Combat Sambo Russian Style

Neil Adams a progressive Coach

Many people ask me who I think the best Judo Coach is today.
Well as I do not know every Judo Coach in the World so it is hard to judge but the one who impresses me the most at this present moment in time is Neil Adams not just because he was a marvellous competitor and is an excellent Judo Coach something unusual for an ex competitor but for the fact he has taken his Judo skills and adapted them to other grappling sports especially MMA. The Judo fraternity have a rather snobbish and contempt for other Martial Arts thinking what they do being far superior, Neil I believe has overcome this and is well respected by all grapplers. The one other thing is his commentaries of Judo matches which he doesn’t restrict to World Class competitors I saw one film clip of him commentating a couple kids competing marvellous and a great way to keep kids involved in Judo Yes he charges but that is his lively hood. Get chance to go on one of his seminars and I know you will be impressed.

Sambo in Beijing

Sambo - in BeijingIn 2007 SportAccord offered to arrange a new kind of competitions - the Combat Games. The basic idea of this event is to unite 13 types of single combats into the Unique complex. There are Muaythai, Sambo, Judo, Karate, Wushu, Kickboxing, Boxing, Sumo, Aikido, Ju-Jitsu, Kendo, Taekwondo, Wrestling among them.
All the contest principles and terms were arranged. In April 2010 on the Conference in Dubai each of 13 federations signed the Agreement with SportAccord concerning their participation in the Combat Games.

According to the Agreement between FIAS and SportAccord, our federation formed the strong delegation for participation. It consists of athletes from 35 countries, referees, coaches, directors and representatives of the Continental and National Sambo Federations, the chiefs of FIAS.
During the Games FIAS has managed to hit the target of presentation of Sambo as a picturesque, bright, attractive sport.
While preparing for the Games we have paid much attention to all the presentation points: opening and praising ceremonies, demonstration performances, all special devices, delegation equipment. For example, each athlete is given a double Sambo uniform from FIAS.
During the Games Opening day, the 3rd of September the entire hall for 6000 persons of China Agricultural University Gymnasium was overcrowded. The beautiful parade took place. The President of FIAS Vasiliy Shestakov delivered the salutatory address:
"The First SportAccord Combat Games are a unique and symbolic event in the global sports movement. Their 13 combat sports and martial arts are united by a single concept conceived and implemented by SportAccord. This concept provides for cultural harmonization and enrichment, offering new opportunities and perspectives to the world of sports".
"I believe that Sambo is one of the most emotional, coloruful and harmonious sports. It is devoid of any intrinsic aggression. On the contrary, it is the best self-defense system in the world which makes it possible for any man or woman to defend his or her rights and dignity, and also to defend and protect the weaker ones; thus Sambo makes a significant contribution to the global culture of human relations".
"Our objective is to join the global Olympic family. We aim at being included into the official programmer of the Olympic Games".
Vasiliy Shestakov's speech (full text)
Antonio Espinoza, the vice-president of SportAccord, and the Sambo star Fedor Yemelyanenko welcomed all who were present. Fedor was in the extraordinary role of the FIAS Ambassador during the Combat Games, he was the face of Sambo. He wished to the athletes the fair play and to the spectators - the colorful sport holyday.
The Opening ceremony was continued by the demonstration performances. For 20 minutes the spectators watched the skillful performance of the artistic athletes from the group of the dancers "Triumph" and of the sambists from the Russian State University of physical culture, sports and tourism and of the famous Educational Centre "Sambo-70".
The synthesis of plastic art, flexibility, beauty of the sportsmen, the expressive style of the sambists who demonstrated just madly beautiful technique with great amplitude was magical.
The girls presented the two solo dances - "The pure rush" and "Yin Yang". "The pure rush" performed in the costumes stylized for the Sambo uniform expressed the essence of the combats, the eagerness to achieve the maximum in the development.
The second dance "Yin Yang" was performed with the soundtrack to the movie "Angels and demons". The black and white costumes symbolized unity and struggle of opposites.
Then the athletes performed dances of different countries, and the sambists did the same thing on the language of Sambo. The spectators watched bright element of the struggle of Georgia, Uzbekistan and China. The Chinese spectators were impressed much by the performance of the girls accompanied by the popular Chinese melody in the traditional red costumes embroidered with gold. The sambists impressed by the Shuay-Jao wrestling well-known in China and reminding Sambo.
The hall welcomed standing the extraordinary performance, at the end of which the athletes performed the potpourri consisting of the most elements of Sambo. The cascade of amplitude strokes, complex acrobatic tricks, powerful strokes, painful and chokeholds elements contained the image of the opportunities of Sambo.
During the first day the medals were drawn in the three weight categories: Sport Sambo - women, 56 kg; Sport Sambo - men, 68 kg; Combat Sambo - 74 kg.
In woman nobody could fight the European Champion 2010 - Marianna Alieva, Russia. She won the sambist Karina Stefanova (Bulgaria).
In men sport Sambo Damir Muhidov (Uzbekistan) gained the victory in the fight with the Kazakh athlete. It is in Uzbekistan where the XXXIV World Sambo Championship will take place in November 2010.
The third place was won by the Korean Kwan Sub Kim, who made such a pleasant present for his birthday.
In Combat Sambo the three time division European Champion Bair Omoktuev was the sensational winner. He reached the victory over the two times division World Champion Rumen Dimitrov (Bulgaria).
The first day of Sambo Competitions (video-materials).
The second day brought the sport Sambo champions in the weight categories 90 kg (in men), 64 kg (in women), +100 kg (Combat Sambo).
The European Champion Ekaterina Onoprienko (Russia) won a victory over Olena Sayko (Ukraine), Akobir Kurbanov (Uzbekistan) gained a victory over the Greek athlete, and Stefan Yanosch (Germany) celebrated a victory over the three times division World Champion Alexander Yemelyanenko.
Six medal complete sets were drawn during the two days of competitions in Sambo.
The countries which won medals in Sambo:
Russia - 3 gold, 1 silver medal;
Uzbekistan - 2 gold ones;
Germany - 1 gold medal;
Bulgaria - 2 silver ones;
Greece - 1 silver medal;
Ukraine - 1 silver medal;
Kazakhstan - 1 silver medal;
The Republic of Lithuania - 2 bronze ones;
Korea - 1 bronze medal;
The Republic of Belarus - 1 bronze medal;
Romania - 1 bronze medal;
Moldavia - 1 bronze medal.
Russia is the motherland of Sambo, and Russia managed to win a victory over the strongest Chinese athletes.
Chinese sportsmen were the leaders till the last day of the Games while the athletes from 104 countries fought for victory. But the Russian athletes proved that they are the best on the World Combats forum. There are 18 medals won (three of which belong to the sambists), China won three medals less.
The Combat Games in Beijing have undoubtedly become the holyday of the modern sports. Notwithstanding of quantity and quality of medals and the amount of scores, the Games have united the athletes of different countries and sports.
Athletes are speaking:
Onoprienko (Russia). The Games Champion, Sport Sambo, weight category - 64 kg.
Concerning the victory:
I'm very happy.
Concerning the final fight:
This fight was the final one and that's why it was very hard. My rival and me both were eager to win and were very careful. In spite of the small gap in the score (1:0) it was the remarkable fight.
Bair Omoktuev (Russia). The Games Champion, Combat Sambo, weight category - 74 kg.
I feel all right. I aimed to win a gold medal and find this victory just. Now I can take my time and have a rest.
Concerning the gold medal:
It's splendid. I have not many ones; this medal is of great importance for me.
Marianna Alieva (Russia). The Games Champion, Sport Sambo, weight category 56 kg.
I'm happy to be the one who won the gold medal for Russia. I hit the target while participating in the Combat Games.
Concerning trainings:
I have been training much. I have done the great preparations.
Concerning Sambo:
Sambo is the Russian national sport. Russia is the leader in it, and we must hold our position.
The press-conference of the FIAS President during the Combat Games aroused the huge interest among the journalists. It took place when all the competitions were finished in the main press-centre of the China Agricultural University Gymnasium.
The first Games Champions attended the conference.
Vasiliy Shestakov expressed his idea of Sambo while turning to its history, perspectives and the future of the sport. The FIAS President raised the question of forming the modern image, the face of Sambo speaking on the choice of Sambo development ways in the world. Shestakov remarked it's impossible to move on without China. It's very important to develop Sambo in this country. Shestakov made it his aim to mark the ways of dealing with the question.
Both the President and the athletes aroused admiration within journalists by their sincerity and open-hearted welcome. The atmosphere during the conference was very easy, there were lots of jokes. The congratulations with birthdays added charm to the meeting. The FIAS President congratulated Yevgeniy Stoyanov from Slovenia and the Korean athlete Kwangsub Kim on behalf of the International Amateur Sambo Federation and presented them the memorable prizes.
The Press-Conference was the main theme if lots of the Chinese Mass Media.
The press-conference of the FIAS President (video-materials)
At the Combat Games SportAccord managed not only to solve the questions concerning sports, but also others. For example, on the 1st of September the Congress of FIAS opened. The decision was accepted to register FIAS in Switzerland with the headquarters in Lausanne.
On the 31st of August the meeting of the FIAS President with President of SportAccord Hein Verbruggen took place. They discussed the successful activity of FIAS to spread and to develop Sambo all over the world, the peculiarities of the Combat Games, the organization and the perspectives of arranging the second Combat Games in 2013.
During the meeting with the President of Chinese Olympic Committee Liu Peng, Shestakov discussed the opportunity to develop Sambo in China. The discussion was fruitful and amicable. Some steps were planned to develop Sambo in China.
During the Combat Games in the hotel "Friendship" where the athletes were settled "The Russian House" was welcoming the guests. It was the place where you might come to have a rest, to listen to the music, to congratulate the Russian athletes and to communicate with interesting people and journalists.
On the 2nd of September Fedor Yemelyanenko, the FIAS Ambassador became the star of "The Russian House". The only fact of his presence aroused delight in the delegation. Fedor is the modern sports legend, the strong and noble athlete, no wonder he aroused sincere interest. Many interview, autographs, congratulations from the participants, chats with the fans… The interest demonstrated by the others to Fedor proved he was the real "image of the Games", "the face of Sambo".
The FIAS delegation couldn't help paying much attention to the culture and the sights of China. The special cultural program was generated, according to which the sambists could see the architecture monument which is the part of the World UNESCO inheritance - the Great China Wall.
"The 8th Wonder of the World" impressed everyone. It can't be watched by the eye from the Orbital Station, but is watched on the satellite photos. This excursion was full of slopes and ascents, taking pictures, conversations, jokes. In the end it not only filled people with emotions and impressions, but also united the multinational sambists association.
FIAS according to the Games plan arranged the reception. Over 100 guests gathered in the hotel "Intercontinental". There were vice-mayor of Beijing Liu Jingming, President of SportAccord Hein Verbruggen, the International Federations representatives, the public men, athletes, politicians, journalists.
Vasiliy Shestakov said while delivering the speech:
"The First SportAccord Combat Games 2010in Beijing are indeed a milestone in the development of the international sports movement. For the first time in sports history competitions are being held in such an attractive format. This is a brilliant initiative - the idea of uniting martial arts and combat sports of the whole world, of their interaction and mutual enrichment. It is both the idea and its implementation that I find most attractive: SportAccord and the city of Beijing are demonstrating top performance, and the level of the Games is indeed impressive".
…"As you are probably aware, Sambo was born in Russia, and in this connection we at the International Amateur Sambo Federation, have suggested an idea of hosting the next edition of the Games in Russia, in the city of Sochi. I made this proposal of organizing the second SportAccord Combat Games in Russia, and it was approved and supported by the leaders of my country".
…"There is an old Russian saying which is most appropriate here: It is only with his (own) feet that a man cuts through the path he follows. I believe that the Combat Games 2010 in Beijing are a first step along the path leading to top performance on a global scale, to the promotion of sports values in society and that in its turn will contribute to the implementation of our grand task which is the development of mass sports".
Vasiliy Shestakov's speech (full text)
Hein Verbruggen remarked that Sambo is worthy of the place it keeps. And what is very important - he supported the appeal of Russia to accept the Second Combat Games SportAccord in 2013.
Vice-Mayor of Beijing Liu Jingming expressed his admiration and wished to FIAS and its President Vasiliy Shestakov success in new achievements of what had been planned.
The picturesque moment of the reception was the exhibition of the photos and videomaterials concerning Sambo and FIAS which were demonstrated on large screens. The lively and friendly atmosphere was among the guests. There were a lot of smiles, laughing, jokes, and this fact proved that the reception was a success.

Combat/Sombo Jackets

I will be purchasing several thousand pounds worth of Sombo Jackets in Blue, Red, and Combat Green with shorts and good quality boots they should be here by Chritsmas

So I am selling a quantity of Red/Blue reversable Jackets which are suitable for Sombo, Judo and Jiu JItsu and the very reasonable price of £25 a jacket plus p&p

Striking and Grappling Course

A Course on Striking and Grappling
Swale Martial Arts Club
127 East Street
Sittingbourne
ME10 10

January 23rd 2011
11am till 12.30p
1pm till 2.30pm

Cost £30

With
Andy Brownbridge 6th Dan
President British Grappling

Andy taught at our Annual Summer Camp and went down a storm if you check his CV he has a wealth of experience in many Martial Arts. In recent years he become very involved in MMA Striking/Grappling representing GB in FILA he particularly specialises in Pankration and Combat Wrestling this is a courses not to be missed. The course is limited to 20 people and will be on a first come first served basis so get your entry with fees ASAP.

Send to

IBFBCSA 118 East Street Sittingbourne Kent ME10 4RX

Cheques payable IBF

Closing date January 15th 2011


Andrew Brownbridge 6th Dan
Started training in martial arts 1978
Began coaching 1985
Qualified coach in
Kickboxing (k1 low kick WKA) 6th Degree
Ju jitsu 5th Dan
Kempo karate 2nd Dan
Fung sau kung fu 2nd Degree
Thai boxing instructor
Competed internationally for WKA / WAKO / ISKA / WFFO / ISJA
Positions held
WKA national coach ring sports 2006-2008
ISKA national coach ring sports 2008
ISKA national coach MMA 2009
ISKA board of directors 2008-2009 (director of coaching)
ICO board of directors 2009- present
FILA GB representative
President British grappling
FILA GB national coach 2010 pankration and combat grappling
Academic qualifications
Diploma in health and fitness
Diploma in sports therapy
Diploma sports injury
3rd year undergraduate in sports coaching UCLAN
Sports coaching degree specialising in elite level coaching

Who is a Martial Arts Con man?

Over recent years I have noticed with great interest how Martial Arts practitioners and the Martial Arts press view themselves and how conceptions of ones ability has changed I recently saw in a magazine a guy be interviewed as being a master of his particular Combat Discipline one that was competitive, yet this guy had no competitive experience and had only been involved for 10 years. He was considered an expert? Another example was I recently saw a 40 year old who had done his specific discipline for 20 years being awarded an 8th Dan by his International Body it took me 50 years to get to 8th Dan, many new styles are appearing all claiming to be the ultimate system, kids as young as 6 being awarded Black Belts, I have never graded anyone under the age of 16 to Black belt even then they were competitive Judo grades.
20 years ago I would be angry with this state of affairs but now at 60 years of age I wonder if it that is important, if the person teaching is not harming any body and the people who are participating enjoying themselves , believing they are getting value for money what’s the harm in my opinion none. You could say someone who has reached 8th Dan after just 20 years is not worthy of his grade, in my organisation you would be right but he or she is not in my organisation and therefore the same standards do not apply or maybe I should rephrase that their standards are different to mine. As for the word expert that is one of interpretation someone with 10 years in and no competition experience in my eyes would not be an expert in my eyes but in the eyes of a reporter who has no experience they would be considered an expert.
There are people who shout lets legislate (like they trying to do with Club mark) they would be wrong we live in a free society one that should not allow government to dictate every aspect of our lives, yet I hear you say they could become influential people in major bodies? That is true but that has been happening for years I know many names who now claim to be the Guardians of Martial Arts in high positions who have dubious qualifications but that doesn’t mean they do a bad job. For those of us who are involved in competitive combat disciplines it is very easy to find out the true value of the person by examining his record and his fighting ability, we all know the player who couldn’t compete because he hurt his big toe at 16 if he hadn’t he would have been a World Champion as for other non competitive combat disciplines it is not to easy but soon if they are no good the cracks will show, when they start telling you they can kill with one finger etc just ask yourself “how does he know and when did he do it”

Martin Clarke 8th Dan Judo FIAS Sambo Grandmaster

Thanks from SBC to Nobby and Margret

Geof Gleeson GB greatest Judo Philosopher

One of the greatest thinkers in British Judo since it first came to the UK in my opinion was Geof Gleeson 9th Dan, I had the privilege of being able to call him a friend and mentor. He was responsible for developing the IBFBCSA Coaching Effective Programme something way ahead of its time. I have finished reading his book “Judo Inside Out” first published in 1983 he gave me a copy and signed it “From one Coach to another” this was great honour because he did not have a high regard of most coaches, one time a very senior Judo Grade someone a lot older then me once asked him to sign his Judo License, he refused brushing this very high grade to one side. At the end of the seminar I asked why he refused stating that he had signed my book, his reply was “You understand he doesn’t” That made my signature even more valuable.
Below is the preamble on the flyer take special note of the second paragraph and remember this was written in 1983 27 years ago! Read through the book and you will find even more gems. Now you tell me this man was not ahead of his times.


Judo's origins lie in Japan, and although judo has been practiced in Britain for over sixty years British interpretation of this foreign skill has not taken sufficiently into account the rationale behind the techniques. The differences in the two cultural approaches - their philosophy, religion, social attitudes and psychological pressures - need to be fully appreciated before judo skills can be most effectively taught. In this book, Geof Gleeson takes a close look at the social pressures and ideologies which have helped to mould the shape of judo in Britain and Japan, and shows how new ways of teaching quickly and effectively at all levels emerge from a deeper understanding of the origins and development of the sport itself.
In a society where sport is becoming an increasingly powerful force and can all too easily be manipulated for personal or political ends, the role of the coach becomes ever more vital; but he will himself need special training to be able to deal with all the various aspects of sport. This stimulating and controversial book offers a new approach to sport education, both specifically in judo and more generally in the wider issues that sport will continue to raise.

Geof Gleeson is well qualified to tackle these issues. As National Coach he has taught and coached judo at all levels of performance in many parts of the world. He has trained in Japan and won competitions in Britain, Europe and Japan. His post-graduate research was concerned with the socio-psychological aspects of championship performance (not just in judo), and he has written on the moral and ethical interactions between sport and society.

This is Judo

Its Free

Can’t give it away for Free
Over recent years we have seen a rapid decline in Martial Arts participation especially Judo so the Swale Martial Arts Club tried something really radical they offer Free Judo every Friday Free Pankration every Wednesday and Free MMA SportCombatSombo on Thursday
You would have thought people would be flocking through the door NO
On Wednesday 2 attended Pankration on Friday no one turned up Thursday was more successful with 8 participants. So what can we do or are the Martial Arts destined to the History books? Mind you it would have helped if our local newspapers gave us a little bit of publicity a statement was sent out to all of them
Martin Clarke Sittingbourne

Introduction to MMA SportCS

Russian Fighting

I got the attached from Darren Richardson Face Book site he runs an organisation for Russian Martial Arts


I found it very exciting far better then Cage Fighting but also far to dangerous for the amatuer Martial Arts Player I dread to think what the Insurance would cost if you can get any.

Although a lot of the fighting is uncontrolled take a look at some of the throws superb and controlled If any of you are practising my MMA SportCS you will see the value of throws and how deadly they can be

Local Papers

Local Paper
Our Young Judo Club has been using local papers for over 50 years to inform and promote what they doing for the local community before the advent of computers and email you would write your story and send it to the East Kent Gazette or you would telephone and give your report over the phone, if it was an important event like someone getting a Black Belt, Club Championship or someone winning a British title a photographer would be sent most times accompanied by a reporter. The paper was happy because they getting news and the club was happy because their members were getting publicity for there hard work.
So you would think with all this modern technology i.e. emails digital photography things would be even better, not so. Our local paper has more advertising pages then news and of course each reporter has their preferred sources i.e. their mates so if your club is not part of this inner sanctum you have very little chance of getting a decent report. Our own club is a prime example the Kent Messenger rarely publishing anything about our club or any Judo club come to that unless they are in Maidstone as for Your Swale which is part of the KOS Media group I am not sure they even realise there are local sports clubs but my main criticism is the East Kent Gazette over the years we have spent thousands of pounds advertising with them while our rivals spend none do we get any preference for this NO in fact every report our rivals do they get a photo and a write up every time they enter luckily enough they do not win or do a lot so it is not a regular thing. For some years I have complained each time I am told the photo’s were not good enough which were sent by email yet they are 300 dpi some thing Martial Arts Magazines except, the report was to long. This year several of our pupils gained their Black Belt one was 17 once again my photograph was not accepted and the report given was a 3inch single column. It seems our modern reporter doesn’t have the energy to get out of his seat to look at what is around him apart from when he is in the pub with his mates.
So what do we do just keep plodding along and hope eventually we get a decent reporter, do not bother with the papers or become friends with a reporter and become a drinking buddy?
I know one thing thank God for the Internet at least the ordinary person can get his message out and I will not spend anymore money advertising

Free Lessons

SEPTEMBER
Swale Martial Arts Club
East Street
Sittingbourne
FREE Junior Judo Friday 6pm
FREE Sombo and MMA
SportCombatSombo
Thursday 7.30pm
FREE Pankration Wednesday 7.30pm
Yes FREE during September
Further information contact
ibfbcsa@gmail.com
or visit www.youngjudoclub.co.uk
01795 437124

John Clarke Master of Sombo