U.S. Sombo Newsletter

June, 2006

 


From the Vice President


Greetings friends, fellow grapplers, wrestlers, and martial artists,

 

June is upon us. 2006 has been a busy year for sombo. Last month saw sombo competition in on the very

first weekend of the month with the first USA Wrestling event at American University, and the Battle of

Brooklyn: Clash Of The Clans, which featured BJJ v. Sambo and San Da v. Muay Thai. Also during the

month of May, the American Sambo Association hosted the NJ Freestyle Sambo Open. Look for event

reports in the news and events section. USA Wrestling has announced the dates and location for the Sombo

and Beach Wrestling National Championships. More details can be found in the news and events section.

Also this month we have an article by Steve Scott from the Welcome Mat Judo, Sambo and Jiujitsu Club in

Kansas City, Missouri. In addition to being a well respected coach, Mr. Scott has a new Sombo book out.

More information is included below!

 

Also, it has come to my attention that some people got the impression, that you can only find the USSA

news and information on myspace. I apologize for the confusion, but the USSA will still keep information

updated on our web site at http://sombo.us. We started the page on myspace for networking purposes.

Myspace allows us deliver our newsletter and breaking news to others who we might not reach otherwise.

While we promise to keep the USSA page free from inappropriate content, we can not be responsible for the

content of related pages on myspace.

 

If you have story ideas, or suggestions relating to future issues of this newsletter, please drop me a line at

teamusa@sombo.us.


Yours in Sombo,

Lance Campbell

Vice President, United States Sombo Association

 

 

____________________________________________________

 

 

Why Does Training Make You a Better Person?

By Steve Scott

"The most important part of an athlete's body is his brain." Rene Pommerelle

WHY DOES TRAINING MAKE YOU A BETTER PERSON?

First of all, I'm making a big assumption as my premise. I am assuming that the training we involve

ourselves in does indeed somehow make us better human beings. I assume this because it happened to

me personally and I've seen it happen to others as well. My assumption is that the act of physically,

mentally and emotionally throwing ourselves into the hard training necessary to find success in the martial

arts or combat sports gives us the tools to be better somehow and maybe even make this world a little

better for having participated in it.

 

Okay, for my sake, go along with my premise. I bet you are willing to do that because you most likely agree

with it wholeheartedly. It probably happened to you too.

 

So then, the question is "why?" Why does hard physical exertion transform soft, goofy, undisciplined kids

into better men and women? I believe it's discipline.

 

Nobody is born with discipline. We come out crying and looking for physical comfort the second we are born.

It's not natural to walk into a room full of sweating men and roll around the mat with them for 2 hours at a

time, often getting your body and pride bruised more than you would like. Getting up early to go run and lift

weights aren't natural acts either. But you know if you don't do this type of training, you'll take a beating

when you walk on the mat with those sweaty men and engage in judo, wrestling, karate, aikido or any other

combat sport.

 

There are a lot of people, in fact, most people, who think we're absolutely nuts for doing what we do. I look at

the people who train with me and marvel at the personal discipline each shows every time he or she comes

to practice. Here's a grown man or woman who just worked 8 hours (or more) that day, leaves a perfectly

comfortable home and loving family to show up to a community center where there are about 25 other people

just like him who want to sweat, stretch his arm, throw him hard on the mat and generally abuse him for 2

hours. Through it all, he or she comes out of the whole experience actually feeling better about himself. Why

it that?

 

It's discipline. We may not be born with discipline, but what we are born with the desire to attain it. Just like

a child seeks his mother's love, he also seeks discipline. Of course, not everybody's the same, but my

experience as a coach for more years than I care to admit is that people (of all ages) seek discipline in their

lives.

 

It doesn't matter what culture or in what era a person lives, the concept of discipline transcends culture,

language and time.

 

The training we do embodies the ethics of hard work, giving up comfort to attain goals, both short and long

term, working with others to accomplish a common goal or good and the many other things that describe

the best of people.

 

Not all activities openly embody these virtues, but one in particular does. Prof. Jigoro Kano established

specific virtues for his Kodokan Judo in the late 1800s that have stayed with the activity to this day. Another

martial arts master, Morihei Uyeshiba, the founder of modern aikido, also codified the ethical virtues

necessary to achieve a real understanding of his martial discipline. But the sports of sambo, boxing,

wrestling and many martial arts (and even strength sports such as weightlifting) don't, in and of themselves,

offer a moral compass to the people to train in them. So if this is the case, why do these activities actually

make someone better for having participated in them?

 

Again, it's the factor (in my opinion) of discipline. The only way to be successful at any of these activities is

to train hard, train smart and push yourself so you achieve your goals. No one will do it for you. You either

succeed or fail on your own. No safety net, no team to carry you if you have a bad day...it's up to you and

you alone.

 

I learned early on when I was a kid that if I took a beating from another guy on the mat in judo practice, I

could either feel sorry for myself or I could suck it up, train harder, train smarter and do something about it.

Feeling sorry for myself never made me any better. Maybe that's not politically correct to say these days,

but it's part of my experience and that's why I didn't end up being a deadbeat like a lot of the young men who

I knew in those days.

 

I've told many people that "judo was my ticket out." It was the activity of judo, and my desire to be good at it,

that compelled me to achieve the discipline necessary to actually be good at it and, in the process, be good

at other things as well. I bet each of you reading this can say the same thing (whether it was judo, aikido,

lifting weights or any activity that you connected with) and offer the same assessment of yourself.

 

In my opinion, the short answer to the question; "Why does training make you a better person?" is

discipline. The discipline we learn and develop in our training makes us better people in everyday life. You

can't disconnect what you do on the mat from your daily life. You're a fool if you do. I remember Chris

Heckadon telling me about his job interview for where he now works. Chris is a World Sambo Champion, a

national-class judo athlete and was a varsity wrestler for Central Missouri State University. After Chris got

the job, he asked his boss why he hired him. His boss told him (I paraphrase) "I prefer to hire former

wrestlers. I know they have a better work ethic than most people." That says a lot for wrestling and that

says a lot for the person smart enough to realize the benefits such an activity can do for a young man.

 

That story pretty well answers the question that hard training does, indeed, make a person better. The "why"

is his motivation to succeed and the only way he can do that is to discipline himself to do the things

necessary to achieve success and achieve it in such a way that he can be proud of having done it. There are

a number of ways to win at something and not all of them are good, fair or honest. It takes discipline to

know how to achieve victory honestly and strive for success from that point of view.

 

The first dojo I trained at had a saying right by the mat. it said; "There is no learning without discipline." I

believe it was Confucius who first said it and I'll leave that with you as a last thought.

 

____________________________________________________

 

 

New & Events


CHAMPIONSHIP SAMBO IS NOW AVAILABLE

Turtle Press has published my latest book, CHAMPIONSHIP SAMBO, and is selling it for $11.95 as an

introductory price. I've already sent out an e-mail about this, but if you haven't received it, go to

www.TurtlePress.com and click on the new and upcoming listing of books. Don't hesitate for a minute to

visit my web site at www.WelcomeMatJudoClub.com and see the latest stuff going on there.

 

 

____________________________________________________

 

 

From http://www.themat.com:


Pan Am Sombo qualifier brings sport back into USA Wrestling at American Univ. in Washington DC

Gary Abbott USA Wrestling

05/06/2006

Event Photos

USA Wrestling is back in the Sombo business.

 

A variety of experienced Sombo athletes, wrestlers with an interest in the sport and other martial artists

came together for the first USA Wrestling competition in Sombo in more than two decades.

 

The Pan American Championships Sombo Qualifier was held at American Univ. in Washington, D.C. on May

6. The winners of the competition have the opportunity to compete at the Pan American Sombo

Championships in Rio de Janiero, Brazil, May 30 – June 2.

 

FILA, the international wrestling federation, again recognized Sombo as a form of international wrestling in

2005. From 1966 through 1983, FILA sponsored international Sombo competitions, but abandoned the style

in 1984.

 

Sombo is a composite style of jacket wrestling originally developed in the former Soviet Union. It was also

taught as form of hand-to-hand combat for unarmed self-defense. Sombo is an acronym for the Russian

phrase meaning “Self defense without weapons.”

Steve Biedrycki, 41, a high school assistant coach and a club coach at the Next Level Wrestling Club, has

returned to Sombo after more than 20 years. He was a member of the U.S. Marine Corps team, competing

in the two international styles. Biedrycki placed second in the Olympic Team Trials in Greco-Roman (losing

to Shawn Sheldon in the finals) and reached as high as No. 2 in the national rankings in freestyle, as well.

 

While in the Marines, Biedrycki was also a Sombo competitor. He won a Sombo World Cup title, and was

one of only a handful of U.S. Sombo athletes to beat a Soviet competitor at a major competition. He left the

U.S. Marine Corps in 1990 and has been involved in wrestling ever since, but is just getting back into

Sombo.

 

“To be honest, I have been watching the Ultimate Fighting Championships (UFC),” said Biedrycki. “I saw the

submissions on TV. I was training somebody else, but I was competitive. I have a little bit of the fire still

inside.”

 

Biedrycki placed second in the tournament, winning his first match by grand superiority, but dropping the

final bout by a 9-5 margin in a very active and competitive battle with Jordan Lipp.

 

Shaun Scott, 57, a veteran of Sombo and other styles of wrestling, won his weight division in a tough best-

of-three series over Michael Harris. The opening match went to Harris on a submission, but Scott came

back to win the final two bouts, 4-1 and 1-0.

 

“I used to have a club in the late 1980’s. My team won the national sombo tournament and placed at the

national wrestling tournaments. People got married and went onto other things. I got high in the rankings, but

I always felt I had unfinished business. Many guys I had beaten at one time got onto World Teams with USA

Wrestling,” said Scott.

 

“I moved to the Virgin Islands. It was a goal to wrestle in the World Championships, and I got to compete in

one in freestyle and two in Greco-Roman. Sombo keeps me in shape. Every once in awhile I got a team

together and we competed. I keep thinking I’ll retire. I always wanted to fight everybody out there. I also like

to represent the older crowd. If you want to do something, you can do it.”

 

Another veteran wrestler in both of the Olympic styles, Eric Albarracin of the U.S. Army, competed in his

first Sombo matches. Albarracin has been nationally ranked in both freestyle and Greco-Roman and also

wrestled in college. He came to Washington, D.C. immediately after competing in the Northern Plains

Regionals in Waterloo, Iowa, winning a Greco-Roman title and qualifying for the World Team Trials. He got

on a plane immediately, and arrived only hours prior to the first matches.

 

“I saw this online on Monday. I bought a ticket from Cedar Rapids to come here. I feel real good out there.,”

said Albarracin. “I have a new position at Fort Carson. I am in the office in charge of combative sports, the

Army’s martial arts program. This will give credibility to the program and to the wrestlers. This was a

challenge for me.”

 

Albarracin won the title at his weight class, winning two different styles in two different time zones over a

weekend.

 

A pair of U.S. Marines who are currently nationally ranked in Greco-Roman, also captured their weight

classes: Lance Corporal Jeremy Pederson at 84 kg/185 lbs. and Captain Frank Workman at 120

kg/264.5 lbs.

 

Qualifying for the chance to compete at the Pan American Championships were:

- Eric Albarracin, Colorado Springs, Colo. at 55 kg/121 lbs.

- Matt Morkel, Washington, D.C. at 60 kg/132 lbs.

- Jordan Lipp, Washington, D.C. at 66 kg/145.5 lbs.

- Ryan Hall, Arlington, Va. at 74 kg/163 lbs.

- Jeremy Pederson, Quantico, Va. at 84 kg/185 lbs.

- Shaun Scott, Millersville, Pa. at 96 kg/211.5 lbs.

- Frank Workman, Quantico, Va. at 120 kg/264.5 lbs.

 

 

____________________________________________________

 

From http://www.themat.com:


U.S. Beach and Sombo Nationals, plus Board and State Leaders meetings, set for Palm Beach County,

Fla., Aug. 17-20

Gary Abbott USA Wrestling

05/19/2006

USA Wrestling has named Palm Beach County, Fla. as the host for two of its national championship events

this summer, the U.S. Beach Nationals and the U.S. Sombo Nationals, as well as its semi-annual Board of

Directors meeting and its annual State Leaders Conference. These activities will be held August 17-20.

 

The bid was awarded to the Palm Beach County Sports Commission and the Palm Beach County Sports

Institute. Also participating with the local organizing committee will be the Palm Beach County Community

Olympic Development Program in Wrestling and the Florida Amateur Wrestling Association.

 

“We believe Palm Beach County will serve as a wonderful host for this important event,” said USA Wrestling

Executive Director Rich Bender. “Palm Beach County has long been a leader within the Olympic Movement

and we are very excited to bring athletes and our sports leadership to such a progressive sports community.”

 

“The Sports Commission and CODP are excited to welcome the USA Wrestling community to Palm Beach

County this summer. We offer wrestlers and their families the opportunity compete in the first ever Beach

and Sombo National Championships, while enjoying miles of beaches, crystal blue waters, wonderful cultural

attractions and endless shopping,” said Pam Gerig-Bland, Executive Director of the Palm Beach County

Sports Commission.

 

USA Wrestling will host its first U.S. Beach Wrestling National Championships at the Hilton Singer Island

Waterfront Resort on Singer Island in Riviera Beach, Fla., Saturday, August 19.

 

The registration and weigh-in for the U.S. Beach Wrestling Nationals will be held on Saturday morning, with

competition tentatively set to begin at 12:00 noon.

 

Beach Wrestling was added as a new style of international wrestling, starting in 2005. Athletes compete on

sand, in a style that features takedowns within a ring. Although there have been a number of beach wrestling

events held in the USA, this will be the first official U.S. National Championships in the new sport.

 

USA Wrestling will also host the U.S. National Sombo Championships in Palm Beach County August 19-20,

at the North Palm Beach Community Center in North Palm Beach, Fla.

 

Registration and weigh-ins for the U.S. Sombo Nationals will be on Saturday night, August 19. The

competition will begin on Sunday morning, August 20 and continue to completion.

 

Sombo is a style of jacket wrestling with submission holds originally developed in the former Soviet Union as

a form of unarmed self-defense. It has similarities to judo and wrestling, and has been reinstated as an

international style of wrestling this year. Sombo was included in international wrestling until the mid-1980s,

when the international wrestling federation no longer recognized the sport.

 

These two events will serve as the qualifiers for the U.S. teams that will compete at the World Beach

Wrestling Championships and the World Sombo Championships, set for Antalya, Turkey, Oct. 13-15.

 

USA Wrestling will also conduct its semi-annual Board of Directors meeting at the Hilton Singer Island

Waterfront Resort. These are the volunteer leaders that set the direction for USA Wrestling and represent all

aspects of the wrestling community.

 

USA Wrestling will also conduct its annual State Leaders Conference at the Hilton Singer Island Waterfront Resort. This annual meeting brings together volunteer leaders from each of the USA Wrestling state associations. These participants attend workshops and seminars and network together to help expand and improve USA Wrestling’s programs and activities.

Specific details on the U.S. Beach Wrestling National Championships and the U.S. Sombo National

Championships will be published shortly. Wrestlers and their families are encouraged to mark their calendar

for August 19-20, and plan to attend these exciting events in Palm Beach County.

 

About the Palm Beach County Sports Commission

The Palm Beach County Sports Commission is a private, non-profit organization contracted by the County to

 promote and bring sporting events and activities to the area. Goals of the PBCSC are to enhance the

economic impact of Palm Beach County, maximize utilization of facilities and stimulate bed tax revenues,

primarily in the off-season.

 

About the Palm Beach County CODP

The Palm Beach County Community Olympic Development Program (CODP) is a community outreach

collaboration between the United States Olympic Committee (USOC), national governing bodies and the

Palm Beach County Sports Institute in which young athletes are introduced to Olympic sports through

community-based initiatives. Through this collaboration, motivated and talented athletes receive high quality

training, coaching and competitive opportunities they otherwise would not receive. The Palm Beach County

CODP Wrestling Manager is Shawn Sheldon, who came to the Palm Beach County CODP from the Olympic

Training Center in Colorado Springs, Colorado, where he helped coach the U.S. National Team. He is a two

time Olympian and World Silver Medalist, with nine U.S. National Championships under his belt in the sport

of wrestling. Shawn was recently named 2005 Greco-Roman Coach of the Year by USA Wrestling.

 

____________________________________________________

 

____________________________________________________

 

Upcoming Competitions in 2006

 

2006 Sombo Events

International Events

(For more information, go to: www.fila-wrestling.com)

Event

Place

Date

World Championships

World Cup

Antalya, Turkey

Nice, France

30 - 31 October

27 November

National Events
(For more information on national events, go to:
http://www.themat.com )

USA Wrestling National Sombo

& Beach Wrestling

Championships

Palm Beach County,

Florida, USA

18 - 19 August


For more information about upcoming events please contact Lance Campbell, USSA Vice President at

teamusa@sambo.us or visit http://sombo.net/events.htm.

 

 

- From U.S. Sombo with a littler editing from us (color, highlights, etc...)

 

 

Subject to change

 

 

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(6/02/06)