SAMBO, sport wrestling, permitting the application of painful holds; also a means of self-defense in a fight against a stronger or armed enemy. (Composed of an abbreviated form of the word SAM [SAMozashchita (Rus) - self-defense (Eng)] -  and the initial letters of the words B [Bez (Rus) - with out (Eng)] and O [Oruzhiya (Rus)- weapons (Eng) ]. 

                                                                                                                                               From "The Dictionary of the Russian Language"

 

SAMBO was developed in the 1920-30's in USSR as hands to hands combat system . Official recognition of new style was in 1938. At first it was named "free-style wrestling", then "free wrestling," and in 1946 was renamed "SAMBO." This system is selection of techniques from traditional (national) wrestling style of USSR area natives (Georgians (chidooba), Azerbadzhanianse(guresh) Armenians, Mongols, Russians etc.), Japanese (Jujitsu), Korean (Ssirum), Chinese,  French wrestling and other arts.

Basically SAMBO is one of first type of combat which was scientifically researched and developed in modern world. That scientific approach, missing in JUDO,  and make biomechanicaly grounded arsenal sambo/judo  technique of USSR athletes "unorthodox" for "traditional" Judo and Jujitsu specialist until know. 

At the time of the 2nd world war the system was widely "tested" by the Soviet army. "Special" techniques were added at the time, for example fighting in cells, quick-and-quiet sentry killing, and so on. Because of the number of criminals in the Soviet army at that time (during WWII each prisoner was "invited" to the front with each year at the front worth two or so years of their sentence) SAMBO experts acquired many lessons on criminal street fighting, and a number of these techniques were included in SAMBO. SAMBO continues to accept new techniques and modify old ones.

Later, after WWII, Sambo and Greco roman coaches been send to developing Free style Olympic wrestling. And again USSR sport science  shows greatness at Olympic till know. That skill was past for Cubans. Result of Olympic and world challenge you can see here:

http://www.fila-wrestling.com/home/index.php3    go to  "Database" choose "Olympic Game" in "Event" window.

After collapsing of USSR situation be come even more ridicules. USA and other country Whom pleased top after USSR, now drop down in ranking, because Russian, Ukrainian, Byelorussian, Georgian, Armenian, Azerbaijanian, Kazahstanian, Uzbekistanian fighters (wrestlers), get the chance to participate in world and Olympic independently, and usually occupied all top pleases.....

to be continue.........

 

SAMBO Description:

Today, SAMBO is built from 3 parts:

The sportive part is similar to Judo but with some differences in allowed techniques. SAMBO allows leg locks were Judo does not, but Judo allows choking but SAMBO does not. There are somewhat more techniques in SAMBO than in Judo. SAMBO is not so traditional as Judo and not so limited in performance as Judo (about rules restriction such as 5 seconds rule, freedom of grapping e.t.c )

The self-defense part of SAMBO is similar in form to Aikijujutsu because it is intended to be entirely defensive. The founder of SAMBO said this about the self-defense part:

"We give defensive weapons to citizens. Some people say that this kind of martial art may be learned by criminals or hooligans and used against citizens. Don't worry! This art does not include even one attacking technique! If a "hooligan" will learn, he will be able to apply it only against another "hooligan" who will attack him, but never against a citizen."

There are many specific techniques for defending specific attacks, including escaping from grips and chokes, defenses against punches and kicks, defenses against weapons (knife, stick etc.), and floor-fighting. The self-defense part of SAMBO is based on body movements and locks with a few punches and kicks. The object is to allow defense but not to injure the opponent more than necessary because this part was created for citizens. In the former Soviet Union the law was that if you injure your opponent more than needed in a self-defense situation you could receive a 5 year prison term. Some of the self-defense techniques are based on sportive SAMBO.

The third part - combat SAMBO - was created for the army and police. It is a very severe, and dangerous system. If the idea of sportive SAMBO is "Take points and win," and the idea of the self-defense part is "Don't allow to attacker injure you," the idea of combat SAMBO is "Survive, and if someone hinders you - injure or kill him." Combat SAMBO includes sportive and self-defense techniques, but uses them in different ways. For example, sportive SAMBO uses the traditional shoulder throw of national style of wrestling. In combative SAMBO the throw accomplished with striking techniques, and weapon using. Were head focus for armed forces Sambo education on weaponry preparation then grappling skill. Top Army and Police Sambo instructors will have the great difficulties to win even average Sambo wrestler and more likely will lost to them.

In addition to modified sportive and self-defense techniques, combat SAMBO includes kicks, punches, "dangerous throwing" (throws that prohibit to execute  in competition  because they cause injury), things that are prohibited in sportive wrestling (biting, for example), many "sadistic dirty things," working against weapons (with or without a weapon of your own), tricks like putting your coat on your opponents head (works nicely), floor fighting (very strong), fighting in closed space (small room, pit, stairs), quick-and-quiet sentry killing, and so forth. Students also learn strategy and tactics of fighting alone or in groups against single or multiple opponents. SAMBO is less popular today in Russia because the influx of oriental martial arts in recent years. But, the development of SAMBO has continued and elements of it are incorporated into other modern combat systems.

..to be continue.........