NEED ALL YOUR SUPPORTS FOR THIS EVENT

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



Sambo Promo

Watch this or else

http://youtu.be/fiORvr7xR6s  Sambo Promo

MMA watch and learn real Wrestling

Greco Roman
FreeStyle
JapaneseCombat Wrestling
http://youtu.be/IJgiKN_tYNY

http://youtu.be/zhC8gyv2Ndo

http://youtu.be/ELoGATOlvC8

World Sambo Prelim report

Over the past few days I have been at the World Sambo Championship in Vilnius Lithuania, absolutely brilliant FIAS has well over 80 Countries and I believe there was 60 countries actually competiting. The standard was amazing and you can watch on www.sambo.tv, GB took two players Danny Roberts and Barry Gibson both only had one fight as in the worlds you can only fight for bronze if you lose to a finalist, both them made a good account. The BSF would like to take more fighters but as we receive no grants or sponsorship it has become increasingly difficult financially. I went to watch and attend the FIAS Congress meeting and it cost me personally £800 for 4 days.


Yet there is some hope the Russians have said they will support us at the Europeans and pay for 3 Sambo and 3 Combat Sambo players accommodation at the Europeans in next years European Championships in Moscow and the BSF have agreed that I will select the Sambo players and Robin in conjunction with Alan Clarkin will select the Combat Sambo players, we are not restricted to three players and can take a full contingent. Must point this is Combat Sambo not my SportCombatSombo, Combat Sambo is full contact on the ground as well.

While at the meeting it was said that $3 million will be spent next year promoting Sambo and money was on offer. I said it was important for GB that we started to see more top World class Sambo players attending British competitions and this have agreed to do. They will be looking for a suitable date and we will get a venue near an airport such as Gatwick or Glasgow, with the letter being the more favourable as we get more support from the North then the South and also Robin make get grants and sponsorship something not happening in the South,

While at the World‘s Robin and Myself met up with Andrew Moshanov a former British Judo Association Technical Director who was a spectator and he has shown a great interest in reviving his interest in Sambo with his influence with the BJA we could see more players having a go.

I am very disappointed with the response to the 25th anniversary (England Open) to day is Tuesday 15th and the closing date is the 21st and we only have a handful of competitors WHY? There is no way the closing date will be extended as it has been advertised for months, this is the trails for anyone wishing to be considered for internationals next year representing England so get booked in.

You will notice I have used the word England well because of the cost of travel, people losing jobs and having wage cuts the BSF have said the economics demand we work from individual countries to help our members. The BSF will apply to FIAS and the European Sambo Federation for permission for them to send National Teams.

The World Combat Games (Combat Olympics organised by Sports Accord) will be held in St Petersburg 2013 and we will hope to send a full team but selection for this event will start January 2012 and competitors will be selected form what they do over a 15 month period

A full report will be put on the net when I get results and Photo’s

http://youtu.be/rwADZSTWMbI

http://youtu.be/uAYowys_Z4Q

BJA accounts

I have been in busy for many years and I still do not understand the minds of accountants. During the year I manage my own accounts in a simple excel programme i.e. Income and expenditure at the end of the year I add them up if the income is bigger then the expenditure then I make a profit. Not that simple I take them to my accountant and he will include so many other factors that my profit becomes a loss even though I have more money in the bank, some years it can be the other way round.

So why do I bring this to the attention of you Combat Practitioners well I have just had the British Judo Associations Financial statement sent me, well two actually as the BJA have a BJA LTD and a BJA Competition & Events Ltd, most is beyond me if I was a keen member I would get my accountant to explain it to me but it would be a waste of money.

What I wanted to know was how many members do they have? How much is spent on wages, how much is spent on the Olympic team (this can be seen clearly on the accounts it was £1567, 024) and how much was spent on legal fees trying to prosecute a top Coach and failing?

If you a BJA member and say what it to do with me well a big bulk of their money come from Government sources i.e. us the Tax payer . Maybe some one out there can explain things to me.

If we send 14 players to the Olympics each player would have cost us £111930.28p and we told we might not even get a medal while a few years ago rumours were of a possible 8 is this good value for money? Has this investment seen a massive improvement in membership?  Should other people have  got the chop?

When I was training for the 1980 Olympics I recollect we only had one Tony Ray on the admin side being paid a salary and on the Coaching side it was Dave Strarbrook and Tony McConnell, and the BJA most successful International period was the 1970’s and 80’s. Oh yes the Coaches were British makes you think  

British judo chairman Densign White had to axe the Team GB elite coaching set-up in order to try and get an Olympic medal

·          

·          

BRITISH Judo chairman Densign White maintains he had to take a gamble in the quest to land an Olympic medal and axe the Team GB elite coaching set-up less than a year from the London Games.

A fifth-place finish for European bronze medalist Colin Oates was the highlight of an otherwise disappointing showing from the British squad at the recent World Championships in Paris, where the likes of leading contender Euan Burton, ranked in the top six for the half-middleweight division, failed to make the latter stages.

Last month the British Judo Association took the unusual step of changing their key personnel mid-cycle with the departures of performance director Margaret Hicks, head coach Patrick Roux and senior women’s coach Jane Bridge.

German Daniel Lascau, who was world champion in 1991 and competed at the Barcelona Games, today officially started his new role overseeing the BJA’s High Performance Programme.

White admits it was a tough decision to dispatch with the services of staff he had worked with for some time, but felt it necessary under the spotlight of delivering targets on the biggest stage of all next summer.

“I haven’t seen any improvement in our performance in the last two years that shows we could win more than one medal at London 2012,” White said.

“The World Championships target was one to three medals, so not to get any at all was very disappointing.

“I am not sure what we can do that is going to make a dramatic difference, but we have to try something.

“It is never pleasant to tell someone they no longer have a job, but the bigger risk for me is to come out of the London Games with no medals.

“If there is any chance I can change that, I have to take the risk.”

Team GB’s last Olympic medal was silver for Kate Howey in Sydney in 2000.

Letters From The Past

When my Mother died in June 2004 we sold them her house to Pete Wise a 2^nd Dan in the YJC it seemed some what appropriate. Pete was recently clearing out the loft and found some old paper work.

The first piece which I have attached was a lesson plan from Nobby Clarke dated about 1963 although there is no date my father had not become a Professional Judo Coach at that time and it looks as though he scribbled a lesson plan on some works paper. The interesting point is that you could still use the lesson plan today but the most fascinating was that he used part of the lesson as a self defence session using throws as the basis of his techniques. I can not remember him doing this but in those days there was very little Jiu Jitsu about so it made sense that he utilised his knowledge of Judo to make in roads into Self Defence. My father was strange in a lot of ways he would bring new ideas into Judo once everybody was doing it he just forgot the idea, like self defence Judo another was Kata he was the first to introduce Kata into Kent, who would have believed that. He was very inventive in his outlook on Judo as was my mother she was doing Judo to music back in the 1960’s and laughed at. I learnt a lot from the two of them and when I found pieces of paper like this and look at what I teach and believe in I realise as youngster I must absorbed a lot of their knowledge.

Another piece was the programme on Terror Kampf dated 1968; this was a self defence system from Germany what I remember of it my mother gained her 1^st Dan in this art. What I remember, it h was just another form of Jiu Jitsu with one difference they would wear Black Gloves. Valerie remembered learning some of this art which she said was mainly using your hands to grab and twist ears, fingers, hair and other body parts to inflict pain. I have looked on You Tube it is still going but seems to have another name Anti Terror Kampf’.

The Young Judo club Philosophy when it started was:

This Yong Judo Club is open to all free from strife, animosity or petty jealousy and functions in the true spirit of Judo

Members are told to

To Brag Little to Lose Well

To Crow Gently if in Luck

To Pay Up To Own Up

To Shut Up If Beaten

Are the Virtues of a Sporting Man?

Author: Arthur Wendell Holmes

Also found was a letter from a school in Edenbridge asking for details of Felt from Bowater’s? Dry felt was used in the making of making paper and my father realised that this heavy Felt would make the ideal covering for his old feathered mattresses he had when he started the Young Judo Club in 1957 and when schools started doing judo they would use their old gym mats but these would slide all over the place but covering them with felt would keep then together. In those days the old Straw filled Tatami came from Japan and was expensive. I believe it was Milom who mad e the first reasonably priced Form Judo Mat with canvas and frame

Mother Margret Clarke started teaching Judo in Schools about 1961 Father Nobby started in 1965

British Sombo 25 years

The British Sombo Federation was started 25 years ago at my club in Sittingbourne, The founder members were myself Martin Clarke, Valerie Clarke, Brenda Jones, Alan Kontozi and Dave Boulding

In that period we have run countless competitions in England and Scotland, we run the European Championships in 1989 and Worlds in 1992 at Herne Bay. The BSF is accepted as the Governing body for Sambo/Sombo by UKSport. It has taken teams to World Championships practically every year since its formation.

To celebrate our Birthday the BSF will be running 25th anniversary championships in conjunction with the English Open on December 4^th at the home of British Sambo/Sombo Sittingbourne.

When we started 25 years ago only a few had Sambo uniforms and when we organised the first comp we had to allow Judo Jackets that is no longer the case all Competition competitors are now expected to wear the proper equipment.

I hope as many as possible turn up for this event details are on the web

http://www.grapplinguk.co.uk/Silver%20Anniversary.htm

Bedford Judo

Bedford Open Judo Championships

Saturday October 1^st 2011

IBF Black belt Russell Dodds recently started a new Judo club and to give this new club a boost he organised a Judo event in the Town of Bedford. His new club has been a run away success and operates on a Saturday morning; it has been a few years since Bedford has held a competition.

I am not going to write a report on the tournament I shall this leave to Russell to write one for the IBF site and Drew for the Young Judo Club but I would like to make a couple of observation

First it was very well attended and organised even though the venue was a bit on the small size but this due to the success of the competition. When Russell first approached me about running an event we both expect about 40 Judoka, this was about the norm for comps lately in Kent, and we did not expect 80 Judoka. Most importantly there were different players competing from as far field as Scotland. This made the competition interesting to watch as regular medal winners were being eliminated or being pushed down the medal table, this was a good thing as some of my own Clubs Judoka was becoming stale and complacent.

It was also good to see all the IBF Bedford getting together to make the competition a success, this particular section of the IBF is a very young group and have plenty of enthusiasm but there one old timer who I was glad to see that was Steve Jacob who has had some problems recently but has now returned minus his pony tail.

IBF Bedford has supported Kent Judo for over thirty years now it is time for Kent to support them especially as most Kent Judoka does not want competition. Plus Bedford is better positioned being in the middle of the country and travelling any where today is no longer cheap, so if we all help bear the cost Judo Competitions may not collapse altogether

I think the rule changes to Judo have had a detrimental effect  especially the down grading of Ippon to what 10 years ago would have been Yuko, this has made the competitions quicker but will deter novices in competing. Those in power, who administer these rules, administer for World Class athletes not for the ordinary Judoka. This weekend I saw many novices and beginners competing who were on the mat for just under a minute some had travelled from Kent and Scotland to give up a day, travel for about 5 hours and pay petrol for a couple of fights which in total lasted 1 minute 30 seconds will not encourage people. If the Judo hierarchy, will not do anything then the ordinary Judoka must, because these people sit in their ivory towers pontificating and earning good money from Judo, reminds me of Nero playing the fiddle while Rome burns

Here are two ideas  which will encourage new Judoka 1) make obtaining an Ippon harder this will lengthen the matches or leave Ippon as it is but have three to win the bout 2) Stop oseakomi being an outright win, I have seen literally thousand of youngsters enter there first competition only to be pushed over held down match finished in 35 seconds and they paid up to £20 for that.

If you want to try something different come to my Junior Points scoring competition in December. To finish well done Russell and Bedford you are helping to keep Judo alive

Uchi Komi

For years I have been unable to compete because of a damaged Knee and Hip and I miss it, since having a knee and hip replacement I feel 200% better and get the temptation to get back on and have a go is great The surgeons have told me that if I take a heavy blow to my knee I could become a cripple and as my wife says you have done your bit what have you to prove. Nothing but that urge is still there. So I have taken a leaf out of the Japanese Judoka Book where they old players go on and just do Uchi Komi, I do not think I am old but thought I will give this a try. So got my old mate 66 year old Alan Kontozi 2nd Dan to get his kit out and last night we had a 1/2 hour Uchi Komi moment. It was very satifying and I especially noticed how much my movements were restricted through muscles and joints not used to moving in such a way, bit more practise and at least I will be able to demonstrate moves again.

Word of advice to all young figthers "NEVER IGNORE AN INJURY AND ALWAYS MAKE SURE IT IS HEALED BEFORE YOU RETURN TO TRAINING" because if you do not it will come back to haunt you

Marin Clarke

Kenshiro Abbe

I have never been one of those who makes a God out of a Martial Art Instructor but occasionally you do get the odd Martial artist who catches your imagination. One of hem has to be Kenshiro Abbe 8^th Dan deceased both my parents were in his association and both received their Dan Grades from him. I met him several times but I was only 10 or 11 so did not take much notice he was just another Jap who was floating about in the early 1960’s. As I got older he was becoming a cult figure not with my parents I might add who treated him as a normal person who was extremely good at Judo.

The reason I tell this story is because someone sent me some old Film footage of him demonstrating some techniques and the Kaeshi Kata. He had some beautiful movement I especially enjoyed watching his hane goshi his hiza guruma was some what suspect but he had a good uke.

With Judo numbers dropping through the floor and with people refusing to compete I am wondering whether we need a Renaissance to Judo becoming a Martial Art again instead of a competitive jacket wrestling sport.

Do watch this Youtube clip it is well worth it

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=PKXhK9OZltY

CombatSombo Competition

Normally I only put a few photo's on the web but our photographer Rob
Birchmore took some excellent Photo's will send the report when I get full
results English CombatSombo Wrestling Championships

https://picasaweb.google.com/102428263424782695829/BCSACombatWrestling2011?authkey=Gv1sRgCLyL0aWHpq_DEg#

Kiddies Cage fighting

As the crowd roars, cage fighters aged 8 and 9 do battle... even after one breaks down in tears (but police say they won't take action against it)

• Police will take no action against the organisers of 'barbaric' cage fighting
• Organisers defend event as 'perfectly legal'
• Jeremy Hunt condemns the contests

Read more: http://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-2040005/Children-young-EIGHT-filmed-taking-cage-fighting.html#ixzz1Yg67givW

This is the headlines in the Daily Mail let’s be honest not the best way to promote a Sport or is it a Sport?

I have to agree with most of what is said about Cage Fighting in general in that it is “Hard, Tough, Barbaric and Spectacular” I personally have no great love for it but if grown men or women want to do it by all means lets them participate after all they are grown ups, I am told it is becoming more regulated and a lot safer which is only a good thing. Children NO they need to be protected till they are old enough to make their own decision.

The competition mentioned above I did watch and did not see any kicking and punching unlike others I have seen on the internet but to suggest, as some did, that this was no worse than kids doing Judo or Wrestling is absolute rubbish, many of the techniques I saw being applied neck cranks, arm/leg locks, strangles etc would never be allowed in either sports. Remember Judo and Wrestling have had nearly a Century of developing rules to make the sports safe eliminating the most dangerous of techniques.

The supporters of this Kiddy Bashing tell us is that is just like MMA this is supposed to means something a Mish Mash of Fighting Styles with no governing body or one set of rules. Well that has now finished SPORTS ACCORD which is the controlling Body of all World Sports has asked FILA (http://www.fila-wrestling.com/) International Federation for all Wrestling Styles, to take over MMA which is now called FILA Grappling MMA in GB the governing body is the British Wrestling Association and I would recommend everyone to join this legitimate organization.

Let’s be honest the reason they done this in a cage was to create an image that it was something different than the normal forms of grappling, a crowd puller hence a financial success.

Culture Secretary Jeremy Hunt today condemned cage fighting among children as young as eight as 'barbaric' and expressed shocks over an apparent lack of restrictions on the activity.

I totally agree yet he along with his government allows the British Taekwondo Board of Control to teach children as young as 3 to kick and punch surely that is just as barbaric.

The fighting in a cage symbolizes wild animals fighting, caged because they a danger to the onlooker a spectacular not unlike Romans watching gladiators fight to the death. Do we really want this type of blood lust instilled in our children?

For those who not content with traditional Grappling sports develop your own system but make sure it is safe with codes of conduct and ethics. Yet I think Kids Cage Fighting will get bigger because there is money to made organizing events, starting clubs etc and you will always have parents trying to live through their children doing things they can not or will not do.

As for me I will stick to the traditional styles.

Martin Clarke Sambo Grandmaster 8^th Dan Judo

http://youtu.be/e4rTB0zhsNs

With Kicking and punching notice no head guards

http://youtu.be/2j6LuoPOvm8

More Sambo Techniques

Summer Camp is finished and I am back home

Back home from Summer Camp, pleased to be in my own bed, once again over indulged put on 6 lbs and my diabetes was up to 12, will soon have them down take me about a week. Feel totally whacked out and did not do a lot, some say it is an age thing but I believe its because you are on a high all the week.
Summer Camp is like being in a Bubble away from reality, you are with people you want to be with doing something you all enjoy and want to do, where else i life can you say that? You meet old friends and make new ones. For the first couple of days after camp you feel deflated and in a period of Anti Climax but then reality kicks in and of we go again.

Many have said you have never real experience the Martial Arts until you have spent a week at Camp quite agree and this is my 45th year

http://www.budo-ibf.co.uk/ibf_summer_camp_2011.htm

Weather in USA

It is the end of Summer Camp maybe not successful in numbers but in spirit and quality of players a good week. All week we have moaned about the bad weather but sometimes I feel lucky to live in England when you consider the weather conditions in the USA. I hope all my Friends in the USA are safe and I send out my prayers to them.

Want to read the report on the Summer Camp go to www.britishsambo.co.uk and open the IBF web site