Martial Arts Styles: Sambo

Sambo was a state-sponsored Martial Art and system of self defense that was developed by the former Soviet Union in the early 1900s.

It has its foundation in various styles of other Martial Arts especially Jui-Jitsu and Judo. Each Martial Art was examined and sifted through to try to find and keep the most efficient techniques in each one.

Ultimate Martial Art

The goal was for the Russian Red Army to be the best trained army in the most effective hand-to-hand combat techniques. Russia's geographic location between Asia and Europe gave it opportunity to be introduced to a variety of Martial Arts, throughout history, and two men, Vasili Oschepkov and Victor Spiridonov were put in charge searching for the perfect Martial Arts to put into the project.

Oschepkov was the head Karate and Judo trainer for the Red Army, and was one of very few non-Japanese to have received a 2nd degree Black Belt from Jigaro Kano himself, in his new style of JuJutsu (Judo).

Oschepkov believed he could develop a superior style of Martial Art by mixing the best techniques of Judo to the most effective techniques of Russia's native Wrestling styles and throw in some of Karate's Deadly moves, mixed with a few techniques from some other styles of Martial Arts and – Bingo – they would have the Ultimate Martial Art.

Spiridonov was also working on finding the most effective Martial Arts techniques. He had trained for years in Greco-Roman, and other styles of Wrestling. Spiridonov's ideas on the ideal Combat Martial Art was influenced by a bayonet wound he received during the Russo-Japanese war that made his left arm lame.

And so the style of Sambo that he worked towards was a softer style that used an attacker's power against himself, and in deflecting an attack rather than meet it force against force.

Oschepkov and Spiridonov didn't collaborate on the development of their systems of Sambo, but worked on them separately and came to their conclusions from observing their students when they trained together.

Both Oschepkov and Spiridonov agreed that the Russian Martial Art could be improved by adding techniques from Judo and other forms of JuJutsu.

The Russian's added two more experienced Martial Artists to the search for the Ultimate Martial Art. Anatoly Kharlampiev and I.V. Vasiliev traveled the world to study different Fighting Arts.

After 10 years they had the early foundation which translates to self defense without weapons. Some of the Martial Arts that influenced Sambo are European Wrestling, Catch Wrestling, Japanese Jujutsu, French Savate, Muay Thai, Amateur Boxing, Greco-Roman Wrestling, Freestyle Wrestling, and even some techniques from the Italian School of Swordsmanship.

Spiridonov eventually created a softer more Aikido-like style called Samoz that could be used by smaller, weaker practitioners. Some famous MMA Fighters that were trained in Sambo include former UFC Champions Oleg Taktarov, and Andrei Arlovski, and former Pride Fighting Champion Fedor Emelianenko.

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