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Sambo is a form of Russian martial arts that is utilized for self-defense, physical fitness, and competitions. It is an acronym for SAMozashchita Bez Oruzhiya which means “self-defense without weapons”. This sport is known for three moves: ground control skills, takedowns, and leg locks. The very goal of this martial art is to end the fight quickly.

Sambo is similar to judo and jujutsu, but also incorporates many of the most effective different martial art styles. It became an official sport in 1938 with the help of USSR All-Union Sports Committee.

This martial art was founded by Vasili Oshchepkov who was a karate and judo trainer for Russia’s elite Red Army and Victor Spiridonov who had an extensive training in Greco-Roman and other styles of wrestling. Although both were working independently, eventually, their styles were combined and thus SAMBO was created.

There are three main styles of Sambo.

• Sport Sambo — involves a lot of takedowns, like Judo. All types of leg locks are allowed in the competition. (also known as Sambo wrestling)
• Combat Sambo — made for military, includes weapons usage, disarming techniques, lots of grappling and striking. Resembles modern mixed martial arts.
• Beach Sambo — a modified version of sambo played on the sand, with bouts lasting three minutes, without penalties and mat wrestling.

There are also other less known variations:

• Self-Defense Sambo is all about defending oneself against an aggressor.
• Special Sambo, which was developed by Army Special Forces, is more like of Combat Sambo but with specified goals depending on the group.
• Freestyle Sambo was created by American Sambo Association in 2004. In this style, choke holds and submissions are allowed (moves that are currently not allowed in Sport Sambo).

Sambo at the World Games

Sambo made its debut at the 1985 London World Games, with Combat Sambo as the only discipline. The next appearance of this sport was at 1993 The Hague World Games with Combat Sambo as the only discipline, still. After several years, Sambo made an appearance at the 2025 Chengdu World Games.

Combat Sambo allows striking and grappling. It also allows other techniques, such as kicks, punches, elbows, knees, headbutts, and groin strikes. That's not all, athletes can also use throws, holds, chokes, and locks. 

Here are the medalists who won gold at the 2025 Chengdu Sambo event:

Similar Sports

• Beach Sambo — a modified version of sambo played on the sand, with bouts lasting three minutes, without penalties and mat wrestling.
• Aikido — Shodokan Aikido (also called Sport Aikido) is a style of the martial art Aikido that is used for competitions.
• Judo — the objective is to throw or takedown the opposing player to the ground.
• Taekwondo — a self-defense discipline that originated in Korea.
• Karate — a martial art developed in Japan that uses punching, kicking, knee strikes, elbow strikes, and some open-hand techniques.
• Jiu-Jitsu / Jujutsu — a Japanese martial art using close combat for defeating an armed and armored opponent, with only a short weapon or none at all.
• MMA — a full-contact individual combat sport which include aspects of several other combat sports and martial arts.

Related Pages

• There was a demonstration of sambo at the 1980 Olympic Games
• Martial Arts — list of martial arts sports
• Complete list of sports
• The Encyclopedia of Sports — a list of every sport from around the world.
• Sport in Russia

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