SOMBO

Sombo is an acronym for Samooborona Bez Orushia, which is Russian for "Self Defense without weapons". It is a system of hand to hand combat against both

unarmed and armed opponents.

A Brief History of Sombo

Sombo is a combative art developed in Russia in the early part of the 20th Century. Under the guidance of such men as V.S. Oshchepkov, V.A. Spiridinov, and A. A. Kharlampiev Sombo drew from existing martial arts and concepts from countries such as Japan, China, Indonesia, Burma, Thailand, The United States, Mongolia, France, India, Africa and of course the former Soviet States. These included but were not limited to Judo, Jiu-Jitsu, Savate, Western Wrestling, Greco Roman, Catch-As-Catch-Can, Silat, Kung Fu, and the native wrestling that existed in the fifteen republics of the former Soviet Union., Some trace its history back to the 10th Century Cossacks a nomadic paramilitary society whose fighting skills were highly prized. The early Russians were constantly repelling invaders from all sides who brought various fighting skills to bear and what was found to be useful in these was absorbed into what became Sombo.

Having been refined by civilian and military groups Sombo’s official birthday is November 16, 1938 when it was officially accepted as sport by the National Committee of Physical Culture of the USSR. Even though it had and has a sport aspect the military aspect or Combat Sombo was taught to soldiers as a method of hand to hand combat. Later it was developed further as a method of quickly instructing elite military (Spetsnaz) in hand to hand combat skills and self defense. Sport Sombo was recognized in 1968 as the third style of wrestling with Freestyle and Greco Roman by the International Amateur Wrestling Association. While it is a rapidly growing form of wrestling sport worldwide it retains its roots as a highly developed and proven combat system.