JUDO/SOMBO COURSE in AUGUST

The course will cover the complete competitive & theory content required for gradings Cost: £30.00 plus £10.00 grading fee for kyu grades, and relevant fee for dan grades. This course is also counts as a revalidation for all judo and sombo coaches.

Closing date 10th. August, send all fees and entry to:

John Clarke, 118 East Street, Sittingbourne ME10 4RX (Tel: 07825 224940)

Moving Forward

British Sombo Continues Moving Forward

The BSF continues to organise event through out England, Scotland and Northern Ireland several Courses and Competitions have been organised already this Year and many new contacts have been made with various organisations and possible sponsors. It is hope that the BSF will be able to fund 10 competitors for the World Championships in St Petersburg Russia in November. To gain a place you will need to enter the British at the end of June in Bedford. With respect to the British there is some good news and some bad news? Bad news World Bronze Medallist Matthew Clempner will not be competing, as he needs to concentrate on his no 1 position in the British Judo Squad, I am sure you will all agree he must be a potential medal prospect for the next Olympics and we all wish him the best of luck. Good News with out Matthew the O 100 kilo class is now up for grabs, so you super heavy weights get your entries in.

John and Colin will be organising a 2 day Summer Camp in Sittingbourne during August, Robin has his Scottish Open to come in July, Colin has competition organised for September in Folkestone, Keith has a comp organised in Sittingbourne in Early November and Russell has one for December in Bedford. January 2014 we a preparing a Black tie presentation Dinner more of this to follow.

With out your Support none of this can happen

BSF President Insulted at Prestigious Dinner in Westminster

                                                          MY TRIP TO LONDON

 By BSF President Robin Hyslop

Robin & Prince Michael of Kent

As President of the British Sombo Federation I was invited to a £3,000 a head meal and auction in London, which organised by FIAS President Mr Shestakov his British Co-ordinator was another Russian Living in England  Andrew Moshanov. The event was to celebrate 75 year of Sambo, the Russian President Putin supported this event so money could be raised to FIAS Sports Programme in Great Britain obviously a way to harmonise the détente with the British and Russian Governments. The event was held in the luxurious surroundings of Westminster and the auction was a great success with Thousands of pounds being raised although one wonders what will happen with the money?

I was given instructions to meet at a hotel close to where the event was taking place at 4.30pm, I was introduced to some new faces involved in the Sambo world. Just after 6.00pm there was a cavalcade of 10 black c500 Mercedes cars which all the guests would use to get to Kensington Palace, after most of the guests were on their way I had to ask as to when any cars would be coming back, in typical Russian fashion I was told “I don’t Know” after half an hour I had to explain that I was the President of British Sambo! By this time some of the others had phoned me to see if they were getting a car sent for them, confusing as it seems I managed to get a couple of cars to come back for me and then to pick up the others, we arrived at the palace as the demonstration of Sambo was about to begin, Champagne was being served.

Note the Word Amateur is starting to be dropped

Among the guests were mining Billionare Alexi Mordashov, Iron ore magnet Andrei Klyamko, President of Russian Rail Vladimir Yakunin, Olympic Gold medallist Tessa Sanderson, City broker Tim Lewin and Tory MP Elanor Laing o to name a few.

Tessa& Robin

There was a very good demonstration of Sambo by World and European Champions flown over for the occasions, I would have thought that the organiser would have shown the demonstration in the correct attire and why did they not use British Samboist quite  an insult to the BSF , the first of many. Next there was a special presentation for the British people who were pioneers of Sambo in GB they were Matthew Clempner, Richard Barrowclough World Bronze 1973/74 , Richard Kenny, Steve Pullen World Bronze 1966, John Lawrence World Bronze 1974 . Most of you who have done Sambo or Sombo as we call it in GB will never have heard of these people but they are well respected Judoka, who for a few years in the mid 1970’s organised a few CAMBO events for the British Wrestling Association. The BWA used the word CAMBO rather then the racist word SAMBO. By the end of the 1970’s Cambo/Sombo/Sambo had died. Interesting enough two other people were missing from this honours list one was Rob Paine who organised most of the events and brought in the first Sombo Jackets and Martin Clarke who like Matthew Clempner was a regular competitor at these events. These people had the good fortune to have all their accommodation, travel and courtesy car to the venue paid for by the event co-ordinator. As President of the British Sombo I received nothing and was told I was not entitled to a courtesy car yet another insult to the BSF. Interestingly FIAS, which was formulated in 1985 with the exception of Matthew Clempner none of those presented with awards, have never been members of an organisation belonging to FIAS and have done nothing for Sombo (Sambo) since the late 1970’s? Considering the event was organised by FIAS and some other organisation calling themselves the Commonwealth Sambo Federation I would have thought they would have at least honoured those Brits who have promoted FIAS

 

FIAS Officials

In fact let’s actually look at who and what has sustained British Sombo, first it was Burt Jacobs Chairman of the British Wrestling Association and leading member of Federation International Luttes Association FILA, in 1985 the World Games was to be held in London and Sambo/Sombo was included in the programme which the BWA were responsible for. As the BWA had no one interested Burt contacted Martin Clarke to organise a Team, which he did. As player manager he won Silver but more importantly the team he selected won all told 7 medals, 1 Gold, 1 Silver, 5 Bronzes and three 4^th places. The best British Team result in the history of British Sombo. In 1986 the BWA gave permission to annex them from British Wrestling and so Martin Clarke formed the British Sombo Federation. On that at original committee Martin his wife and Alan Kontozi are still actively involved that’s a period of 27 years service.

I became involved in 1989 and have organised many tournaments and attended countless World Championships all at my own expense, who else has done the same?

Since 1986 the BSF have sent a team to every World Championships the BSF has won 35 World Medals in that period stretching all classes Men/ Women/Junior/Cadet. It has organised 22 British Opens 10 English Opens and 10 Scottish Opens. It organised the European Championships 1989 and World Championships 1992 in Herne Bay under the leadership of Martin Clarke. At the World Championships St Petersburg Russia in 2008 I was awarded a Silver medal for Services to Sambo, Colin Carrott, Paul Sawyer and John Clarke were awarded the Bronze Service award, Martin Clarke was awarded the Gold Medal plus he was awarded the FIAS Sambo Star for being one of the 8 most influential people in the World of Sambo this coupled with being the only FIAS Sambo GrandMaster in the UK makes him unique.

Martin with help from myself and the BSF EC have kept Sombo/Sambo going in the UK and for the UK Governing Body to be treated in such a way and so disrespectfully is a disgrace.

Comments From BSF Chairman Martin Clarke

For sometime now I have been ostracised by the new FIAS Regime because of my outspoken comments on its organisation. So it came as no surprise that Robin, as BSF President would be invited to this fund raising and no one else from the BSF. Yet it comes as shock the way he has been treated by FIAS Staff employees. The awards given to the Judo men who dabbled in Sombo for a few years in the mid 1970’s again came as no surprise especially as we were informed in advance it was meant to be a rather childish snub to all the work the BSF has put into Sombo since 1986. FIAS Employee Andrew Moshanov selected the Judoka who are well respected in GB. Moshanov is no friend to British Sombo and was highly unlikely to recommend any one from the British Sombo Federation and as he has only been involved Sombo and FIAS since November 2011, he would have no idea of the history of the Sport in GB and most probably struggles with the concept of a Constituted Amateur Body so revered in Great Britain. I am sure the FIAS President Shestokov would not have been so petty minded but again as he has only been involved with FIAS since 2009 he also may not be aware of the various countries histories and involvement with FIAS having to rely on correct information from his employees, which is sadly lacking.      

As the Chairman of the BSF I have to put the interest of British Sombo Players first before my own feelings this I have done and in the last few months I have had discussion with Lord Simon Reading President Commonwealth Sambo Association (on Robins invitation it said Commonwealth Sambo Federation this was a mistake), Kerrith Brown Chairman British Judo Association plus 2 potential Sponsors.                  

Putin's Pals in Palace punch-up

It seems the Daily Mail has realised that there was more to the Sambo Fund raiser at Kensington Palace then what we were told here is an article that appeared in the Daily Mail on Tuesday

At an official level, relations between Britain and Russia are barely above deep freeze. Suspicions over the deaths of dissident Alexander Litvinenko and oligarch Boris Berezovsky together with disagreements over Syria have tested diplomacy.

But in a gilded outpost of West London, a one-man charm offensive has been under way this week to bring Russia in from the cold.

It came when nearly 100 of President Vladimir Putin’s most trusted confidants sat down to a £3,000-a head dinner.

The venue was Kensington Palace and the host, Prince Michael of Kent, is an unashamed Russo-phile whose uncanny resemblance to the murdered Tsar Nicholas has made him something of a pin-up in the former Soviet Union.

The dinner was ostensibly to promote Putin’s favourite combat sport, the Russian martial art of Sambo, which he wants to have Olympic status.

But it was clearly viewed by attendees as part of a new initiative to improve Anglo-Russian relations. Guests included some of the richest men in the world. All Russians, of course.

There was mining billionaire Alexei Mordashov, iron-ore magnate Andrei Klyamko, plus Vladimir Yakunin, President of the Russian railways and Putin’s long-time friend and judo guru, Vasily Shestakov. ‘So many Russians came that several people had to be disinvited,’ I am told.

The Marquess of Reading, who helped organise the black-tie evening, tells me: ‘People from the Duma were there, from industry and from all walks of life.’

There were also two Russian Sambo champions, who gave a demonstration in the Palace gardens, kicking, punching and wrestling — curiously, dressed, like everyone else, in black tie.

A letter from Putin was read out in which he expressed support of the Prince, of whom he is a great fan, but also because he personally likes David Cameron, I am told.

The few Britons at the event included Olympic gold medallist Tessa Sanderson, City broker Tim Lewin and Tory MP  Eleanor Laing.

Read more: http://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-2339985/RICHARD-KAY-Putins-pals-Palace-punch-up.html#ixzz2W0g3Cpr5

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More on the history of FIAS

An article was put on Facebook about USA Sombo




I cannot make comment on the internal affairs of US Sombo but I must put some fact right. In 1993 an AGM of FIAS was held in Russia this was a non election years. The Eastern Block Countries who had just gained their independence from Communism decided that the residing President Josh Henson would no longer be FIAS President; Mr. Tichormirov led this coup it was totally unconstitutional and led to two organisation’s claiming to be FIAS. The legitimate one led by Josh Henson came known as FIAS West and the other one became FIAS East. Yet History has told us not always do the Just win and Might overcome Right, this is what happened with FIAS West and Josh Henson was a very sad period of FIAS History. The man who rescued FIAS was David Rudman when he became FIAS President, it was he who reunited all the different factions and we all became one FIAS again, he also brought in many more countries plus he recognised that if Sambo/Sombo was to become a World Wide Sport it needed to be more inclusive and not a Russian dominated sport. The British Sombo Federation under my leaderships kept a representative in both camps I stood with FIAS West Brenda Jones represented us with FIAS East. Although I totally agreed with FIAS West I also realized that the quality of competition and standard of fighters would be far better in FIAS East and it would be wrong for the BSF to deprive our players of that type of competition. Inevitably FIAS West collapsed but it still left many outside FIAS and it was David Rudman who got them together. I can remember the telephone call he made to me, saying he want myself and Josh back supporting FIAS and International Sambo as with us back many others would return, he even came over to visit us at the British Open. Not since Josh Henson and Fernando Compte (Founder of FIAS) has this happened. I returned to FIAS, Josh decided to take Sombo back as a FILA discipline this he did for a couple of years with a FILA version of a World Championship held in Turkey but eventually it was removed from FILA.

In 2009 the FIAS Annual Congress was held in Greece and it was election Year and here were three candidates for President. One was a new man someone no one had heard of, this gentleman  was Mr. Shestakov. He was a member of the Russian Parliament and a personal friend of the Russian President Mr. Putin so a very powerful man. Just before the election there was a recess after the recess two of the candidates withdrew from the election, leaving Mr. Shestakov as the New President! My own thoughts were how can a man who had no dealings with FIAS or Sambo become President and knew my old friend Fernando Compte the founder of FIAS had the same thoughts. Yet he promised millions of Dollars of support and extra support for developing countries and countries like GB who received no funding. So we all thought great and he most probably he will only be figure head. Yes the funding did come but seems to be spent on more and more staff who attend elaborate meetings all over the World and employing a Russian from GB to travel the World disrupting and causing havoc where ever he goes, well that is what various reports are telling us.

I am still not convinced that President Shestakov is responsible for all the problems FIAS has but members of his staff are and they are the one advising him to ignore the Constitution. Now the latest rumor is that FIAS will soon become a Corporate business will lead to a lot of people having a rethink of what they want from World Wide Sambo a corporation can bring lots of money to various countries so the choice is Money and Power or Democratic Organisation run by the members for the members. You can guess as an Englishman what I would vote for.

Martin Clarke

SAMBO TO BECOME A COMPANY?

BSF President attended a special function in the City of london yesterday a full report will be on show in the next few days with photographs

Find attached a letter from the World renowned Samboist David Rudman what make the letter so interesting that a rumour is floating around the World that  there is to be a name change with regard Federation International Amateur Sambo talk is of a complete name change or just removing the word Amateur. This obviously looks like a change from a members organisation to a company. Which makes sense of all the political upheaval in  International Sambo Politics over the past few years. DO YOU THINK INTERNATIONAL SAMBO SHOULD BECOME A BUSINESS? let me know

Note the Word Amateur has been dropped is this a mistake? 

Translation from Russian into English

TWO WAYS OF SAMBO DEVELOPMENT

During the last time there are two tendencies that become clear and distinct in the world

development of SAMBO: democratic line and line of dictatorship. Vasylii Shestakov tries

ardently and actively to transform FIAS into private commercial organization, despite Statutes,

history of SAMBO development and principles of norms and morality.

SAMBO isn’t very developed yet in the world and it is based principally on coachesenthusiasts

that are known very well in each country (I don’t take into account countries of

former Soviet Union, Bulgaria and Mongolia where this kind of sport has governmental support

and sambo has been cultivated there for years)

Shestakov trying to keep his power tries quickly to substitute and replace federations that

are not loyal to him by manual federations- actively despite the Statutes of FIAS, creating second

Continental federations (Pan-America, Asia), alternative national federations (Canada, USA,

Czech Republic and others). With that he uses the slogan: “Sambo develops weakly”.

As soon as the president of Swiss federation of sambo Hervi Geldman spoke on the

European congress criticizing Shestakov, then Elyseev started to make hints that “Sambo is

developed badly and weakly in Switzerland”. Like somebody helped Hervi to develop sambo,

organize competitions, seminars, trips to other countries. I don’t know anybody else in

Switzerland who develops so actively sambo in Switzerland and neighbouring France.

And there are a lot of such examples- Victor Sokolovskyi works perfectly in Canada and

he has 200 people, he united around him yet 4 clubs with common quantity of more that 500

people occupying sambo. But as soon as he expressed openly his opinion, Moshanov was sent to

Canada, club of judo was found with the number about 40 sportsmen, and they started work to

create alternative federation of sambo.

There is serious violation of the Statutes of FIAS (p.4.2. Each country could be presented

only by one national federation).Instead of uniting all sambo clubs in one country, the climate of

antagonism is being created. He spends money got from sponsors for the sambo development for

the creation of alternative federations instead of rendering support to already existing

federations.

The requirements of IOC that we are trying to reach tell about the necessity of “avoiding

any conflicts of interests”. Shestakov creates intentionally this conflict. Of course we understand

that nothing would become of this, because according to the Statutes of FIAS p.8.2. “Decision

about exclusion the member of FIAS from International federation of SAMBO (FIAS0 could be

taken by Congress at the request of executive committee. The Congress takes decision by not

less than 2/3 of votes of participants with the right to vote, present personally or by agents on the

correspondent session of the Congress”. But the conflict is presented.

There is also one sharp moment: Executive committee of FIAS adopted proposal about

exclusion of the right to vote of the national federation, that didn’t present 3 sportsmen for the

world championship.

D Rudman

Moshanov has tried to do the same in GB but because we a strong constitution and a strong and well organised organisation he can not do this

World Sambo. Problems esculate

Below is a Youtube Conversation with  Former FIAS President David Rudman.

The British Sombo Federation although neutral  has to abide by the Statutes of FIAS which are legally binding. It has blatantly obvious that the FIAS Statutes have been violated.

So what is best for the members of the British Sombo Federation? The answer is to get these two factions together and get a good old British compromise.

The President Mr Shestakov is a very wealthy and powerful man, he is a personal friend of the Russian President Mr Putin. These two men could be very useful allies in promoting Sambo in the World yet even the most powerful must abide by the rules.

David Rudman is the leader of the opposition he is a former World Class Sambo Player. the best known Sambo Player in the World he was a former President of FIAS and during his Presidency he done more then anyone to unite Sambo and increase its World Wide membership. He may not be as rich and as powerful as Mr Putin and Mr Shestakov but he has the respect of the Sambo World

Now surely if these two factions could work together and acknowledge that mistakes could have been made on both sides it would make FIAS one of the leading Sports organisations in the World. To continue with this  fractious situation will only lead to FIAS and Sambo being relegated to the side lines of Sporting History. It is well known that President Putin is keen admire of Sambo and his ambition is to make Sambo an international educational programme for every country. This will only happen if there is unity.

The continue discord will eventually lead to a rival group being formed and this will not benefit anyone.

The BSF have been invited to a special meeting to be held in Kuala Lumpar Malaysia in 2 weeks time, we will be sending two observers to this meeting Russell Dodds BSF International Co-ordinator and John Sharpe FIAS Treasurer, we also will be sending a representative to a special dinner in the City of London next Monday organised by President Putin

On a more practical subject no one from either side of the FIAS debate has sent anyone to compete in the British Open at the end of June, what countries like GB need is practical support i.e. fighters to make people realise that Sambo is not just an Eastern European Sports but one we have participated in from the mid 1970's. The BSF formed in 1986 has organised over 25 British Opens

Who Are They

A Blast from the past one of these youngsters became an Olympian another became International Power Lifter. See if you guess who they are

British Sombo Federation Governing Body