What is Sambo

Sambo — self-defence without weapons

An international combat sport approved as a sporting discipline on 16 November 1938.

Sambo was developed from national martial arts. Viktor Spiridonov, Vasily Oshchepkov and Anatoly Kharlampiev are considered its founders. On 16 November 1938 the All-Union Committee for Physical Culture and Sport issued an order on the development of the freestyle wrestling that became sambo — this date is regarded as sambo’s birthday.

In 1966 the International Federation of Associated Wrestling Styles (FILA) recognised sambo as an international sport; the first open European Championships were held in Riga in 1972 and the first World Championships in Tehran in 1973. The International SAMBO Federation (FIAS) was established in 1984.

Sambo was recognised by the International Olympic Committee in 2018, and on 20 July 2021 FIAS received permanent IOC recognition.

Styles of sambo

Sport sambo — throws, holds and submission holds; strikes and chokes are prohibited.
Combat sambo — combines sport sambo techniques with strikes and chokes.
Beach sambo — bouts on sand under simplified rules.

Read more in the Sambo Disciplines section.