Chapter 4
Technical Evaluation Criteria

Bruce Gabrielson, PhD
1994 US SOMBO Team Coach

Technical Criteria

The following two tables describe the overall criteria for awarding points during a SOMBO match. In some cases and age groups, the criteria for illegal holds or technique to score may change from year to year. The information in the tables is to be considered general and should be updated with each years current requirements. Also, each of these techniques will be described in greater detail in sections following the tables. As a general rule, points scored while the attacker remains standing are cut in half when the attacker falls to the mat with his or her opponent.

Wrestlers Throw Scoring
(Figures of these techniques are included in the throwing technique section)

Both Wrestlers Standing
Attacker Applies Throw Without Falling
Defender Lands on Back or Quick Roll Over
-----Total Victory
Defender Lands on Side
-----4
Defender Lands on Stomach, Buttocks, Shoulder or Chest
-----2
Defender Lands on Knee/Hands or a Hand Forearm, Takedown With Control
-----1

Both Wrestlers Standing

Attacker Applies Throw With Falling
Defender Lands on Back or Quick Roll Over
-----4
Defender Lands on Side
-----2
Defender Lands on Stomach, Buttocks, Shoulder or Chest
-----1
Defender Lands on Knee/Hands or a Hand Forearm Takedown With Control
-----1

Attacker Standing, Defender on Mat

Attacker Applies Throw Without Falling
Defender Lands on Back or Quick Roll Over
-----2
Defender Lands on Stomach, Buttocks, Shoulder or Chest
------
Defender Lands on Knee/Hands or a Hand Forearm Takedown With Control
------

Attacker on Mat, Defender Standing or on Mat

Attacker Applies Throw With Defender Falling
Defender Lands on Back or Quick Roll Over
-----1

With Lift of Opponent by Attacker Above Hips*
Defender Lands on Back or Quick Roll Over
-----2
Defender Lands on Side
-----1
Defender Lands on Stomach, Buttocks, Shoulder or Chest
------
Defender Lands on Knee/Hands or a Hand Forearm Takedown With Control
------

* This lift criteria seems to vary between officials and countries. However, many US officials prefer to award the lift points.

Mat Technique

The hold down must be chest to chest or back to chest. The hold down is not broken if the defender is able to lock the legs as in Judo. However, getting your arms accross the chest between you and your opponent will berak the hold down.

In a submission hold, if the defender is able to make it to his or her feet, the action is stopped and both wrestlers are brought to standing. Additionally, each wrestler can apply a submission at the same time. The time limit for a submission starts when indicated by a clenched fist by the referee.

Wrestlers Mat Scoring

10 Seconds Hold Down
-----2 Hold Down Points

20 Seconds Hold Down
-----4 Hold Down Points

Note: Only one hold down can be scored (2 or 4 point) during a match

Painful Legal Hold
-----Total Victory (Match Award)

12 Point Advantage
-----Match Award

First Warning
-----Verbal

First Caution
-----1

Second Caution
-----2

Third Caution
-----Match Award

Wrestling/Scoring Area

Wrestlers are considered off the mat when one foot is off the mat, half the body up to the waist, or a shoulder and buttock is off after a throw or mat wrestling. A throw which begins in the legal wrestling area and lands out-of-bounds still is allowed to score. However, the wrestlers are brought back to standing rather then in par-tier or down position when they start at the center again regardless of how they went out.

One Point Technique

Two Point Technique

Four Point Technique

Total Victory Technique

Referee Scoring Gestures and Other Signals

The following sections identify referee signals which used to indicate match progress or scoring. The referee is dressed in either all white pants and shirt with one red and one blue colored wrist bands or a white short sleeve or long sleeve shirt with one red and one blue sleeve.

White shorts are normally not allowed. The color indicated by the sleeve or wrist band is the wrestlers color who is receiving the warning, score, etc. The referee will normally speak only a few commands followed by a color when addressing a wrestler during wrestling (such as action Red). It is also commonplace for a referee to point at a particular wrestler using the same colored arm or wrist as the wrestler's color for verbal warnings. Awarded points are not called out or otherwise verbalized by the referee.


Left to right: Total Victory, Four Points, Two Points, One Point.


Left to Right: Broken Hold Down or No Points, Verbal and Signal to Watch Hold Down, Throw is on the Mat, Time Out, Illegal Hold.

Footwork

Describing the proper footwork positions for each throw is difficult. The best advice is to watch accomplished JUDO or SOMBO wrestlers execute various throwing techniques. However, at least two maneuvers dominate most trips and one position is standard for many throws. The primary positions for throwing or tripping from your opponents right side is described below:

Throwing T Position: step into a T position across the front of your opponents right toes. Next, step in a backward motion almost between your opponents feet with your left foot while swiveling on the ball of your right foot. At the same time, bend your knees slightly. The throw is executed with a slight bend forward of your body and straightening the legs. Your hip should bump your opponents body.

Trip With Sweep: footsweeps are similar in SOMBO and wrestling. You must step either to the side or backwards while pulling slightly on your opponents jacket. Just as your opponent takes his weight off his right foot, sweep his foot sideways with your left foot while at the same time lifting is shoulders up and twisting your body in a counter-clockwise direction.

Trip With Kazush: pull your opponent forward and lift slightly until you slightly bump your opponents chest (kazush). At the same time step with your left foot to just to the front and about one foot to the left of your opponents right foot. Your right foot, cocked slightly inward, is moved first between your left foot and your opponents right knee, then extended inward behind your opponents right knee. Your body is pushing into your opponent right side, and as you execute the trip, you must bend forward.

Belt Requirements

The USSA has recently established formal requirements for age group belt level promotions in the United States at this time. There has been an informal submission of a set of requirements, and this is currently under review. Hopefully, a decision will be made within the next few month regarding the date of implementation.