Sambo
Sambo is a combat sport from Russia in which athletes win by throwing, pinning and locking joints. It has two forms: Sport Sambo is grappling only, with no strikes or chokes; Combat Sambo adds punches, kicks, knees and chokes. A bout ends at once on a perfect throw, a submission or an eight-point lead; otherwise the athlete with more points wins.
Checked 20 October 2026
New to sambo? Start here
How long
Bouts of five minutes for adults, ended early by a perfect throw, a submission or an eight-point lead
Lengths are from the rule book.
The big events, and why they matter
- 1Asian Games (sambo)Asia's multi-sport title, held once.Every 4 years; held in 2018 only; not on the 2026 programme
India
India competed in sambo at the 2018 Asian Games without a medal.
- Sambo at the Asian Games: No medal
Countries to know
India and the nations that have done best, biggest titles first.
- KazakhstanSambo at the Asian Games: 2 golds, 3 bronzes (latest 2018)
- MongoliaSambo at the Asian Games: 1 gold, 2 silvers, 1 bronze (latest 2018)
- UzbekistanSambo at the Asian Games: 1 gold, 1 silver, 2 bronzes (latest 2018)
Who runs it
| Rules made by | International Sambo Federation (FIAS), International SAMBO Rules for Sport Sambo (edition of 31 March 2026) and for Combat Sambo |
| International federation | International Sambo Federation (FIAS) |
| In India | SAMBO INDIA Association, on the FIAS members list; FIAS in 2014 named an Indian Sambo Federation; not on the MYAS list for 2026 |
Where and when it is played
The big events: the World Sambo Championships every year, and the Asian Games, which held sambo in 2018 only.