Sambo
Soviet-origin martial art blending judo, wrestling and regional grappling systems.
👥1 per team🌤indoor
What is Sambo?
Sambo ("self-defence without weapons") is a Soviet-origin martial art developed in the 1920s. Sport sambo resembles jacketed wrestling with leg locks (unlike judo); combat sambo adds striking. It has produced world-class MMA fighters and is contested internationally under FIAS.
Quick facts
Category
Combat Sports
Type
Individual
Players
1 per team
Where played
indoor
Country of origin
🇷🇺 Russia
Estimated origin
1920s Soviet Union (Anatoly Kharlampiev, Viktor Spiridonov, Vasili Oshchepkov)
Olympic
No
Popularity
major
Sources & provenance
Last verified 2026-08-20.verified