An Answer To the American

Most of you know I take a very keen interest in Politics and I don’t mean the Martial Arts kind. The waiting to see what will happen with the results of the Election is frustrating to say the least so I need another outlet. Some weeks ago a friend of mine from the USA told me to have a look at a web site called World Wide Grappling; it is one of those sites where you can have your say. Several years ago I enrolled in one of these sights as they had attacked me over something I had written, what a mistake. These sights just become a vehicle to insult people most of the time what they write is not factual and some cases they just lair, lots of time they are used by people trying to promote themselves as experts sadly to say this sight seems no better. I never ever reply using these sights but occasional you have to put the record straight and I use my own Blogsite for that. The article is quite a long one but if you are like me at the moment got nothing better to do then have a read
The articles started to appear last year when Steve Koepfer told me I could not run Frees style Sambo events my reply can be seen on the Blog, since then Steve has been to England and his team participated in the British Open Sombo and done extremely well, although we never spoke on the subject of Free Style Sambo as the subject never arose.
My Camcorder Grading system and my links with my CombatSombo Group came under some rather tasteless comments yet never once has anyone of the writers contacted me direct that says a lot about them rather then me.

This was taken from the site and written by Darren Richardson it is exact copy
strange on the write up i saw written large teams from france, usa and germany!
france 4 fighters
usa 3 fighters
germany 1 fighter.
no women no kids, sounds like the movie 'leon' there is a real problem in the uk. 30 wrestlers for that a national championship 8 international and 22 from the uk?
if you say a thing about this you have the threat of being banned from events?
its very poor.have to say the sambo was first class, shame new fighters were refered to as 'cannon fodder' were not there to gain experience and pass on new skills learnt. they would deserve respect for entering after all. you have to start some where dont they?#what do you think?

No where in the article do I say there were Large team (read www.britishsombo) The kids were cancelled because of a drop in numbers and as the article states I was going to cancel the whole event but because of the Foreign entry I continued with the Senior event informing everyone that it was with a poor turnout. As for banning Darren from the event that was a liar he could not enter because of a knee injury. How many fighters did Darren put in two that 50% of his Sambo Club membership


Next is an article by Steve Koepfer
Well, as I am here in the US, I can't speak directly to how sambo is run in the UK. But, in terms of what I see on the net, there needs to be MUCH more productive marketing. What just like you do? And based on this year's event, definitly diminished interest. From the outside, it seems Martin is spread too thin with too many other non-related things like pankration, etc. 100% must be on sambo. Unless you can multi Task and have an organisation to back it up just like I have I would also update the BSF website which looks very unprofessional and amateurish.

Certainly Amateurish as I do it myself we can not afford a web master as we do not have the money that our US counterparts seem to have and where is it not up to date?


Martin's article is clearly biased towards his own guys. It is unfortunate that the "official" write up on the BSF site has to raise politics and internet squabbles...it is kind of oxymoronic (This means pointless or foolish) and not worthy of a piece about the tournament. Especially when Martin has also used the net to make very public criticisms and accusations in the past. There are venues for that, What like World Wide Grappling just not an official event result piece. Calling young, new guys "cannon fodder" seems insulting to me.but truthful After all, it is the new guys that will keep the sport going. They need to be encouraged to participate, not discouraged. It certainly was not a good "journalistic" article. (yet read by many people) It seemed self serving to me.

Of course it was self serving I am trying to promote the British Sombo federation I am criticised for making my comments public yet they have open sight condemning me “What’s good for the Goose is good for the Gander”

As far as the event goes, yes there was some real good Sambo being played even it was a small event. The folks that did come were top notch guys and very cool to hang with. But, it was a small turn out, which is unfortunate when compared to past years. We had a great time there, but were surprised at the turn out. Why you were informed by email the exact numbers Our impression was that past events had much more participation. The possible cancellation of the adults was a shocker (thanks to Martin for not cancelling). But the fact that there were no youth competitions was unfortunate.

I have to laugh at the fact that Martin has his own "Martin Clarke" Flag! That was funny to see...LOL

I was the main sponsor for the event and that was my logo

I also had to laugh at Martin's comments about Anthony's match. The ref (Robin) clearly did not allow Anthony any time to grapple anyway. To admit that there was worry because of Anthony's good grappling, and to admit that they wanted their boy to stay on his feet seems interesting...in tandem with the fact that in that match Anthony was never allowed to grapple even when obviously working on a sub. In other matches, he was given time to finish his subs (he has 3 sub wins). But, in the final, he was never given the chance. I am not saying Anthony would have won, but it would have been nice to see him given the opportunity.

Watch the video on YouTube Danny beat Anthony 12 points to Nil and when you watch it tell me how many times Robin stopped a Submission


Every event has questions and concerns. And regardless, we had a great time. But I also hope Martin could take these critiques openly and to heart to help future events.

The same goes for me but I would have rather been told direct

More from Darren Richardson
.

martin clarke realesed news that sambo uk was no longer in existance. it seems he was wishing of had his facts wrong. it is still up and running headed by mr paul sawyer. paul is a good friend and very good wrestler himself. im glad there are still level heads running part of Sambo here.

SamboUK President Steve Sweetlove resigned over a year ago and informed me that he had taken no membership in that time except for two. Darren in later comments goes on to say that Paul Sawyer runs SamboUK once again Darren gets it wrong SamboUK was started by Paul Sawyer, Tim Thomas and Steve Sweetlove, Steve has now resigned. Paul has not been involved with membership for three years There were no Senior officials from SamboUK at the British, Steve and Tim were working and Paul was at a Judo competition. Current Clubs with SamboUK are Bournemouth, Dynamo Glasgow, Somerset BJJ, Cage Gasport approx membership 20. At the British 2 SamboUK clubs Somerset BJJ and Gosport 4 fighters in all. It was the first time we had seen players from Somerset and they were most welcome hopefully we will see more of them
As for level headed coming LOL

Darren Richardson writeso we have now in the UK

combatsombo wrestleing

combat sambo(which isnt allowed)

sambo combat(which is allowed)

sombo wrestleing

sambo wrestleing

sambo freestyle (as was freestyle sambo)

no gi sombo???? or is it a kurka?

i cant keep up!

He says that he can not keep up I am not surprised! But I will try and explain
CombatSombo is a style invented by myself see www.combatsombo.co.uk in that style we have the Self Defence system, Sport CombatSombo which Grappling and Striking and the CombatSombo Wrestling which I believe the Americans copied and now call Free Style Sambo. Sambo/Sombo are the same and anyone who is also new to Sombo should go to www.britishsombo.co.uk this will explain the history of the BSF. Never heard of No Gi Sombo Grappling UK will be running a No Jacket Sombo competition later this years join and have a go. The Russian Combat Sambo and Sambo Combat are allowed but because of their rules groin strikes, head shot while on the ground etc it nearly impossible to get insurance cover. The BSF have been advised that it not the sort of thing a Government recognised Sports association should be involved in, hence the watered down version Sport CombatSombo. There is no reason why Darren Richardson or SamboUK can not run an event with the Russian Rules. But use of the word Combat Sambo is similar to my trade mark CombatSombo so I will contest any use of its name, so suggest they use Sambo Combat




When belts were first being applied to combat sambo, it was sombo, and they used the TKD belt system because someone involved in that planning was already familiar with that system. I believe that those who were 8D and higher translated that rank as grandmaster. George Nobles in the US used that title as a 10D, so following that logic, Martin Clarke was aligned with the thinking in the US with Nobles and Densberger.
__________________
Scott Anderson


Sorry Scott totally wrong I based my CombatSombo Grading System on Judo I do not even do Tae Kwon Do I started it in I believe about 1983. I have met Mark Densberger but had no dealings with him and do not know Nobles, As founder of the CombatSombo system I do not hold a grade go to www.combatsombo.co.uk for more information

Finally both Darren and Steve condemn me for not promoting Sombo/Sambo before I defend myself let me say SamboUK has not organised any event for a least two years, to my knowledge Darren has not organised any event since he has been linked with the BSF as for Steve what I read he has organised a few events in USA along side the ASA as participating in the Worlds he brought a team for the Combat Sambo in St Petersburg who were genuine US players as for the Sombo/Sambo the last time the US brought a proper US team was under Josh Henson now the US Sombo consists of ex Eastern Block players.
Every year the BSF run a British Open, Scottish Open pus squad training sessions, Annual summer camp and Instructors Courses, My own British CombatSombo Association run events in England, Scotland and N Ireland so once again people are being misled at best lied to at worst.
Let me give brief history my involvement in Sombo/Sambo I first became involved in the Mid 1970’s when the BAWA were in charge, I was there when they changed the name to Cambo because of the racial connotations of Sambo, I believe Darren was about 7 years old then not sure about Steve. The name Sombo was devised by Josh Henson USA who was one of the founders of FIAS. I returned to Sombo in 1984 when Burt Jacobs asked me to prepare a team for the 1985 World Games which I did, we won 1 Gold 1 silver and 4 bronzes. In 1985 the BAWA gave us permission to form our own organisation the BSF was constituted in 1986 and recognised by the Sports Council as the Governing body for Sombo by 1990. The BSF has sent players to nearly EVERY World championships since 1986, I personally have attended 20 World Championships. In 1989 I along with the BSF organised the First European Sambo Championships to be held in GB and the same was with World Championships I and the BSF run in 1992. I was awarded a Gold Medal from FIAS in 2008 for my services to International Sambo and on the same day I was invited into the World Sambo Elite Club this is a club of the top most influential people in World Sambo membership is just 8 people I doubt whether any honour given to me will surpass that.
So there you have it were Darren and Steve right to condemn me and suggesting I am hindering the development of Sombo I leave that up to you to decide, I have sent the two of them a copy of this before I published so they can reply.
The Worst thing of all its Sunday 9th May 2010 6.15pm and I still do not who whether my party the Conservatives have formulated a government not to worry on my political Blog I will write an article explaining PR

Martin Clarke

COYNEYUK

Martyn Coyne from Spitfire Grappling Club Capel Le Ferne has his own Youtub site where you will find lots of Matches from the British Sombo Championships

Youtube coyneyuk



Danny’s dropping seoi: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=sMYXfPmaxVY

Kieran Daniels: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=YIxd989YZbw

Kalum vs. Jamie: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7Jvu317X7AQ

Jamie: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=LUrWm8Mm2jo

Me vs. Ashley: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=fztpvV_m78I

Me vs. American: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vhkFYQ0WUis

Me vs. Ian Parker: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vhkFYQ0WUis

Me vs. Frenchman: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qO8ymm6QmG4

Justin Polette CombatSombo USA

Here is an amatuer video of COMBATSOMBO USA member Justin Polette winning MMA Cage Fights See what he wins on a strangle
In this video he demonstrates the Strangle if you do Judo you will recognise it as a variation of Hadaka Jime and Kata Ha Jime

Paul Sawyer wins BJA Ne Waza Comp

The BJA Ne Waza good event with about 150 taking part, the veteran’s event included some new faces not previously seen on the mainstream vet’s circuit who clearly were keen & in many cases skilful Ne Waza men. The same was probably true of the seniors although there were not the familiar competitors. The refs let the matches flow sensibly in most cases (although I got matte called whilst straightening the arm for juji gatame on one occasion! To be fair the corner judges said to me afterwards the (inexperienced) ref had made a mistake). It was new for refs & competitors so there was a good spirit of support all round & decisions were accepted with good grace. Everyone enjoyed the event & looked forward to more.
Paul thinks with the severely limited time allowed in ne waza now it’s in danger of becoming a lost art & I think there is a good case for ne waza only events such as this. They can easily be run in a club environment & don’t need much space (although the BJA insisted H Wycombe used full contest areas – probably insurance?). Also there are people like me who can no longer compete/train in tachi waza but enjoy competition & would take part in this type of event. I look forward to the IBF ne waza open!

Paul won vets 66k & seniors 66k (there were originally 4 senior u66k but 2 no showed & 1 pulled out injured after I had armlocked him so I fought with the u73k winning 2 & losing 2)
Paul is very honest in his summary of his results he did not over exaggerate his result wish other Grapplers were the same Well done Paul. Grappling UK will be running a back to back groundwork competition but will include leglocks

Kurash 2010

Teams from France Greece Turkey Sri Lanka and uzbekistan are expected go to www.grapplinguk.co.uk for entry form

Hand to Hand Fighting

Semi Contact karate folowed by IBF Hand to Hand Fighting

Immigrants effect Sombo

VISA
Every year I organise the British Open Sombo Championships which is open to every country in the world and every year every Country that requires a visa is refused, this year I am also running a Multi Nation Judo tournament and so far the following countries have been refused visa’s Jordan, Pakistan and Nepal. When I run the Sombo events all the Eastern Block countries are blocked and this year it included Mongolia.
If genuine sportsman want to enter the UK it is nearly impossible yet at the Sombo events we often get entries from ex Soviet Union citizens who are in this country illegally. We have nearly Million illegal immigrants in this country but honest Sportsman can not compete, in 1992 I ran the World Sombo Championships in Herne Bay Kent and no problems with visa’s, I could never run a World Championships again in this Country because of the Visa situation and all because our government and the European Union have been lapse with illegal immigration.

Martin Clarke

Call this Judo

Watch the film below and I think you will agree that it is a disgraceful performance of Judo and before any Judo purist says well they are Eastern Block so they must be Sambo players well let me tell you now what they are doing is nothing like Sambo. So who is to blame? well I blame the referee and judges on many occasions they should have penalised them for passivity, for continually fighting of grips to me is passive 20 years they would have been ordered to take hold plus there were many incidents where they should have been penalised. The Rules have now been changed again when what should have the referees should have been told to apply the rules correctly

CombatSombo What is it

A Reminder of what CombatSombo is?

Every few years I have to remind people what is CombatSombo and the fact I developed the system. Yes the fact that I say I am the inventor of the system seems to upset some so called experts, who continue to maintain that CombatSombo is a Russian style of Martial Art. So let me correct some of the misunderstanding yes I have used the Sombo as part of my name solely because I use much of the grappling techniques of Sombo and Judo in my style and putting the word Combat in front of name is not unusual I believed I was the first to do this in 1983 but I was corrected as someone from the USA back in the 1950’s used Combat Judo. Sambo is a Russian Self defence Sport and was started in the early 1900’s and I am very active with International Sambo and FIAS being placed in the Top 10 of the most influential people in the World for Sambo. Pre the break-up of the USSR the word Sambo meant all concepts Sport and Military self-defence, with the collapse of Communism many ex soviets wanted to make money from their expertise. The first time the Self Defence of Sombo was seen was in the USA and was called Military Sambo several magazine carried articles eventually they realised my name was more suitable I refused them permission to use the word CombatSombo because I wanted to keep control, they eventually used the word Combat Sambo. Now when I registered the name in 1988 with the British Trade Marks Registry I stupidly only registered it the UK not World Wide but I can stop people in the UK using the word CombatSombo or wording similar i.e. CombatSambo, Combat Sombo. Combat Sambo something I have done on a few occasions and something I will continue to do.
So why am I so paranoid about the name CombatSombo well quite simply it is my Philosophical approach to it (please read below) this make it entirely different from the Russian Combat Sambo who system is extremely more violent and more suited to the Military a very effective system if you are a Soldier but I want to teach CombatSombo as an educational system to make better human beings so the two styles are not compatible. Some people use the word Sambo Combat which I think distinguishes the difference a lot better. Finally CombatSombo was accepted by the World Governing Body FIAS in 1988, the first FIAS Combat Sambo Commission was started in 1992, something I was invited to serve on but I declined, The Soviet Union Collapsed in 1985 I started CombatSombo in the 1983.
So is CombatSombo big in the UK No it is very small and that is intentionally I have only trusted a few people to carry on my work here but over the last 8 years I have suffered with bad knee and hip and have been restricted to walking with a stick. The good news in February 2009 I had a new knee and March 2010 I had a new hip and now I am in fine fettle, I am back teaching Sport CombatSombo, Sombo Wrestling and in September will be starting CombatSombo classes, plus I will be teaching at the annual Summer camp and hope to run CombatSombo Instructors course in December.

CombatSombo Philosophy

As you can see by my cv which is enclosed I have been involved in the Martial Arts/Combat Disciplines since the age of 5 (1955) I was born in 1950. I have always enjoyed the competitive side of Combat and I have won medals at international and national level at Judo, Sombo, Jiu Jitsu and Free Style Wrestling. I have also been a keen advocate of the Founder of Judo Jigaro Kano, in one of books he made the following statement “Judo is more than just a sport or Martial Art, it is a means of Physical and Cultural Attainment” in other words “it is a way of producing better human beings” I apply this philosophy to all my Martial Arts and Combat Disciplines. Grappling sports I feel help you achieve this by teaching us such simple things as:

Respect (all grapplers have respect for there opponent, note I use the word opponent not enemy, they may not always realise it)
Duty of care (this is a must as if some of the techniques are very dangerous that we could damage our opponent. This is not we trying to do we are trying to win but not at the expense of an injury).
To abide by the rules (competitions have rules not only to keep the activity as safe as possible but to make contest equal)
Comradeship.

In my CombatSombo system I try and introduce people to a Self Defence system that has a set of morals. Unlike other systems I advocate control and restraint. My aim is not to turn people into Barbaric Animals with no consideration for others. After saying all this I am a practical man, I realise that self-defence has different degrees. Dealing with a drunk is different to dealing with several assailants with weapons. Although my system teaches techniques that can maim, they are only to be used in extreme cases. Remember no one has the right to cause life long disablement to another human being.

To do CombatSombo you need to be healthy and fit, we encourage our members to take regular excise and grapple on a regular basis. To understand any self-defence you need to practise in as near real situation as you get. To advise any one to get involved in a Pub fight to test their techniques would be immoral and irresponsible, so the nearest I can offer is some sort of controlled fighting, i.e. CombatSombo Wrestling, Boxing, Kickboxing. Remember there is no easy route to becoming a proficient CombatSombo Practitioner.



CombatSombo is a Self Defence system with a HEART

Welcome Justin to CombatSombo USA

Justin Polette
3rd degree Jujutsu
2nd degree Judo
1st degree CombatSombo
MMA and BJJ Coach

Instructor
Justin "The Anaconda" Polette
 Age- 33
 Height- 6'3"
 Fighting Weight- 185- 205 lbs
 
Martial Arts Record
St. Louis Brazilian Jiu Jitsu Open- Bronze Medal - 190lb. division
National Isshinryu Hall of Fame Tournament- 1st Kata
National Isshinryu Hall of Fame Tournament- 2nd Kumite

Cage of Fury - The Battle for Independance
 1st Round - 35 Sec. (guillotine choke)
Cage of Fury - Annhilation
 1st Round - 1 min 13 Sec. (arm triangle)
Cage of Fury - Adrenaline Rush
 1st Round - 42 sec. (anaconda choke)

Influences in the martial arts- Bruce Lee, Royce Gracie, Bas Rutten, Randy Couture, Sensei Little, Coach Henry, and my Dad

"If we fight for money, I'll stop when you ask me to. If we fight for honor, I'll stop when I want to" - Rickson Gracie



I have trained in traditional Japanese Jujutsu, Judo, Sambo, Brazilian Jiu Jitsu and American Catch Wrestling. I have trained with a former pro boxer and collegiate wrestler who is now my MMA coach for the past few years. He is an expert in BJJ and Sambo. I have a 3-1 record in the Cage of Fury organization, all 3 wins via first round submission, and I am the owner of Anaconda MMA in St. Peters. I train submission grappling (BJJ, Judo, Sambo, CACC Wrestling, Budo Taijutsu) for several hours a day.

 

Justin Polette
Anaconda MMA

British Sombo Federation

Mark Twain said "The report of my death is an exaggeration" when he was reported to have died.

Well the same can be said of SomboUK I had reported that it was defunct as the Chairman had resigned over a year ago but now seems it was just in hibernation and is now beeing run by Paul Sawyer. With the British Sombo Federation constitution being altered to have the National Governing Bodies being the only affiliates i.e. Scottish Sombo Federation, N Ireland Sombo Federation and the English Sombo Federation as of yet we have no representaion in Wales it is now down to the Country Federations to organise their membership criterea, in the case of England the ESF will accept Clubs and Association not individuals so there is a need for at least two recognised ESF associations which at present British CombatSombo Association (England) and SomboUK (England) all details can be found at www.Britishsombo.co.uk

The BCSA will be organising quite a few events for their members before the end of the year July 4th Sport CombatSombo and Semi Contact Pankration Tournament, July 11th Junior Sombo and Pankration Wrestling Competition, August 23rd Annual Summer Camp, October All Style Sombo Wrestling with Jackets and without Jackets, December CombatSombo Teachers Course. For more information www.bud0-ibf.co.uk for events and membership

Mobile phones a pain

Mobile Phones a pain in the posterior
For some time now I had complaints from various people through out the country about mobile telephones being used during lesson times, this modern invention may be a life saver to some but to others it is a nuisance. Nobody ever talks quietly on a mobile they all shout and 99% of the time the call is completely frivolous up until now it has just been an annoyance but now insurance companies are beginning to worry. Some accidents, so I am told, have occurred when mobiles have been used they have distracted students and they have been injured. I have also been told that Instructors sometimes leave the Mat to answer mobiles leaving the class unsupervised. The Health and safety issues are explosive how long before someone makes a claim against a Coach for negligence. So before the Insurance companies impose a mobile ban, all members, member clubs and coaches of my organisations will abide by the following rules.
1) All mobile phones must be turned off or switched to silent when entering the Dojo
2) If on silent and call comes through on vibrate the recipient must leave the Dojo and go to place where they can not be heard by the class before they answer
3) No Coach is to answer a mobile while they taking a class. If they need their phone switched on silent because they have a sick relative on something similar, they will leave their phone with someone else who will answer in the manner above, if it is emergency the coach may leave the Mat and dojo to deal with the call.
4) If the Coach leaves the mat the lesson must not continue even if there is an assistant
5) Mobile Phones should only be used in a DOJO in case of emergency
The points listed seem obvious to me but maybe not to others a copy of this letter has been sent to our insurers. The Health and Safety of our students is paramount, there is a time and place for everything and a MOBILE in the DOJO is not one of them

Martin Clarke 8th Dan

CRB Checks

If your members of the IBF, Pankration UK, GrapplingUK, BCSA you can get CRB checks from our Jiu Jitsu Rep Tom Starling 7th Dan tstarling@sky.com

MMA definition

After reading the Wikipedia definition of MMA I can understand why insurance companies are not interested and to be frank neither am I



Mixed martial arts
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
Jump to: navigation, search
For the fighting styles that combine different arts, see hybrid martial arts.
Mixed martial arts
Ground fighting during competition. The top fighter, Mac Danzig, maintains knee-on-stomach, over Takumi Nakayama, while delivering strikes.
Also known as Shooto, Freestyle Fighting, Vale Tudo, No Holds Barred (NHB), Cage Fighting, Ultimate Fighting
Focus Various
Hardness Full contact
Olympic sport No
Mixed martial arts (MMA) is a full contact combat sport that allows a wide variety of fighting techniques and skills, from a mixture of martial arts traditions and non-traditions, to be used in competitions. The rules allow the use of striking and grappling techniques, both while standing and on the ground. Such competitions allow martial artists of different backgrounds to compete.

The roots of mixed martial arts can be traced back to various mixed style contests that took place throughout Europe, Japan and the Pacific Rim during the early 1900s. Modern MMA competition emerged in 1993 with the founding of the Ultimate Fighting Championship, although professional MMA events had been held in Japan by Shooto starting back in 1989. Originally organized with the intention of finding the most effective martial arts for real unarmed combat situations, competitors were pitted against one another with minimal rules for safety.[1] Later promoters adopted many additional rules aimed at increasing safety for competitors and to promote mainstream acceptance of the sport.[2]

The name mixed martial arts was coined by Rick Blume, president and CEO of Battlecade, in 1995.[3] Following these changes, the sport has seen increased popularity with pay per view reach rivaling boxing and WWE.[4]

Krav Maga

Carl Cooper an Independent Krav Maga Instructor recently rejoined the IBF/BCSA qualifying as a Sombo Wrestling Instructor and Pankration Instructor. The problem was that we did not have Krav Maga as one of our listed Martial Arts, well I am pleased to say our insurance company has accepted Krav Maga so the Art is one of our insured Martial Arts.

MMA still is not insured purely because no one can come up with a safe set of rules and training syllabus, the Insurance company asked me to devise a set but even I do not know what MMA is if any one out there can send me a detailed summary of MMA I would be grateful

Did you Film the Vets

The British Sombo Championships turned out to be a good event I managed to Film most of it but my Battery went dead just as the Vets started did any of you film the Vets? If you did can I have a copy or a link if you intend putting it on YouTube

British Sombo Championship 2010

Click on the name above will take you British Somb champs 2010

http://www.britishsombo.co.uk/british_open_2010_sombo_champion.htm

West African Lutte

British Sombo 2010

If you go to http://www.dailymotion.com/grapplinguk I have put some film on about the British Sombo 2010 More to follow plus reprt and photographs

Sambo Worlds 1998

If you are interested in Sambo go to http://www.dailymotion.com/grapplinguk i just uploaded several films of the World Sambo Championships 1998

Steve Nelson

A lot of you have shown an interest in Steve Nelson here is his email address so you can contact him direct 123gsn@suddenlink.net

A Great Performance of Juno No Kata

My Mother Margret Clarke performed this Kata in 1964 in the Albert Hall when the entire top Japanese Masters came over, She was known as one of the foremost exponents of this Kata. She was one of the first to introduce Music to Kata and Judo, I expect she is looking down from the great Dojo in the sky and is weeping with joy. Well done girls well done IBF Judo Coach Steve Jacob 4th Dan
Final point the Bedford HellCats are very fine fighters proving that you can compete and practice Kata, Unlike other Jacket Wrestlig sports which I do and adore I also realise that Judo is more then just an Olympic Sport maybe the IJF ought to realise that as well
Martin Clarke 8th Dan

More from the past

If you go to http://www.youtube.com/jethrograppler you will find some past Sambo Competitions

If you were a member of the Young Judo Club in the 1980's you want to look at
http://www.dailymotion.com/youngjudoclub

Steve Nelson the Man

Some of you have asked who Steve Nelson was well he was World Shoot Wrestling Champion, World Sombo Medalist and I also believe a top quality Free style wrestler, his father appart from being a well Known Pro Wrestler represent Canada in the 1952 1956 Olympic Games. Some heritage there so if you want to make a bid on Steves fathers equipment to help him in old age please do so or if you know any pro wrestling fans let them know my email is ibfbcsa@googlemail.com

Junior Sombo and Pankration

British Junior Sombo Championship

Swale Martial Arts Club

Sittingbourne

July 11th 2010

Boys and Girls

Age 8 years to 11 years - 12, 13, 15 years

Competitors will be matched

Competitors can correct Sombo Kit (we have a limited amount for sale) or they can wear Judo Jacket with Black shorts Baseball boots or Wrestling boots are allowed




First Junior British Pankration Grappling Tournament



Venue and Date as above Categories as above

Pankration is an ancient Sport from the Ancient Olympics in Greece, they have 4 types of Combat Full contact Striking and Grappling-Semi contact Striking and Grappling- Grappling only- Demonstration.

Pankration involves throwing your and obtaining a submission for Children under 16 submission are barred so for children it is throwing only.

How do I score for a high throw 3 pts a low throw or take down 1 pt

You fight for 3 minutes and then your points are added up

Referees do not give score Judges count points

There is a special uniform for Pankartion but at present we do not have aces to them so will allow you to wear Judogi

This event is for members of the following organisations:

International Budo Federation-GrapplingUK-British CombatSombo Association-PankrationUK

Your entry with money £7.50p (this is for both events) must arrive by July 3rd no late entries will be accepted

send money to IBF 118 East Street Sittingbourne Kent ME10 4RX

entries will be accepted by paypal (Clarkees, Clarkessportsstudio@hotmail.com) or by Internet Banking international Budo Federation NatWest sort Code 60-19-25 Acc No 30883814

send entries via email to IBFBCSA@Googlemail.com

Semi Contact Pankration Plus Sport CombatSombo

1st British Semi Contact PANKRATION & Sport CombatSombo Championship

Swale Martial Arts Club Sittingbourne

Sunday July 4th 10.00am

Men over 16 years

U65k-u75k-u85k-u95k-o95k

Entry fee £10 for both events

Rules can be found on the rules section

This event is for members of the following organisations:

International Budo Federation-GrapplingUK-British CombatSombo Association-PankrationUK

Your entry with money (this is for both events) must arrive by June 27th no late entries will be accepted

send money to IBF 118 East Street Sittingbourne Kent ME10 4RX

entries will be accepted by paypal (Clarkees, Clarkessportsstudio@hotmail.com) or by Internet Banking international Budo Federation NatWest sort Code 60-19-25 Acc No 30883814

send entries via email to IBFBCSA@Googlemail.com

US CombatSombo

US CombatSombo has another Black Belt our CombatSombo section in the USA goes from strength to strenght under the watchful eye of Frank Fuller

Welcome Malik Bebee


http://www.combatsombo.co.uk/combatsombo_usa.htm

Blast from the Past

I had an email from the guy below have a read


Martin
I also was a sombo wrestler.
My father was The Outlaw in England. I know he was famous back in those days. Would his old boots and wrestling gear etc.. be worth anything to anyone in England as souveniers?
I put in a couple documents of my dad. He is 80 now and I am trying to help he make some money.
Please let me know what you think. Thank you, Steve Nelson



Plus he sent some Sambo Pictures The 1991 World Championships was run by me at Herne bay The winner of the 68k was a man they called Mr Sambo because of his Technical ability he is now President of the Belarus Sambo Federation and he also owns a Football Team, when I last spoke to hime he wanted to buy an English Team. His correct name is
JAPRINZEV

Trials for World Championships

Sambo Combat Trials for World Championships Uzbekistan 2010
British Sombo Federation Executive Committee has come under criticism for not holding trials for the World Sambo Combat Championships. This is to be rectified immediately by organising trials for the Worlds and International matches. Sambo Combat rules are not allowed with in the BSF because they allow kicks to the groin and striking to the head while on the ground so they will be using Sport CombatSombo rules which are allowed and have insurance cover. Those who are selected will have to get special insurance cover to compete abroad the BSF will arrange this.
Because the sport has very few followers we will circulate to see who is interested and select a suitable venue Colin Carrott has offered Capel Le Ferne and Robin Hyslop has offered Dumfries Scotland. There will be an age restriction of 21 years of age and above and because of the potential danger competitors will have to be in excellent fitness and will need to present Doctors Certificates and Insurance.
If anyone is interested in representing GB in Sambo Combat they should contact HQ. All competitors must be members of a BSF affiliated Body

Sambo brotherhood

Roman Ship
"What is a matter
with the people of GB.....?" hahaha
maybe cos British SOmbo Federation Wankers!!! last sunday i be in BJJ british open... over 600 competitors and 1,000 spectators over the weekend., with entries from around UK, Europe and even Brazil!

I recently sent out a letter to people to get them motivated on participating in the British Sombo Championships. the above letter appeared on Darren Richardson Face Book Sambo Brotherhood

This gentleman is not known to the BSF, he is not a member of any BSF affiliated organisation and to our knowledge has never participated in a BSF event

So why does he use such crude lanquage and what is his problem?

Yet he has the cheek to book in as a non member for the British Sombo Open it will come as no big surprise that his entry has been refused by the BSF EC and his cheques returned. The BSF doesnot need people like that. There was another insulting article which I may publish later but I have given the youngster chance to put his complaint in more coherent way with some facts to back up his argument

On a good note my letter seems to have worked and we filled all weights from 68k upwards the Junior event has been moved to another date. So come along and enjoy a day of Sombo Wrestling

New Pankration Instructors

Carl Cooper


Colin Carrott


2 New Pankration Instructors

Pankration UK is newly formed organisation affiliated to the IBF UK recently we had the European Pankration President here in the UK at Sittingbourne to conduct a seminar which was very well received. Two on the course qualified as Pankration Instructors they were Colin Carrot Folkestone and Carl Cooper Taunton both will running sessions at their clubs. First Semi contact Pankration Tournament followed by a Sport CombatSombo will be held in Sittingbourne on July 4th 2010
Junior Sombo wrestling championships followed by a Junior Pankration Wrestling Championships will be held on Sunday June 27th at Sittingbourne.
Both events are for members of the IBF, BCSA, GUK,PUK

What is MMA?

Monday, February 08, 2010
What is MMA?
WHAT IS MMA?


I am told it is an abbreviation of Mixed Martial Arts but what is that?

MMA is the biggest Martial Arts phenomenon at present but something I have not particularly followed my own expertise is more Traditional Martial Arts & Grappling, Judo, Jiu Jitsu, CombatSombo, Sombo, Sport CombatSombo, Kurash, Belt Wrestling, Submission Wrestling etc.

I am told that these are now old hat and that I must use my expertise to move into MMA or Cage Fighting the latter I have no interest in what so ever. So I began to enquire what is MMA first I found out it is very difficult to get Insurance cover mainly because MMA has no distinct History or Philosophy. Many years ago when MMA first started I was told it would be the ultimate Fighting System taking the best from every Martial Art and blending it altogether, well I have heard that one before and none have achieved its aim all end up following a route which the founder wants, based on his strengths and weakness but the success of MMA may have proved me wrong.

Now I can understand an Insurance company not insuring an MMA organisation who claims that MMA is a mixture of all Martial Arts this would be near impossible to insure, for one: how would one become expert or even proficient when it takes years of training and dedication to become proficient in one Martial Art/Combat Discipline?

So we have established that MMA is not blender full of Martial Arts made into one Martial Arts Soup, so what are these clubs doing who call themselves MMA. Well my research show that a great deal of clubs are doing different forms of Wrestling without Jackets, some call themselves MMA Submission Wrestling i.e., where the aim is to gain a submission, the rest do points scoring Wrestling like the Japanese Combat Wrestling this where Free Style Wrestlers added submission to there arsenal of techniques or most resemble the old fashioned Catch as Catch Can. The one thing in common there is hardly any throwing.

Now the next group of MMA fighters are the ones who just wear shorts and wear padded gloves and have a mixture of Striking and Grappling to defeat their opponent, this I believe is where the original founders of MMA come from and the name MMA was an ideal Product Name, The Combat Discipline was born round a set of rules rather then the other way round and this made perfect sense, back in the mid 1970’s I tried something similar and called it Shiai Jutsu (Competitive Art) using different styles of rules, all competitors wore a JudoGi, Shin and Instep, Padded Gloves I even developed a grading system, top Martial Arts people like Iron Man Trevor Roberts reached 6th Dan. The style never really took of as it was a mish mash of everything. Yet round about the same time the Gracie’s had developed their own style of Ultimate Fighting the for-runner of Cage Fighting which was a success story and won them World Wide Fame. There’s must be the success story of the Century, some say I should have carried on but I felt it did not achieve what I wanted the Ultimate Martial Art and my heart was still with Jacket Grappling Styles. For the last few years I have ventured into mixing Striking and Grappling with Sport CombatSombo this is a some what watered down version of the Russian Sambo Combat and in March I am having the Pankration European President over for a seminar, this ancient sport looks very interesting





So what is MMA?

I believe it is a precursor for training in becoming a Cage Fighter, which is an extremely hard style of Combat all though I wish they do not use the word Fighting as it gives the wrong impression and could be associated with back street fights. The skill level is more then just Fighting, Cage Combat would be a better name and would give it more Gladiatorial Kudos. MMA as I said is a product name it may have started as Mixed Martial Arts but now just MMA will suffice.

MMA has been good thing for those who do not want to do Traditional Combat Discipline and has given them another outlet, to train and compete. If that is all you want to do is there no need for the rituals of Traditional Martial Arts and that is not decrying Traditional Martial Arts after all I have been doing them for 55 years. MMA has encouraged a lot of people to start up little clubs with small groups of people getting together to have a wrestle which is good. The problem all these little groups do not have any structure or Insurance that is why I am starting GRAPPLINGUK an organisation that still allows them their independence but can give a guiding hand.

Grappling UK will be offering Competitions and Courses home and abroad in many different grappling styles, such as:

With Jackets: Judo, Kurash, Sombo, Jacket Submission, Jacket Wrestling, Mongolian Style, Back to Back, Belt Wrestling, Kosen Judo, CombatSombo Wrestling

Without Jackets: Sombo, Back to Back, Submission Wrestling, Points Wrestling, and Judo Ne Waza

Grappling with Strikes: Sport CombatSombo and Pankration

For more information go to www.grapplinguk.co.uk or email grapplinguk@googlemail.com



Martin Clarke Sittingbourne
Posted by CombatArts at Monday, February 08, 2010

Pankration & Sport CombatSombo

1st British Semi Contact PANKRATION & Sport CombatSombo Championship

Swale Martial Arts Club Sittingbourne

Sunday July 4th 10.00am

Men over 16 years

U65k-u75k-u85k-u95k-o95k

Entry fee £10 for both events

All competitors must be members of GUK, IBF, BCSA, PUK

Entries with money-DOB-WEIGHT

Semi Contact Pankration 10 am

Sport CombatSombo 1pm

By

June 27th cheques payable IBF 118 East Street Sittingbourne ME10 4RX

New Sombo Instructors

http://www.britishsombo.co.uk/New%20sombo%20Instructors.htm

British Sombo Champs

BRITISH SOMBO FEDERATION



Present



2010 BRITISH OPEN



Sambo Championships




Sunday April 11th 2010



Sittingbourne community College

Swanstree Ave
Sittingbourne, ME10 4NL



Entries Close April 3rd 2009



Entry Fee: £15.00 for BSF & FIAS Members £20 Non Members



Group 1 Men’s Categories (18yrs +)

U57k, U62k, U68k, U74k, U82k, U90k, U100k, 100k

Group 2 Ladies: Matched on the day

Group 3 Veteran Men 35 years and above will be matched

Group 4 Youth Boys 16 to 17 years inclusive

U55k, U62k, U68k, U74k, U82k, +82k

Group 5 Youth Girls 16 to 17 years inclusive

U48k, U53k, U57k, U63k +63K

Group 6 Junior Boys 8 years to 12 years inclusive

U25k, U30k U35k, U40k, U45k, U50k, u55k, +55k

Group 7 Junior Girls 8 years to 12 years inclusive

U25k, U30k U35k, U40k, U44k, U48k, u53k, +53k



Group 8 Junior Boys 13,14,15 years

U25k, U30k U35k, U40k, U45k, U50k, u55k, u55k, u60k, u65k, O65k

Group 9 Junior Girls 13,14,15 years

U25k, U30k U35k, U40k, U44k, U48k, u53k, u60k, O60k







We will be using just one mat area in a smaller venue due to



Credit Crisis this year so the entry will be restricted to 150



participants so book in early





Junior Weigh In 9.00 am

Youth Weigh In 9.30 am

Men/Ladies/Veterans weigh in 12 noon

Referees and Judges Meeting 9 am



Proof of age may be required and proof of Insurance cover for non affiliated members. Members to produce license book



International Sambo Rules will apply (Submissions apply to all youth categories)

Note: Organisers reserve the right to amalgamate categories if required.



British Sambo Open Wrestling Championships

Entry Form

Name

Address

Address

Tel No:

Email

Weight-------------------group------------------------age-------------------



Date of birth---------------------------------



Affiliated Club Association



Entry Fee



Entries to BSF England,

Keith Costa, 4, POULSEN COURT, SITTINGBOURNE, KENT, ME10 3LH

Phone 01795 426784 /// email, kcba19892@blueyonder.co.uk ibfbcsa@googlemail.com



Cheques payable BCSA



Competition Organiser BCSA

Email: SomboGB@blueyonder.co.uk Tel: 00 44 1795 555463

IBF/BCSA EastLeigh House 118 East Street Sittingbourne Kent ME10 4RX


Rules and regulations

International Sombo Rules will apply (Submissions apply to youth cats)

Note: Organisers reserve the right to amalgamate categories if required



All players must wear correct Sombo attire



Blue or Red Sombo Jacket with matching shorts



(Black or white shorts will not be allowed)



**Sombo Boots** REVERSIBLE JACKET WILL BE ALLOWED



WE DO NOT LOAN OUT THIS EQUIPMENT

Corriger le Bleu d'habit de Sombo ou le Veston de Sombo Rouge avec les short

Correspondants (les short noirs ou blancs ne seront pas permis) les Bottes de Sombo



Corrija traje de Sombo Chaqueta Azul o Roja de Sombo con calzones parejos

(calzones negros o blancos no se permitirán) Botas de Sombo



Korrigieren Sie Sombo Kleidung Blau oder Rot Sombo Jacke passend mit Kurzhose

(Schwarz oder weiße Kurzhose) Sombo Stiefel werden nicht erlaubt werden an



Исправьте Sombo одеяние, которое синий или Красный Жакет Sombo с соответствием шортам

(черные или белые шорты не будет позволяться) Sombo Ботинки.

Letter from BNMAA

Below is a letter sent me by an organisation called BNMAA (Click to read)it seems I am a member without knowing it. The BNMAA have had a falling out with AMA with the BNMAA clsoing down I do not know about the AMA, I have just written an an article a time to reflect and this just proves my point.

If any AMA or BNMAA want join an organisation that has been in existance for 40 years with decent Insurance cover they should contact me or go to www.budo-ibf.co.uk

http://www.budo-ibf.co.uk/Paul%20Griffiths.pdf

A time to reflect

Hip Operation a time to reflect
As most of you know I have suffered for many years with a damaged Knee and Hip due to past Judo injuries, February 2009 I had a total Knee replacement which was a great success and a week ago I had a total hip replacement which was a success, although the after care for the Hip is considerable because it may dislocate in the early stages it could be 3 months before you consider yourself safe. The actual operation is a lot less painful then the knee. These two operations mean I can get back to some normality instead of walking around like a cripple, although I can not return to competition or any form of fighting I will be able to be more proactive in coaching i.e. be able to demonstrate techniques, so I will starting a couple of classes in Sombo and Pankration in Sittingbourne and will running classes at the Summer Camp.
In 2001 I won the World Judo Masters after the win I decided I would have a few months of but I would never fight again in Judo or Sombo from this date as both injuries deteriorated rapidly. It seemed as God had said “You wanted a World Title, now you have it. It is time to finish and make you and your wife’s life more comfortable”. Competiting had been a very costly affair and apart from what people thought I was not a rich man, it was not just about money but also about family. When ever I have an argument with my spouse one the things that comes up “you were away most weekends when the kids were young”, this is maybe why my oldest has been more troublesome since she was 16 and she is 40 this year, thankfully the other two have kept up the family tradition and are very much involved in what I do.
So staying 4 days in hospital was not such a bad thing, cannot say it was not painful but the simple fact is you can not go any where and everything is brought to you including the piddle pot was in a way quite relaxing. Time to read and think, I done a lot of reminiscing especially about my Mum and Dad the obvious things you remember like childhood memories are always there but some things was not so obvious. I can never remember my parents being vindictive or vengeful, angry with people yes and they would often say careful of so and so they are not to be trusted but nothing really violent in later life I had an incident where a favourite student of mine done the dirty and for years I tried reap revenge on him to no avail in fact it made him stronger. The Chinese Proverb “He who seeks vengeance must dig two graves: one for his enemy and one for himself” My mother was a religious women and when I told her my thoughts she quoted the Christian Philosophy “turn the other cheek” but it my father who had the pragmatic answer which was “Do you want to do what he is doing? Answer NO; Does he effect what you do? NO, Does he affect you financially? NO So why are you even thinking of him” This incident happened 30 years ago and everything my parents said was true, I have met the guy on many occasions and hold no malice and would even hire my club to him after all business is business, has achieved anything yes he is now a higher grade and most probably worthy of it but as my Father said he was never a threat and he wasn’t.
This incident reminded me of another occasion when I would not listen to my Parent advice. If you have read my book “Martin for Moscow” you will have read that I had issues with the British Judo Association hierarchy of the time, well after the 1980 Moscow Olympics the BJA advertised the post of Assistant Manager to the British team, So I applied but both my parents warned me if I got an interview it would become a Kangaroo court because of my history and association with other Judo organisations. No I said! They are the governing body they would not do this, so I got on with preparing a plan. My main thought for the team was to involve each players individual Coach in their training as I believed and still do a British Team manager will not know the individual as his coach does, yes they can teach new techniques and fighting strategies but what makes the player tick? What excites them? What depresses them? What are his bad habit or good habits and son on? I travelled to London to a posh Hotel for the interview and you guessed it was as my parents said it was interview of insults to all the other Judo associations and my parents, I am pleased to say I kept my calm, I think the only reason for this is they sat behind a table so did I maybe if we had been closer some of them would have been laying down rather then sitting. It is pleasing say thirty years on most of the those on the board are no longer with us and the BJA accept people from all associations and allow them to belong to all association in the knowledge they are the governing body. Mind you if you look at the 1970/80’s most of the world was run by dictatorships and left wing militant organisations so what could you expect.

Another thing I have always tried to do was if I have a problem get it out of the way as soon as possible as if you leave it to festers it becomes worse as it eats inside you. Another lesson from my father, When I was 16 I had an old Ariel 500cc side valve motorbike I sold it to a guy for £10 and he said he would collect in a week’s time. Instead of leaving the machine alone I fiddled with it and broke the head instead of contacting the guy I waited till the day he was to collect it. Each day my nerves got worse, each day I felt sick because I knew I had to face him. Then the day came luckily enough my father was there when he rung the door bell, so I said to Dad tell him I am not here. What did he do took the guy to see the bike and they both saw the damage, what did my father do walked indoors told me to get outside and sort my own mess out, The outcome was the guy calmly said I shouldn’t have done it and still took the bike. So all that worry was for nothing, So now I tackle a problem head on.

As I get older people have told me I have mellowed that may be true I would liked to think I have got wiser but I can still remember being young, challenging my parents and senior grades, telling them they are to old and they did not understand Judo like us young ones we are the fighters, the champions not the talkers. It is a good job those talkers were strong and kept me in place and listened when my ideas were good and told me to shut up when they were bad because for every one Champion there are thousands who are not and it is them that keep Judo, Sombo what ever alive.

I now listen to ideas and points of view from people of all ages when I run my various organisations, I encourage them to try new ideas because no one man can be the fountain of all knowledge something Young People have a trouble understanding this. OK sometimes you have to make a decision which is not popular but that goes with the job of being head of an organisation or family. As I said I have had many people crap on me from a great height most of the time in was unjustified but over the years I have learnt to deal with it.

Moving on I have wondered what makes some Martial Arts people so obsessed with there own status and in turn what makes them so vindictive and jealous, I spent some time in Local Politics and area of life where you expected a lot of back stabbing etc yet on they never match Martial Arts Politics. So Why?

Martial Arts are very much a Hierarchy both in its attitude to standards (Grades Belts) and in its administration. To run an organisation you need a hierarchal system for it to work and our Belt Promotion was designed as a means of encouragement and to show to others what standard you are. So the problem is not the system it is the people involved, the general thought in academic circles was that the majority of people who really get involved in Martial Arts were not that intelligent and were in the lower social classes who were not given a good education. The part about good education and social class may be true, unintelligent NO. A lot of people I know who have got involved in Martial Arts in a big way i.e. high grades, run organisations etc were people who never achieved a great success in normal life sometimes it was there fault sometime it was not but when they tried the Martial Arts they suddenly realised they were good at it and more importantly they could do something others could not and as they progressed they gained KUDOS from people who in the past most probably did not even acknowledge them. This I feel is one of the pluses of the Martial Arts Improving peoples esteem but there can be a down side. As some become more powerful, more respected etc a few become paranoid and see every one as a rival. How many times do you see Martial Art Players grade go up because a rival has been promoted, infighting starts because someone wants a higher position to increase their status and then there is always the student who thinks he knows better then his teacher and starts his own association and style creating the “ULTIMATE MARTIAL ART” or “HOW I RE-INVENTED THE WHEEL” a lot have less then 10 years experience! I know that I am more knowledgeable then my teachers mainly my mother and father and that’s not being conceited and hopefully my son will become more knowledgeable then me, that should be a natural progression and the way Martial Arts evolve. This should not be something to be frightened of but something you should be grateful to have a student that surpasses the Teacher is a great honour.

Well my Hip Operation has certainly affected my thoughts maybe I can invent a new art “Bone Replacement Mediation” who knows

What of the future:

I feel that Martial Arts will continue to get smaller and I believe that will be a good thing because those who are in it just for money, kudos and power will vanish very quickly and we will be left with those who enjoy what they do just for the sake of it. Judo I believe will be one that suffers the most as the latest rule changes seemed to be designed to appease TV audiences and TV Producers, you will see many smaller competitions offering different rules once again I believe this will be good for Judo.
Myself I am looking forward to promoting my CombatSombo and GrapplingUK with my own Dojo I can organise lots of small competitions in the words of Del Trotter “Lovely Jubbley”

Martin Clarke

Is there a place for CombatSombo

One of the British Sombo Federation International Sambo Combat players Darren Richardson posed the question what has happened to Combat Sambo? What of the future of Sambo Combat?
First of all let me say that my style is CombatSombo not Combat Sambo in fact I was the first one to link the words together and registered the name in the UK. Until the Soviet Union collapsed every thing in the USSR was called Sambo they copied my lead by using the name Combat Sambo or Sambo Combat before that they used the name Military Sambo. There system and mine do differ in that theirs is a pragmatic self defence system based on the military, designed for military personal. There is still an obsession in the Eastern Block Countries with the Military especially in respect to Combat Training mine is based on the needs of an ordinary person to defend themselves plus it is a method of keeping fit. At the bottom of this article you will see my “CombatSombo Philosophy” my system can be taught to anyone including young children that can not be said of Combat Sambo.
CombatSombo is not big but I do have several clubs in the UK and USA training in my style. 30 years ago when I started CombatSombo I would run "Transition Courses” these were sessions organised for those Martial Artist who were already Black Belts and were doing a similar system to mine, they would attend a course and have there grade converted to CombatSombo. The idea was that they would see the benefits of my system and go out teach and promote CombatSombo; sadly I was rather naive in thinking this would work, the majority attended purely to add another Black Belt to their CV some even used it to promote new styles of their own. I have always said that you should not advertise your grade if you no longer practise that style, to maintain your Black Belt in CombatSombo you must be a member and be involved in the discipline. Some of those who were graded went away and started clubs outside the control of the BCSA, this is one thing I had foreseen hence the reason I registered the name” CombatSombo” as a Service Mark with the Trades Marks Registry. This was to protect my style and its beliefs and on more then one occasion I have had to back this up with Solicitors letters and threats of court action, CombatSombo is very dear to me.
CombatSombo continues to flourish last year two students graded to 1st Degree Black Belt at the Summer Camp and I continue to do Camcorder Grading’s all over the World, with Hip and Knee replaced I hope to be able to do more courses myself something I have not been able to do for 6 years.

Darren has a lot of interest in Sambo Combat this is a sport very popular in the Eastern Block Countries and is an extension to Sambo Wrestling. You wear Sambo attire plus headgear, Mitts and shin and instep, the scoring is the same as Sambo but you are allowed to kick and punch to get knockouts. As I said it very popular in the eastern block countries and the World Championships in liked with the Sambo, it is certainly spectacular and exciting. Mainly like Cage Fighting it is very violent as it allows full Contact Kicks, Punches to the head and the groin, on the floor it also allows punches to the head as of yet no UK fighter has won a an International Match although a few have tried. Some of our UK competitors asked if I could start arranging matches in the UK, so my first thing was to organise insurance, the rules of the International Body were not acceptable to any UK based Insurance companies, so I had to develop a watered down version of the rules and this took years before an insurance company would consider them. Eventually I came up with a set of rules that were acceptable i.e. Strikes to head gear and body only, no strikes to joints or groin area, no strikes to head while on the ground and I had to change the name to distance myself from Sambo Combat and I now use the name Sport CombatSombo, sadly after all that work there is no demand.

Darren asked the question is there a future for CombatSombo? Most certainly, once I return you will see a massive growth, Future for Sport CombatSombo this I am not to sure about I believe it will be used as a training tool to improve CombatSombo Students technique but as Competitive sport only time will tell. Combat Sambo or Sambo Combat I doubt it has any future as an amateur sport for several reason 1) It will be very hard to get insurance cover 2) Because of its extreme dangerous nature I do not think will appeal to those who have regular work 3) I also believe that unless you are extremely fit you could be faced with extreme injuries 4) Vigorous Doctors checks will be needed to prevent potential fatality. If Sambo Combat accepted my rules it may have a chance as an amateur sport. As a professional sport Sambo Combat could become a spectator sport like Cage Fighting but how many would want train full time?

I do realise there is a need for Grappling and Striking to become one and I believe I have found the answer in Pankration they have several styles and the one that interests me is the Semi Contact version, this where you score points for kicks, punches and throws yet only touch contact to the head with a kick to finish you go for a submission. Pankration is a well respected Combat Discipline from ancient Greece and if any Striking/Grappling is to make Olympic Status it will be this. Out of all the grappling sports Sambo is the one I prefer as for Sambo Combat I will enjoy watching that is all.



Martin Clarke


CombatSombo Philosophy

As you can see by my cv which is enclosed I have been involved in the Martial Arts/Combat Disciplines since the age of 5 (1955) 55 years all told. I have always enjoyed the competitive side of Combat and I have won medals at international and national level at Judo, Sombo, Jiu Jitsu and Free Style Wrestling. I have also been a keen advocate of the Founder of Judo Jigaro Kano, in one of books he made the following statement “Judo is more than just a sport or Martial Art, it is a means of Physical and Cultural Attainment” in other words “it is a way of producing better human beings” I apply this philosophy to all my Martial Arts and Combat Disciplines. Grappling sports I feel help you achieve this by teaching us such simple things as:

Respect (all grapplers have respect for there opponent, note I use the word opponent not enemy, they may not always realise it)
Duty of care (this is a must as if some of the techniques are very dangerous that we could damage our opponent. This is not we trying to do we are trying to win but not at the expense of an injury).
To abide by the rules (competitions have rules not only to keep the activity as safe as possible but to make contest equal)
Comradeship.

In my CombatSombo system I try and introduce people to a Self Defence system that has a set of morals. Unlike other systems I advocate control and restraint. My aim is not to turn people into Barbaric Animals with no consideration for others. After saying all this I am a practical man, I realise that self-defence has different degrees. Dealing with a drunk is different to dealing with several assailants with weapons. Although my system teaches techniques that can maim, they are only to be used in extreme cases. Remember no one has the right to cause life long disablement to another human being.

To do CombatSombo you need to be healthy and fit, we encourage our members to take regular excise and grapple on a regular basis. To understand any self-defence you need to practise in as near real situation as you get. To advise any one to get involved in a Pub fight to test their techniques would be immoral and irresponsible, so the nearest I can offer is some sort of controlled fighting, i.e. CombatSombo Wrestling, Boxing, Kickboxing. Remember there is no easy route to becoming a proficient CombatSombo Practitioner.



CombatSombo is a Self Defence system with a HEART

IBF,BCSA, PUK,GUK

IBF-BCSA-GRAPPLINGUK-PANKRATIONUK

Can I remind you all that membership is due March 28th your will find on the www. Budo-ibf.co.uk the application form, you will notice I have the membership fee the same as last year even though the Insurance premium has increased and if you live in England & Wales for your £26 you get membership to all associations.
With in the next week I will have all details of insurance on the Web couple of things which may interest you:
1) I hope to Professional Indemnity for Coaches increased to £5 million
2) In the past your PI Insurance only covered you while coaching the above association’s members. I have negotiated an extra cover for what we call Commercial Coach and this covers you to coach any one this will be an extra £60 per year but is a good price if you coach people from other organisations.
3) The Insurance only covered your club if it had 100% above association membership with an allowance beginners were allowed to train for the first 4 weeks with out being members but all occasional visitors had to be members. To get round this I offered Recreational membership this is no long on offer as Commercial Coach give you PI Insurance for the occasional visitors. Occasional Visitor is just that someone who attends on a regular basis must join
4) You must keep a record of any one attending a class members and non members I.e. name, address. I also suggest you keep a record of every lesson. The Insurance Company have asked me to administer this so I will ask for checks.
Can I remind you about the British Sombo in April I need your support, IBF Multi Nation Judo in May the Dutch will bring 80 competitors, Germany 30, Poland 40 plus the Dutch will be bringing their computerised Tournament organiser. Summer Camp is our normal one plus a separate Jiu Jitsu course, this is for adults and juniors at senior school remember book in before end of April there is a £50 discount.

News from SMAC

Swale Martial Arts Club
127 East Street
Sittingbourne

News
Dear Members
I am pleased to say that Swale Borough Council has continued help us by giving 100% Business Rate Relief as I have mentioned before if we had to pay would have cost us over £6000 per annum something we could not afford and could seen the closure of the Club so a big thank you to Swale Borough Council . Martin Clarke has formed an organisation called GrapplingUK which will be using our facilities in the future, this should help us financially.
So far this year we have had the Young Judo Club championships with approx 50 entries not the best participation numbers so next year we will revert to a Sunday, the European Pankration President visited the club and gave a seminar, plus we have had 2 Sombo squad training sessions so we are getting some good weekend use especially on a Sunday, the Karate session on a Saturday continues to be successful but we still have Wednesday and Friday night empty plus week day time.
Now Martin has had his hip operation he will teaching and starting 2 new classes: Monday night Sombo/CombatSombo 7.30 pm , Thursday Pankration 7.30pm both classes will be for Juniors and Seniors with Seniors having an extra ½ hour at the end of each session so they can compete with each other.
John Clarke 5th Dan will be back teaching Juniors Judo on a Tuesday at 7.30pm this will help the youngsters because John has 30 years of competition experience as a junior and senior. John is trying to get together a course for Ladies Self defence.
Can I remind you all that membership is due April 1st 2010 which includes membership to the International Budo Federation, remember no membership no insurance no training.
Let us all remember the British Sombo Open April 11th, IBF Multi Nation Judo championships May 15th and the IBF Summer Camp August 22nd this now includes juniors who are at senior school.
Sittingbourne Judo Society has moved back to the Academy of Sport & Movement at Milton Regis next to Nobbys Gym on a Wednesday
Bredgar Young Judo Club continues go from strength to strength on a Thursday at Bredgar village Hall
Finally would anyone be interested in doing Power Chi Yoga or Aerobics during the day?
Useful Contacts: Sombo, Pankration ibfbcsa@googlemail.com Young Judo club youngjudoclub@googlemail.com Bredgar young judo club marcellacullen@rocketmail.com
Karate Paul.Sargent@axa-im.com Judo john_clarke73@hotmail.co.uk Aerobics/Power Chi-yoga
anthonywhitby@hotmail.co.uk Sittingbourne Judo Society link2zelda2001@yahoo.co.uk
www.sittingbourne.org

Martin fights son John

John is 15

Rare footage of Kenshiro Abbe

You will find attached some rare footage of Kenshiro Abbe 8th Dan he was a very popular Japanese Sensei in the 1960’s and had a massive following. Both my mother and father were graded by him in fact my mothers Dan Grade Certificate was one of a few he done Japanese by his own hand, that was in 1962. I met him on several occasions but was only about 12 years old so to me he was just a Japanese Judoka; the film is interesting for that what was expected of Judoka in those days. Most was done from a static position and relied on a good UKE watching his Kaeshi Waza counter throws several of them are not mechanically correct and relied a lot on his UKE throwing himself, if you take yourself time and study the video you may spot some of the mistakes if you can not then just enjoy the film

Pankration Course

PANKRATION COURSE
Sittingbourne March 12th 2010
http://picasaweb.google.com/Grapplinguk/PankrationCourseMarch2010#


When Martin Clarke was at the World Sambo Championships in Greece last years members of the International Pankration Federation ask him if he would start a section Great Britain. Although participation in Martial Arts in the UK is at an all time low, he reckoned there would be a change of Government in 2010 and the whole country would pick up .

Brief Summary of PANKRATION

The word Pankration is a Greek word which translated means "all powers" or "all powerful", both are acceptable translations by Greek scholars. Pankration was a sporting event in the ancient Greek Olympic games that was first introduced in the games of 648 BC. The rules of the sport were simple, no biting or eye gouging and victory was secured through knockout, submission or death. The historical records of the early Pankration are shrouded and mixed with Greek mythology and it is not known whether these accounts of championship bouts and feats of strength of the champions were myth or actual accounts

Modern Pankration is divided into 4 sections a)Striking and Grappling Full Contact b) Striking and Grappling Semi Contact c) Grappling d) Demonstration. The UK will be concentrating on B and C.

B)Striking and Grappling Semi contact for this you wear trouser similar to Judo Trousers and a tight T shirt, you score points by throwing your opponent, kicking. Punching your opponent to the body and making a controlled Kick (touch only) to the head. You can finish the match by gaining a submission on the ground with Arm lock, Leg lock, Ankle Lock, Strangle or Choke. A match between two fighters is referred to as an Agon

c) Grappling the rules are the same accept there is no kicking and punching and for Juniors there are no submissions. The competitors wear a White or Blue Endyma (uniform) and the Hellanodikis (Referee) wears Red Endyma.

The course was given by the European President Evangelos Koutras, he started the course by stating why they had asked Martin Clarke to represent them in the UK , he said the answer was simple Martin was known throughout the World for his expertise in Grappling especially Judo and Sombo’
Most of the course was given over to the History of the Sport, followed by the rules which all have to be given in Greek at the end everyone had a go at sparring which was a great success. The Course was a great Success and we have made a date for our first PankrationUK British Championships to be held at Sittingbourne on July 4th

Martin Clarke has introduced many different styles of Combat to the UK and all have started in his home town of Sittingbourne, he introduced Judo, Free Style Wrestling, Sombo, CombatSombo, Kurash, Belt Wrestling, Sport CombatSombo, Jacket Wrestling, Submission Wrestling, Jiu Jitsu, Atemi Jitsu, Shiai Jutsu and now Pankration. Sittingbourne means Martial Arts, Grappling and the Clarke Family.

Anyone interested in what we do in Sittingbourne go to www. Sittingbourne.org or ibfbcsa@googlemail.com

Martin Coynes Youtube

Paste in the lnk below see some Youtube Videos of Folkestone Open Judo and last years British Sombo

http://www.youtube.com/user/Coyneyuk

Folkestone Open

Folkestone Judo Open
March 7th 2010
Folkestone Sports Centre, Radnor Park
Colin Carrott of the Spitfire Judo Club Capel Le Ferne organised this very successful event. The event was to show of his new Judo he has just purchased with help from the Kent Community Foundation. Why new mats? Two reason one the old ones were becoming damaged and dangerous, two the International Judo Federation has changed the demarcation areas for competition and with Colin being the for most Judo and Sombo events organiser in that part of Kent it was essential to get new mats. The last two years has seen a dramatic drop in people participating in Judo so much so that towns that used have several clubs now have none but the Folkestone Open bucked the trend with 150 entries a good turn out. The new fighting areas were enthusiastically welcomed the new IJF rules were not, these new Judo rules have caused dismay throughout the world with lots of Judoka moving to other grappling sports, Colin done the sensible thing called the referees together to discuss them and those that were controversial were left out, some techniques that were valid on December30th 2009 would now get you disqualified. This decision is why I believe the tournament was such a success, well done Colin.
The Senior Competition saw some excellent Judo with some high class club players participating and it was surprising to see so many Veteran Judo Players participating and these were not Judoka who have been practising for years but new people who have just started. Veteran Sports have been a major growth industry with youngsters turning their heads away for Sports Participation preferring to be a spectator a generation of couch potatoes; people over 30 years of age are becoming the main stay of sport.
Clubs and officials from as far as Nottingham, Bedford, East Anglia as well as clubs from Kent participated; officials were supplied by the International Budo Federation
Colin has a lot more planned for the future he intends running Pankration & Sport CombatSombo Classes at his Dojo at Capel Le Ferne, as well as running tournaments at the Dojo in Sport CombatSombo, Pankration, Submission Wrestling and Jacket Wrestling and he is also looking to run the English Open Sambo Wrestling Championships in December at the Folkestone Leisure Centre.
Colin Carrott is a man on a mission lets all get behind him and make sure it is a successful one
The fighter of the day had to be Paul Bishbrown Faversham J C

Sittingbourne & Bredgar YOUNG JUDO CLUB
The club went through a difficult time last year but things are looking up for 2010 we came back with a medal haul 0f 20 putting 2nd in the medal table only one behind the host club Spitfire. It is always difficult to mention individual when you have a large medal haul but it was pleasing to see one of our bigger girls Lauren Allen winning Gold, the club has always had good female players but in latter years the older ones seemed to have dropped of hopefully Lauren will keep the flag flying. Although not in the medals 16 year old Jamie Mazetti had an extremely good day he was fighting Men’s u71k in the hardest event and with some of the best players in the County. He beat previous IBF National Champion Kieran Daniels 2nd Dan Black Belt and went to extra time with Daniel Diamond 2nd Dan also a previous National Champion before being beaten a great future for the boy.
YJC members are of to Ingelmunster Belgium this weekend to take part in a Major International
Anyone interested in Judo should telephone 01795 437124 ibfbcsa@googlemail.com www.youngjudoclub.co.uk

Full results at BUDO-IBF.CO.UK

Coach proved Innocent

For 10 months I have been reporting on how a well known Martial arts Coach has been accused of inappropriate behaviour with a minor something which supposedly happened 35 years ago. My concern was that the anyone can make a spurious accusation and the Coach has to prove his innocence! What happened to innocent till proven guilty? This Coach was banned from his own club by the governing body. Well I am pleased to say the Police have come back after 10 months stating the Coach has no case to answer to. I can not give his name because believe it or not he still has to appear before the Governing Body Complaints Committee (Kangaroo Court). I have known this Coach for 45 years and have never doubted his innocence and can not wait to tell the full story

World Judo Champion at Faversham

This is a Great Chance for you to train with a World Champion, IBF Faversham Judo Club are hosting this event at the ridiculous price of £5 an event not to be missed

Summer Jiu Jitsu

TOM Starling 7th Dan Jiu Jitsu

Summer Camp August

http://www.budo-ibf.co.uk/SUMMER%20JIU.pdf

IBF First Aid Course

Is this the way to bandage a patient

Good News from Greg

Yes Excellent News I reported last week that Greg was closing the last remaining Young Judo Club in Bexley, the first was opened by Nobby Clarke in 1963. Well Greg has found some one to help him that is Mark Vint. Mark was a very successful under 21 fighter and with his enthusiasm and Gregs experience I can see a new dawning for YJC Bexley

Folkestone Open

Folkestone Judo Open
March 7th 2010
Folkestone Sports Centre, Radnor Park
Colin Carrott of the Spitfire Judo Club Capel Le Ferne organised this very successful event. The event was to show of his new Judo he has just purchased with help from the Kent Community Foundation. Why new mats? Two reason one the old ones were becoming damaged and dangerous, two the International Judo Federation has changed the demarcation areas for competition and with Colin being the for most Judo and Sombo events organiser in that part of Kent it was essential to get new mats. The last two years has seen a dramatic drop in people participating in Judo so much so that towns that used have several clubs now have none but the Folkestone Open bucked the trend with 150 entries a good turn out. The new fighting areas were enthusiastically welcomed the new IJF rules were not, these new Judo rules have caused dismay throughout the world with lots of Judoka moving to other grappling sports, Colin done the sensible thing called the referees together to discuss them and those that were controversial were left out, some techniques that were valid on December30th 2009 would now get you disqualified. This decision is why I believe the tournament was such a success, well done Colin.
The Senior Competition saw some excellent Judo with some high class club players participating and it was surprising to see so many Veteran Judo Players participating and these were not Judoka who have been practising for years but new people who have just started. Veteran Sports have been a major growth industry with youngsters turning their heads away for Sports Participation preferring to be a spectator a generation of couch potatoes; people over 30 years of age are becoming the main stay of sport.
Clubs and officials from as far as Nottingham, Bedford, East Anglia as well as clubs from Kent participated; officials were supplied by the International Budo Federation
Colin has a lot more planned for the future he intends running Pankration & Sport CombatSombo Classes at his Dojo at Capel Le Ferne, as well as running tournaments at the Dojo in Sport CombatSombo, Pankration, Submission Wrestling and Jacket Wrestling and he is also looking to run the English Open Sambo Wrestling Championships in December at the Folkestone Leisure Centre.
Colin Carrott is a man on a mission lets all get behind him and make sure it is a successful one

Contact Colin 01303 250 166 http://spitfire-judo-grappling-club.com/ .
.

Kata with Trevor Davies & Greg Garside

Hello to you all.

On the Sunday the 18th of April Trevor and Greg are running a Nage No Kata course in Faversham from 10am till 4pm the cost £20.
Anyone wishing to be examined to Dan grade has to demonstrate Nage No Kata. All Dan Grading are at summer camp. I would also suggest all Instructors attend to keep their own standards up to scratch.
Trevor Number 07775698568 to book in.

Many Thanks
John Clarke
5th Dan and Chairman of the IBF UK Judo Commitee

Folkestone Judo @YJC Bexley

Colin Carrotts Folkestone Open Judo Championships this Sunday is going great guns so far he has 150 entries on an event where we were expecting 80 players, Keith Costa tells me he will be running the Garden of England Judo Championships in November in Sittingbourne but this year he will be using accumalative rules ie 1pt Koka 2pts Yuko 5pt Waza ari and 10pt Ippon first one to 10pts and more importantly he will be using Pre 2009 rules With the IBF Multi Nations in May "2nd Battle of Hastings" to enter all you need is an IBF license. So maybe Judo is picking up.

SAD NEWS

Nobby Clarke IBF UK first President and founder of then Young Judo Club Bexley started in Bexley in the early 1960's and from the YJC Bexley he produced the UK's foremost Olympic Coach Alan Roberts 6th Dan, with the death of Brian Stening last year Greg Garside has been left to keep the YJC going and with diminshing numbers and the fact he recieves no help he is relcutantly closing the club down at the end of March. The death of an era, as President of the Young Judo Club I would like to thank greg for all the work he has done on behalf of the YJC I realise these last few years have been hard work lets hope he does not become a stranger