SOMBO
A Style of Wrestling

Bruce Gabrielson, PhD
Southern Maryland Wrestling Club
Chesapeake Beach, Maryland
1994 US SOMBO Team Coach

Introduction

This handbook, written in 1994, is a formal attempt to describe sport SOMBO wrestling. I have compiled it from various sources including my own experience in both JUDO competition (Black Belt) and in SOMBO competition, plus many years of officiating and teaching. The intent of this document is to help stimulate interest is this unique combination of wrestling and martial arts. I have avoided the combat form of SOMBO herein as this subject is too large to cover in a smaller text.

The handbook provides guidance for both coaches and wrestlers about various aspects of SOMBO and wrestling in general. Coverage includes rules, scoring procedures, referee signals, moves, and comparisons between SOMBO and other wrestling styles including JUDO. A great deal of SOMBO's concentration on throwing techniques evolved from JUDO, hence the many referenced moves. Hopefully, in the future, this book will be upgraded to provide accepted requirements for belt promotions, information on the sport's organizational status, and some of the basic combat techniques.

Table of Contents Chapter 1 - History of SOMBO Wrestling

Chapter 2 - Match Logistics: Age Groups and Bout Length; Mat Set-up; Uniforms

Chapter 3 - SOMBO Scoring Methods: Ways to Score; Mat Wrestling

Chapter 4 - Technical Evaluation Criteria: One Point Techniques; Two Point Techniques; Four Point Techniques; Total Victory Techniques; Referee Scoring Signals; Footwork; Belt Requirements

Chapter 5 - Moves: Scoring Throws (with links to specific details)

You can email me if you have questions or comments.