Sambo

The Soviet Union wanted a martial art of its own. The result was Sambo.

Built from judo, wrestling, regional fighting traditions and military self-defence, Sambo became one of the twentieth century's most fascinating martial arts. Designed in the Soviet Union and tested through competitive resistance, it developed a fearsome reputation for explosive throws, relentless grappling and devastating leg locks.

Then came Combat Sambo - and the striking started.

In 30 Minute Martial Arts: Sambo, discover the remarkable story of the men who created the art, from judo pioneer Vasili Oshchepkov and military veteran Viktor Spiridonov to the Soviet system that transformed their ideas into a national combat sport.

Explore the techniques that make Sambo distinctive, including its spectacular throws, unusual grips, rapid groundwork and famous leg-lock arsenal. Learn the differences between Sport Sambo and Combat Sambo, how Sambo compares with judo, wrestling and Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu, and why its methods transfer so effectively into mixed martial arts.

Meet the champions who carried Sambo beyond the former Soviet Union, including Fedor Emelianenko, the heavyweight legend who introduced millions of fight fans to Combat Sambo, and Khabib Nurmagomedov, whose suffocating grappling helped bring the art into the UFC mainstream.

Inside you'll discover:

• How Sambo was created in the Soviet Union
• The extraordinary and tragic story of Vasili Oshchepkov
• Why Sambo fighters became famous for leg locks
• The differences between Sport and Combat Sambo
• How Sambo compares with judo, wrestling and BJJ
• The techniques behind Sambo's spectacular throws
• How Fedor and Khabib changed Sambo's global reputation
• Whether Sambo really works in a fight
• How to watch a Sambo match like an expert
• How to begin training Sambo yourself

From Soviet training halls to PRIDE, the UFC and modern world championships, this is the story of a martial art that outlived the country that created it.

Fast, accessible and packed with history, techniques, fighters and fascinating stories, 30 Minute Martial Arts: Sambo is the perfect introduction to one of the world's most effective and misunderstood fighting systems.