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SAMBO (Russia)

A modern Russian combat art that emphasizes throws, takedowns, and joint locks. It was first named "free-style wrestling", then "free wrestling," and in 1946 was renamed "SAMBO," as an acronym of Russian words "SAMozaschita Bez Orujiya" or "self-defense without weapon."  It was created in the 1930's, with official recognition in 1938. Anatoly Kharlampfiev formed its ground rules although he saw SAMBOas a art of self-defense rather than the sport it became. Some claim it was heavily influenced by the Armenian art of khok; others say it is derived from indigenous folk wrestling and Judo.

SAMBO is compilation of techniques from a number of martial arts including Japanese and Chinese martial arts, national martial arts of USSR area natives (Georgians, Armenians, Mongols, Russians etc.), French wrestling, and other arts. At the time of the World War II, the system was widely "tested" by the Soviet army. "Special" techniques were added at the time, for example fighting in cells, quick-and-quiet sentry killing, etc. Because of the number of criminals in the Soviet army at that time (during WWII each prisoner was "invited" to the front with each year at the front worth two or so years of their sentence) SAMBO experts acquired many lessons on criminal Sreet fighting, and a number of these techniques were included in SAMBO. SAMBO continues to accept new techniques and modify old ones.

Three variations of the art are currently taught: sport SAMBO , which includes mostly grappling techniques; SAMBO for self-defense, and combat SAMBO , which encompasses grappling and striking. Practitioners wear a unique uniform "kurtka", which is used for grabbing and throwing.

The sport variation is similar to Judo but with some differences in allowed techniques. SAMBO allows leg locks while Judo does not, but Judo allows choking while SAMBO does not. There are also more techniques in SAMBO than in Judo.

The self-defense variation is similar in form to Aiki-jujutsu because it is intended to be entirely defensive. There are many specific techniques for defending specific attacks, including escaping from grips and chokes, defenses against punches and kicks, defenses against weapons (knife, stick etc.), and  ground fighting. The self-defense part of SAMBO is based on body movements and locks, with a few punches and kicks. The object is to allow defense but not to injure the opponent more than necessary because this variation was created for citizens. In the former Soviet Union, the law was that if you injure your opponent more than needed in a self-defense situation, you could receive a 5 year prison term. Some of the self-defense techniques are based on sport SAMBO.

The combat variation was created for the army and police. It is a very severe and dangerous system. It includes sport and self-defense techniques, but uses them in different ways. For example, sport SAMBO uses the traditional shoulder throw of Judo and Jujutsu. In combat SAMBO the throw is done with the opponent's arm rotated up and locked at the elbow, and may be done to throw the opponent on his or her head. If the opponent attempts to counter by lowering his or her center of gravity and pulling backwards (as is taught in sport SAMBO) the arm will be broken. Combat SAMBO teaches shoulder throw counters that might be able to deal with a locked arm, such as kicking out the opponents knee and pulling back by the hair or eye sockets. In addition to modified sport and self-defense techniques, combat SAMBO includes kicks, punches, "dangerous throwing" (throws that cannot be include into sportive part because they cause injury), locks on the spine, things that are prohibited in sport wrestling (biting, for example), many "sadistic dirty things," working against weapons (with or without a weapon of your own), tricks like putting your coat on your opponents head, floor fighting, fighting in closed space (small room, pit, or stairs), quick-and-quiet sentry killing, etc. Students also learn strategy and tactics of fighting alone or in groups against single or multiple opponents. SAMBO is less popular today in Russia because the influx of oriental martial arts in recent years. However, the development of SAMBO has continued and elements of it are incorporated into other modern combat systems.

Savate (sometimes called Boxe Francais). (France)

Savate is a martial art of foot and fist fighting that was developed in the 1800's. It may have been influenced by venous Asian martial arts after French sailors returned from voyages to Asian ports. The art began spreading to other countries in the 1960s. It encompasses kicking techniques somewhat similar to Taekwondo, punching techniques from Western boxing, and stick fighting techniques based on French rapier fighting. It is renowned for its precision kicks to the body's vital points. Kicks were designed to integrate smoothly with punches. "La canne," a mostly defensive art using wooden sticks, is usually taught along with Savate.  Three types of savate are taught: assault, technical fighting, the opponent must not be hit; combat technique, fighting using semi-contact: and combat total, full-contact fighting. Savate is currently a popular full-contact ring sport in Europe.

Shogeri-jutsu

Shogerijutsu is compound word. "Sho," meaning essence, is combined with "geri," implying any leg strike, and with the traditional term, "Jujitsu." "Naibu," meaning internal, and "karate," meaning empty hand, and "do," meaning way, are also used to help give a general understanding the purpose of Shogerijutsu-naibu. Shogerijutsu students first learn the basics, and then they develop their own training regime with the goal of becoming a complete, dynamic martial artist. Students combines both the fighting (internal and external) and healing arts into their regime.

Shogerijutsu adopts the basic self-defense techniques of Jujutsu, Karate-do, kung-fu, Taijiquan, Baguazhang, Muay-tai, boxing, and Qigong into a self-defense and combat fighting approach shared by all the styles. Jujitsu does not attempt to neutralize power with power, instead, it absorbs the force of an attack using light, quick parries, and centerline theory, and redirects the force of the attack to the attacker's detriment. The principles of Jujitsu are similar to those of the traditional Chinese art of Taijiquan, so many Shogerijutsu techniques are adapted from these two martial arts. Shogerijutsu has a more internal approach to training than does traditional, external karate training.

Basic training focues on the combative principles of moving in (never backwards), evasive striking (instead of blocking and then striking), various striking and throwing techniques, and the study of qi (chi). Advanced principles include chi kung (from Qigong), push hands (from Tuishou), yang chengfu taijiquan concepts, Japanese strikes, Jujutsu techniques, qi flow, qi transference, Taijiquan, Hua-quan (chinese "cotton" boxing), and joint locks. Hsing-I would be the closest style to the principles being taught. Proper body mechanics, both external and internal, along with using blocks as strikes, pressure point striking, evasive maneuvering, using knees, palm, and elbow strikes, and with parrying (deflecting) techniques, add to the uniqueness of Shogerijutsu. Shogerijutsu's philosophy blends well with any style whose purpose is self-defense with a focus on individualism.

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