Let's Really Wrestle: Sambo

Published on 23 March 2023 at 21:40

Sambo is a Russian martial art and combat sport that was developed and used by the Soviet Red Army in the early 1920s. The name “SAMBO” derives from the Russian acronym SAMozashchita Bez Oruzhiya, which literally translates to “self-defense without weapons”.

 

Sambo is a combination of several martial arts, including judo, jujutsu, and wrestling. It also incorporates elements of boxing, muay thai, and mixed martial arts. Sambo is a versatile martial art that can be used for both self-defense and competition.

 

Sambo was created by Vasili Oshchepkov, a Russian martial artist who was inspired by the Japanese martial art of judo. Oshchepkov believed that judo was too reliant on throws and ground fighting, and he wanted to create a martial art that was more well-rounded. Sambo was the result of his efforts. Vasili Oshchepkov was born in 1893 into a family of exiles. He studied judo in Japan and was a black belt in that art. He also studied jujutsu and other forms of wrestling. In 1922, Oshchepkov was commissioned by the Soviet government to create a new martial art that would improve the hand-to-hand combat skills of Soviet soldiers. Oshchepkov spent several years living in Japan and training in Judo under its founder Kano Jigoro. Oshchepkov died in prison as a result of the Great Purge after being accused of being a Japanese spy.

 

Sambo quickly became popular in the Soviet Union, and it was eventually adopted by the Soviet military. Sambo was also exported to other countries, and it became popular in Europe and Asia.

 

In the 1960s, sambo was recognized as an official sport by the International Federation of Amateur Sambo. Sambo is now a recognized sport by the International Olympic Committee, and it is featured in the World Games.

 

Sambo is a popular martial art that is practiced by people of all ages and skill levels. It is a versatile martial art that can be used for both self-defense and competition.

 

 Use of Sambo in History

 

Sambo has been used in combat since its inception. The Red Army used sambo extensively in World War II, and it was also used by the Soviet military in the Cold War. Sambo is still used by the Russian military today.

 

Sambo has also been used in mixed martial arts. Some of the most successful mixed martial artists in the world, such as Fedor Emelianenko and Khabib Nurmagomedov, are black belts in sambo.

 

Sambo is a versatile martial art with a rich history. It is used for both self-defense and competition, and it has been used in combat by the Russian military.

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