Sambo

Histoire

Sambo is a Russian abbreviation of "self-defence without weapons". It was developed in the Soviet Union in the 1920s and 1930s by Vasili Oshchepkov, who had studied judo at the Kodokan, Viktor Spiridonov and Anatoly Kharlampiev, who also drew on wrestling styles from across the USSR.

Sambo was officially recognised as a sport on 16 November 1938 — still celebrated as Sambo Day. There are two forms: sport sambo (throws and leg locks, no chokes) and combat sambo, with strikes. FIAS was founded in 1984 and received provisional IOC recognition in 2021.

Le saviez-vous ?

• Sambo players wear a jacket (kurtka), belt and shorts with wrestling shoes, in red or blue.
• Unlike judo, sport sambo allows leg locks.
• Fedor Emelianenko and Khabib Nurmagomedov were combat sambo world champions before MMA.

Glossaire des techniques

Hip throw

throw over the hip

Kneebar

straight knee lock

Straight ankle lock

foot lock

Armbar

elbow lock

Hold-down

pin for points

Armes et équipement

Kurtka

jacket with "wings" to grip

Sambovki

wrestling shoes

Figures clés

• Vasili Oshchepkov (1892–1937) — judoka who brought Kodokan judo to Russia
• Anatoly Kharlampiev (1906–1979) — often called the father of sport sambo
• Fedor Emelianenko (1976–) — combat sambo world champion and MMA legend

Sources: FIAS — International SAMBO Federation · International Olympic Committee