Which is generally considered the more difficult division to win a championships in -- Sport or Combat Sambo?
I would imagine the Sport division would have about 10 times the number of competitors.
I've never done either, but sport sambo seems to have a lot more restrictive rules.
Difficuly is a relative thing. I can say that while combat sambo has been around as an art longer than sport sambo, combat sambo is a newer official event in FIAS. Sport sambo comps/rules are well established. Yes, sport sambo is more restrictive in regard to technique. There are still some issues with combat sambo rules which may change a bit from event to event. Take ground striking for example. I was talking to Oleg Savitsky recently and he said that when he fought Fyodor at the combat sambo worlds the rules were changed at the last minute in relation to ground striking. It was not allowed in the end. Fine tuning of rules always happen when a sport is new. Take sport sambo for example...chokes were legal in the early days (1938 - mid 1940's).
Is there a set of rules for Combat Sambo anywhere? I have looked everywhere. I'm very familiar with Sport Sambo rules.
Are there gloves and headgear? Strikes to the face? Knockouts? Chokes? Armbars? Etc.
Thanks Steve
Are there gloves and headgear? Strikes to the face? Knockouts? Chokes? Armbars? Etc.
Yes to all of these.
I son't know of any place they are posted.
I competed in the Combat Sambo division of the US Sambo Nationals back in 1999. There were MANY more competitors in the Sport Sambo divisions.
There was no striking allowed.
Heelhooks were allowed.
You were allowed to close your guard.
Chokes were allowed (but not using the gi/khourka)
Time on the ground was unlimited, i.e. they wouldn't stand you up after 30 seconds or something.
Throwing seemed to be the emphasis in the Sport Sambo divisions, submission in the Combat divisions.
That was my first competition ever! Good times...
I thought the main difference between Combat Sambo and Sport Sambo divisions was the striking.
Has there ever been World Combat Sambo Championships without the striking?
No Striking?? How could there be combat sambo with no striking? Do you mean no striking on the ground or at all? Was the event USSA or AASF?
Steve
It was AAU, I believe, which may mean "Americanized and Watered Down", lol. :)
But there were some good guys there, I got beat in the semi's of my division by a guy from Gokor's (or so I was told).
AAU = USSA (at that time)
Actually, not watered down at all. In fact, some of the USSA guys are very good. The only reason it would be "watered down" is for lack of competition opportunity, promotion, and AAU support. Some of the AASF events can seem just as "watered down" with poor turn out etc.
I still can't believ there was no striking! If that was the case, then it was not combat sambo at all...whatever it was called.
Back then, the movement(and leadership) of Sambo/Sombo was an issue. Different groups were calling it American Modified Sombo/Sambo( this probably shows my age )since it was different from the russian (some claimed...it all looked the same to me). A Combat division was attempted, but not really continued, due to no World level support. I think I remember hearing it actually called Combat Modified Sombo/Sambo. Several individuals ( Steve will know who ) wanted the Combat division ran their way or no way. We were having trouble organizing the Sport version, why would we want to try and add Combat! SO, it was shelved.
Now, due to the MMA movement, the Combat version is having a chance with the cross-training of arts. I think it could possibly bring back the actual self-defense part of Sambo and it's use in life situations.
Just my thoughts...
Jeff
Steve, I didn't mean to imply that I thought that the competition was "watered-down"; I thought there were a lot of really good people there. I just figured (after reading your screen name) that you probably know more about Sambo than me - and since AAU wasn't one of the organizations you mentioned, it might not have been as good as I thought it was. It's good to hear that maybe it was after all!
No offense taken :o) The AAU is some sports does have a rep for being less that top notch. Even if you did not intend that. No worries.
Back then the United States Sombo Association was linked up with AAU. They are not currently, but they may rekindle their relationship.