Newsletter of the American Sambo Association. Vol. 11, No. 1.

January -February, 2013

CONTENTS
1)
2)
3)
4)
5)
6)
7)
8)
9)
10)
11)

Presidents remarks
Results: NOLA Sport Sambo Invitational
New ASA Sponsor: Ab Force
Save the Date: Nashville Open
Picture this!
ASA Launched its Coach Card Program
Book: Sambo Wrestling
Book: Combat Sambo Leg Attacks
Sambo Lessons: Sambo Grip to Sub
Upcoming Events
ASA and Sambo in the press.

A Word from the President

April will mark 10 years for the ASA! Time flies!

Our wings have spread to include 26 states and
4 countries. I cant wait to see what happens in
the next decade. Lets get all 50 states on
board!
Thanks to you all for your loyalty and
commitment to our growth. None of what we
have accomplished would be possible with all
your help.
So, sit back and dig in to this first issue of our
10th year as an organization!

Greetings everyone,

Sincerely,
Stephen Koepfer, ASA President

2013 is here and Sambo & the ASA are blowing

up! This year is going to mark a big leap for
Sambos growth in the US. There are so many
irons in the fire!

Results: 2013 NOLA Sport

Sambo Invitational

Most importantly is our new and improved

website with lots of new features and sections,
so please visit www.ussambo.com and check
out what weve got going on!
In this issue we have lots of tournament,
seminar, and news to offer you; including an
important new sponsorship announcement!

New Orleans, Louisiana

January 19, 2013
(Weight classes were determined at the event
based on entries)

Under 162
Gold - Wade Allison
Silver - Richard Crenwelge
Bronze - Denny Lenormand

Under 172
Gold - Ben Syers
Silver - Ryan Cook
Bronze - Collin Murray

Under 185
Gold - Andrew Marshal
Silver - Jeremy Piaser
Bronze - Rick Foster

Over 185
Gold - Marshall Leavoy
Silver - Anthony Sansonetti
Bronze - Thomas Webb
Teams:
NOLA BJJ (La)
Team Renegade (NY)
Guy Mezger's Combat Sports Club (Tx)
Monolith Grappling Arts/South Austin Gym (Tx)
Wolkfpack MMA (Tx)
LA Boxing/BJJ Revolution (La)

This tournament will not only offer these two

unique competitive opportunities for the first
time in Tennessee, but also represents the first
time the ASA & ISWA have collaborated with
ASA members Fort Campbell Combatives and
Kevin Walker. The ASA & ISWA have
demonstrated great success with the 2012
North American Throwdown (in Montreal) and
2012 Texas Open Championships (in Austin).
This event marks the third installment in a
growing joint tournament circuit.
Get ready for an incredible event that will bring
these two great combat sports to Nashville for
the first time! We all look forward to seeing you
on the mats. Event site: www.sambomma.com
We are very proud to have this event sponsored
by Absolute Force International Sporting Goods!
http://ussambo.com/sponsors.html

Picture this!

Save the Date: March 16th

First Annual Nashville Open
Combat Sambo & Catch
Wrestling Championships
The American Sambo Association (ASA),
International Submission Wrestling Alliance
(ISWA) and ASA Member Club Fort Campbell
Combatives would like to invite you to the First
Annual Nashville Combat Sambo and Catch
Wrestling
Open
Championships!
Our
Tournament directors include ASA President
Stephen Koepfer, ASA members Kevin Walker
of Bonafyde MMA, John Renken of Fort
Campbell Combatives, Kris Iatskevich of the
ISWA and Boyd Ritche of Black Force MMA.
Head Referees are ASA Advory Board Member
Vladislav Koulikov and Kris Iatskevich.

ASA member Paul LaBlanc (right) with two of

the great US Sambo wrestlers of the '70s & '80s.
Steve Siroy (Left-National Champ, Pan American
Games Champ, 4th World Championships) &
Greg Gibson (Center - National Champ in all
three styles of wrestling, World Medalist in all
three styles, Sambo World Champ & Olympic
Silver medal in Greco Roman).

To learn more about Sambo World Team

Member, National Champion and Pan Am
Medalist Paul LaBlanc watch this short
documentary: http://youtu.be/XzuhZV6wyyQ

Absolute Force Sponsors the

ASA!

We are honored to announce that Absolute

Force International Sporting Goods has joined
forces and sponsored the ASA! As you all know,
one of the biggest barriers to the growth of our
sport in the US has been availability of quality
Sambo gear.
For many years the ASA has struggled to
produce, ship or manufacture Sambo kurtki. We
are very glad to have built a relationship with
Ab Force to produce our Earth Brand jackets in
the past. However, we have taken it to the next
level! Ab Force is now a producer of Sambo
gear for FIAS: Including jackets, shoes, shorts,
head gear, gloves, and shin guards (as well as
gear for other martial arts).
Any subscriber of this newsletter can now order
quality Sambo gear (I have tested the product!)
on a regular basis from Ab Force! Never again
struggle to find a readily available supply.
When you place your order at the Ab Force
website, please be sure to note: American
Sambo Association Customer in the comment
section on your order page! This will help
support us with our future relationship with Ab
Force and help us track sales.
Ab Force will be sponsoring our March 16th
Nashville Open. To learn more about Ab Force,
visit: http://ussambo.com/sponsors.html

ASA Coaching Card Program

Launched in 2012

After 10 years of existence, the ASA has grown

to encompass 26 states. We have enacted
public training logs for our club members,
annual training camps, tournaments, and
nurtured a new generation of US Sambo
enthusiasts. We have now taken it to the next
needed level.
We are very proud to have launched our ASA
Coach Card Program for active ASA members.
With standards expected from any amateur
sports organization, we have structured our
program in four tiers; each tier building on the
prior.
Movement up the coaching ladder will take the
student through Apprentice, Assistant Coach,
Coach, and Senior Coach levels. Movement
through these levels will be based on
objectively defined criteria including technical
skill, continuing education, teaching & coaching
experience, contributions to the growth of the
sport, and time requirements.
Our inaugural class began at the 2012 Sambo
Summit Training Camp in Chicago. The following
persons have completed the requirements to
be granted the title of Apprentice Coach:
Del Valle, Carlos (Completed 10/20/12)
Frale, Tom (Completed 10/20/12)
Kennedy, Patrick (Completed 10/20/12)
Lincoln, Matt (Completed 10/20/12)
Roman, Dana (Completed 11/18/12)
Renfroe, Chris (Completed 11/12/12)
Swanson, Frank (Completed 10/20/12)
Anyone interested in starting a coaching track
with the ASA can view all the requirements at:
http://ussambo.com/coach.html
Please contact us at 718-728-8054 or
samboinfo@yahoo.com for more information.

Sambo Wrestling - A Book

by ASA Vice President Reilly
Bodycomb!

This book details the rules, techniques and

principles of modern Sport Sambo in a format
that can be appreciated by brand new students
and experienced grapplers alike. With incredibly
high quality professional photography, this
book beautifully renders some of the most
important and dynamic techniques used in
competitive Sambo all over the world. This book
can serve as a text book and stand alone system
to incorporate Sambo into any grappling gym
environment, or simply add something
interesting and unique to any martial arts fan's
coffee table!
Reilly Bodycomb is a Sambo and Submission
Grappling instructor currently teaching out of
New Orleans, Louisiana. His competition
achievements include a Gold medal at the 2011
Dutch Sambo Open Championships and Bronze
medals at the 2010 USA Sambo Open
Championships and 2012 British Open Sambo
Championships. He also represented the United
States at the 2008 World Sambo Championships
in St. Petersburg, Russia.

Aside from competitive Sambo, Reilly is

recognized for his use of leg lock entrances in
No-Gi Submission Grappling competition. Voted
2011 Mid-Atlantic Grappler of the Year by
uscombatsports.com,
he
has
achieved
numerous wins in advanced grappling
tournaments including a Gold Medal at the
2009 NAGA North East Ground Fighting
Championships. Reilly has coached athletes to
victories in multiple sports including Sambo,
Submission Grappling, Kickboxing and MMA.
Purchase Sambo Wrestling in hardcover,
paperback, or as an iPad ap! Visit
www.sambounited.com

Combat Sambo Leg Attacks:

A Book by Stephen Koepfer &
Inger Schoelkopf

For a limited time only, Digitsu is offering a

special! Buy three lessons and get a fourth
free! If you have already purchased lessons on
Grip to Sub, you will receive a special
promotion as well. Keep an eye on your email!

This book offers a brilliant photo essay shot by

Inger Schoelkopf during a seminar on leg locks
by Stephen Koepfer. Crisp black & white photos
highlight the beauty and intricacy of grappling
leg attacks. Captions describing the action
accent the image sequences. This book is
perfect for any grappling clubs waiting room or
library and is available in hardcover, paperback,
and iBook. A portion of the proceeds will go to
the Johns Hopkins Hospital Neurological Spine
Center.
To purchase or view preview of the book, visit:
http://www.blurb.com/bookstore/detail/30469
10

Sambo lessons on SamboGrip to Sub

Digitsu presents Sambo: Grip to
Sub with NY Combat Sambo head
coach Stephen Koepfer

Visit www.digitsu.com to purchase

revolutionary instructional series.

this

Your instructor and renowned authority on

Sambo, Stephen Koepfer, is the head coach of
New York Combat Sambo. He has taught at the
Suvorov Military Academy and the FKE in St.
Petersburg, Russia. Stephen served as a US
team coach at the 70th Anniversary World
Sambo Championships in 2008 and most
recently was featured on the Travel Channel
program "Dhani Tackles the Globe."
Stephen walks you through the following:
Grips often utilized in Sambo competitions.
Four High percentage takedowns/throws
stemming from the grip (Russian tie, Russian
grip over the near and far shoulder, and
sleeve/opposite lapel)
Eight EFFECTIVE and PRACTICAL submissions
from the takedowns/throws
Many techniques contain LIVE examples from
Sambo COMPETITIONS.
Replays of each technique shown from
multiple angles in slow motion.

Whether you are a Sambo practitioner, Catch

Wrestler, Judoka or Brazilian Jiu Jitsu player,
this series will help you EXPAND YOUR
REPERTOIRE and take your skills to the next
level!
Bring home one of the most unique online
instructional series you will ever own
instantly with Digitsus online streaming video
technology.
Click here for a recent review of Grip to Sub
Visit www.digitsu.com to purchase this
revolutionary series.

2013 Events
January 18-19, 2013 - Tampa, Florida
Sambo Seminar with ASA Member Carlos
Cummings. Frontline Fitness: 8267 Causeway
Blvd.Tampa, Florida. 33619. Friday 5-8pm.
Saturday 10am - 2pm. Contact Jeff Ogborn to
register: 813.516.6840
January 19, 2013 New Orleans, Louisiana
NOLA Sport Sambo Invitational.
Contact Reilly Bodycomb to inquire about
participation. http://sambounited.com/nola/
February 8-9, 2013 - Murray, Kentucky.
Seminar with ASA Member Carlos Cummings.
Quest Fitness/Gracie Barra. 809 Coldwater
Road, Murray, Kentucky. 42071. Contact
Kenneth at 270-226-0243 for more information.
February 13, 2013 South Carolina
Dan "THE BEAST" Severn is going to be putting
on a 3hr seminar at ASA Member Club Black
Force MMA on Feb. 13th, 2013 from 7-10pm.
Tickets are $50.00 in advance or $100.00 at the
door. The 1st 15 people to sign up will receive 1
month free of training! Call 843-771-1448 or

email ddecker@blackforcemma.com for more

info.
February 16-17, 2013 - Levittown, NY.
Association of Boxing Commissions approved
MMA Judge and Referee
Course. www.nymmatraining.com
March 3, 2013 Columbus, Ohio
Arnolds Martial Arts Festival
For the first time, Sport Sambo will be part of
the line up at the Arnolds Martial Arts Festival!
Contact Joe Neely for more info
jneely@fuse.net or visit the website at
http://arnoldsportsfestival.com
March 16, 2013 Nashville, Tennessee
1st Annual ASA/ISWA Combat Sambo & Catch
Wrestling Open. Hosted by ASA Member Club
Fort Campbell Combatives.
www.sambomma.com
March 16, 2013 Jamestown, Ohio
SomboJoe State Championships (Sport Sambo).
Contact Joe Neely for more info:
jneely@fuse.net
April 5, 2013 - Vinton, Virginia.
Carlos Cummings Sambo Seminar. 6-9pm. For
more information, check the event page on
Facebook or call John Miller
at dojocho@kyuusai.org
April 13, 2013 Louisville, Kentucky
SomboJoe Kentucky State Championships (Sport
Sambo). Contact Joe Neely for info:
jneely@fuse.net
April, 2013 (date pending) - New Jersey
ASA US Team Trials (Sport Sambo). Winners will
be eligible for any international team the ASA
fields in 2013. Website coming soon.

May 20-30, 2013 - Moscow, Russia

ASA International training camp. Hosted by Igor
Kurinnoy/Club Borec. Contact Gregg
Humphreys for more information.
August 17, 2013 Austin, Texas
3rd Annual ASA/ISWA Texas Open Sambo &
Catch Wrestling Championships. Hosted by ASA
Gold Medal Club Members Eclectic Combat
Systems and ISWA Member Club Rubicon Fight
Sport. Information at www.sambofighter.com
September 19- 22, 2013 - Virginia
Martial Arts on the Mountain Training Camp.
Sambo, Catch Wrestling, Boxing, and MMA with
Carlos Cummings (ASA member), Boyd Ritchie
(ASA Member), Mark Hatmaker. $250 for
training, Room and board. For more
information, visit the Facebook event page or
contact ASA Member John Miller
at dojocho@kyuusai.org
October 18-20, 2013 Arizona
7th Annual Sambo Summit (Arizona) hosted by
ASA Member club Jay J Pages MMA & BJJ.
Registration information coming soon.

ASA and Sambo News

October 13, 2012
World Sambo team member Richard Crenwelge
out of ASA member club Monolith Academy in
Austin, Texas win Gold at the Texas Judo
Championships (66kg division)!

December 13, 2012

Bonafyde MMA/Sidthilaw Muay Thai
Pro fighter Gerric Hayes won his fight at 170lbs
at XFC 21. He stalked his opponent for the first
round damaging him with Knees to the head.
Gerric kicked his opponent with a calf kick and
dropped him, where he took top and delivered
elbows that cut his opponent up. The second
round was the more of the same; Gerric
secured the plum and dropped his opponent
with knees to the head. As his opponent turtled
up, he took side control and finished his guy
with strikes. It was a very bloody and hard
fought battle. Gerric is a Student of Carlos
Cummings Combat Sambo and trains in
Nashville with Kevin Walker for Catch
Wrestling/Sambo and Chris Beasley for Muay
Thai and Boxing.
Check out this interview with Gerric:
http://youtu.be/43IuvTy2rME
December 15, 2012
Grant Gilliam, head coach of ASA member club
Eclectic Combat Systems, offer a seminar for
Naval Reserves at Camp Mabry.

December 18, 2012

Combat Sambo champion Rustam Khabilov
debuts in the UFC with devastating results.
Elementary Sambo as he called it! He is the
report from Cage Potato
December 27, 2012
New York Combat Sambo held a blood drive in
conjuction with the NY Blood Center! All donors
received free copies of Jim Genias Raw
Combat or Matthew Pollys Tapped Out. The
drive brought is 27 donors who helped
replenish the dwindling post Hurricane Sandy
blood supply.

January, 2013
Be sure to check out the Winter, 2013 MMA
Around the World issue of Black Belt
Magazine. It includes an article on Sambo in
MMA by Mark Jacobs with interviews with ASA
Advisory Board Member Vladislav Koulikov,
ASA Member Oleg Savitsky, and ASA President
Stephen Koepfer.

January 16, 2013

ASA Board Member Reilly Bodycombs Sambo
Wrestling named Book of the Year for 2012 by
Budo Videos This Week in BJJ! View Episode
January 20, 2013
After sporting a T-shirt that stated If Sambo
were easy it would be called Jiu-Jitsu, Combat
Sambo champion Khabib Nurmagomedov
moved to 3-0 in the UFC. Now he is calling for
Nate Diaz.

February, 2013
ASA Co-Founder Alexander Barakov appears in
a television show about Russian Martial Arts:
http://youtu.be/Z6_iZmLgFh0
February, 2013
NYCS pro MMA fighter Bradley Featherstone
Desir heads to Thailand for one year on a
training scholarship with Tiger Muay Thai!
Follow his journey at www.bdesirmma.com