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FIAS President visits GB

On Tuesday evening December 6th BSF President Martin Clarke and BSF Vice President Colin Carrott, travelled to the Dorchester Hotel in Park Lane London to have a meeting with FIAS President Vasily Shestakov also present was FIAS Vice President Andrey Kliamko, Alexander Kutznetsov and Andrew Moshanov. The President was in town for other business but wanted an appraisal of British Sombo and how FIAS can help.

FIAS has appointed Andrew Moshanov as the FIAS Liaison Officer for Great Britain, British Sombo Federation must have created a good example for FIAS to take such big interest in us. Some of you may not know Andrew Moshanov, he in fact a world renowned Judo Coach and until recently was the Technical Advisor for the British Judo Association and according to my sources made a big impact on the BJA. Yet what is important to us is that Andrew was a successful Sombo Player and produced a couple of World Ladies Champions, he is very well connected in the Sombo World. He will undoubtedly be a great attribute to the BSF.

The meeting covered many aspects the introduction of Sambo.TV on the internet was seen as a massive plus, FIAS are now paying  World Champions Men, Women and Combat Sambo an annual fee for being placed in the World Championships Gold will get 1000$ a month Silver 750$ a month and Bronze 500$ a definite incentive. Discussion also revolved around GB holding a European Championship, Martin said that he had organise one in 1989 in Herne Bay which was a financial disaster. The President said that FIAS would help with the financial aspect which is good but the BSF needs to find a suitable venue and most importantly Volunteers which are prepared to help. FIAS are very excited about the World University and Student Championships being held near Moscow in 2013, Martin promised to promote this by contacting the various Sporting Bodies connected Students.  FIAS also want to get the BSF recognised by the British Olympic Association Martin explained that the BOA will only accept organisations that recognised by UKSport and are an Olympic Sport. The BSF is recognised by UKSport but until Sombo is recognised as an Olympic sport they can go no further.

The President asked how the BSF saw the future Martin answered

1)      Massive adverting campaign in the Martial Arts Media, sadly to say Martial Arts Magazine very rarely print reports unless in advertisement goes in at the same time

2)      Coaches to go the length and breadth of the British Isles coaching and introducing Sombo to other styles of Combat. This we have already started with John Clarke and Colin Carrott. If we could get funding the Coaches could get paid and the Courses would be free

3)       A couple of months after coaching a club we could return and run a small competition in there club premises. These would be a feed for bigger tournaments

4)      BSF are encouraging its members clubs to run more of these smaller events as the Financial situation  in GB is hitting people badly

5)      Martin has personally purchased £10,000 worth of Sombo Jackets and Boots to keep the sport going as it has always been difficult getting equipment

Mr Shestakov said that FIAS may help with some Junior Jackets; he also said he may be able to help with Wrestling Mats and getting top quality Coaches to come to GB. Martin thanked him for this and said the jackets would be well received but sending a Coach would only be useful for the more experienced Somboist, they would be wasted on beginners.

The meeting finished with Andrew Moshanov agreeing to organise a business plan and FIAS would keep in regular touch with the BSF. FIAS President thanked Martin and Colin attending and congratulated them on their 25^th year

A Sambo Award letter from Steve Sweetlove MBE

Dear Martin,

I could not let go the passing of twenty five years of the British Sambo Federation (BSF) go without writing to you. It is a great shame that there was no celebration of this achievement. I know you tried your very best to have a twenty five year celebration competition but due of a lack of entries it had to be cancelled. I also tried to organise a celebration dinner but it was impossible to make it financially viable.

As you know I was one of the first to join the newly formed BSF in 1986 and my Bedford Club has produced many National Champions over the years, Mark Wainwright, Tracy Farmer, Emily Gittens, Zane Lightfoot, Chris Kefford, Chris Golder and John Nichols, to name just a few. I also introduced Mick Player, Matthew Clempner and Paul Sawyer to the BSF and I in the past I run many tournaments on behalf of the BSF. I think I have given my fair share to the promotion of Sambo.

I find it really sad that the interest in Sambo in Great Britain is not what it once was, like the days when the team included Olympians, Commonwealth champions and when sportsmen/women gained medals at European and World level. I well remember how well you fought at the World Championships in Pau, France and was so proud of the way you won the Silver medal, it is one memory that will always stick in my mind.....fantastic performance!

I admire you for introducing Sambo to Great Britain and for keeping the BSF going for so long. I was pleased to see your email concerning the new found interest and help you are going to receive from FIAS, I hope it is the start of a revival for the BSF.

To celebrate the first twenty five years of the BSF, I would like to present a trophy that should be presented on a Bi Annual basis to the 'Unsung Hero'. The award should be given to the sportsperson who has made a substantive, yet unrecognised contribution to sport. Sportspeople are nominated by members of the BSF, and must be aged 16 years or over Nominees may not put themselves forward or be nominated by a member of their immediate family. A nominee must actively help others participate in a sport at any level on a voluntary basis. The work they do must not be part of their job or take part within their place of work. Previous winners of the award will be ineligible for nomination for the period of five years after first receiving it. The award can go to players, coaches, organisers and tournament directors etc, in fact anyone involved in Sambo.

If you agree, this year the award should go to you for the tireless work you have given over the past twenty five years, however you may wish to decline and open up the nominations for this year.

Perhaps the award can be presented at the next tournament and then annually either at the AGM or National championships. To make the decision impartial the committee for deciding who should get the award will consist of you, Mick Poole and I.

Regards

Stephen Sweetlove MBE

Dear Steve

Great idea and it is the first time since I started the BSF that anyone has recognised my contribution obviously I can not say whether I should receive the award. The fact you and Mick think I should be rewarded is a Thank you in its own right.

Martin

Jamie Marzetti

Jamie Marzetti recently took part in British Judo Association Help the Heroes’ judo comp in Gillingham. in the u82kg section Jamie had 3 fight from which he won the first 2 with no problems at all winning both with Ippon and in the finals it seemed that it was impossible to get another Ippon and won the finals with 5 yukos.
Coach John said i am really impressed with Jamie at the moment he is training really well and hard and is ready to go for his 2nd Dan next year and if he keeps this up i don’t see him having any problem in gaining it.
Anyone interested in Judo/Sambo competitive training come along on a Tuesday at 8pm. In the New Year Keith Costa 3^rd Dan will be starting a Adult Beginners Judo Class on a Friday 7.30 pm at the Swale Martial Arts Club East Street Sittingbourne, Sambo Grandmaster Martin Clarke will be starting up the Advanced Sambo Clas on a Thursday 7.30pm at the same venue
Further information ibfbcsa@gmail.com 07074 200150 www.warriorsgrapplingacademy.co.uk www.youngjudoclub.co.uk

Warriors