat sambo includes blows to the head: ask a doctor first and tell the coach.