Sambo words · Intermediate

The words that make the commentary make sense. They build on the beginner words.

I · Intermediate · 20 words · Step 2 of 2

Formats

Age groups

Cadets (14 to 16), youth (16 to 18), juniors (18 to 20), adults under 24 (18 to 23), adults (18 and over) and masters (35 and over, in five-year groups).

Team competition

Teams meet in bouts by weight category, drawn at the technical meeting. The team with more wins takes the match, and it stops once one team has won more than half the bouts. Combat team events have no repechage.

The mat and uniform

Safety area

The part of the mat outside the bout area. A throw that starts inside the bout area and ends in the safety area still scores, if the defender's torso stays inside it.

Positions

Bridge

The bridge is a position on the back touching the mat only with the feet and head; the half bridge touches with the head and one foot, or the shoulders and the soles. They score like falling on the back and on the side.

Also called: half bridge

Roll-over

A fall in which the athlete passes through ground positions without stopping because of the opponent's rotation. A roll-over in the ground is not scored.

Techniques

Throw with a fall

A throw is made without falling if the attacker stays standing throughout. It is with a fall if the attacker goes to the ground, or rests on a lying opponent with a hand or foot. A throw without falling scores more.

Also called: throw without a fall
See also: Standing, Throw

Counter-throw

A defender's active counter that stops the attack or changes the direction of the attacker's fall. If the defender cannot change it and falls the same way, the attacker's throw counts.

Leg lock

A painful hold on the leg. In Sport Sambo it must be stopped as soon as the defender stands, and the scissors on the knee or ankle, a foot knot, and a knee lever against its natural bend are prohibited.

See also: Sambo, Sport sambo, Painful hold

Chokehold

A hold on the neck that prevents normal breathing, allowed in Combat Sambo for one minute with the arms, legs or the jacket lapels, and not in Sport Sambo. Losing consciousness in one is a total victory for the opponent.

Strike

In Combat Sambo, a hit with fist, elbow, forearm, foot, shin, knee, or with the head when helmets are worn, to the front and side of the head and body or to the limbs. Fouls include the back of the head, throat, collarbone, spine and groin.

Knockdown and knockout

A knockdown is a strike or throw after which the athlete cannot fight but recovers and takes a stance within a 10-second count. It scores four points. A knockout is when they do not recover, and it ends the bout. A second knockdown also ends it.

Scoring

Hold-down score

In Sport Sambo a full 20-second hold-down scores four points and a hold-down of 10 to 19 seconds two. In Combat Sambo only one 20-second hold-down is scored, for two points.

See also: Sambo, Sport sambo, Combat sambo, Hold-down

Activity

If at half time there are no scored actions or equal warnings, the referees by majority name the more active athlete. If nothing changes, that athlete wins.

Warnings and penalties

Passive conduct

Avoiding a grip, refusing to attack or delaying time. It is a warning, as are false attacks, pushing outside, and deliberately leaving the bout area.

Prohibited technique

A move such as throwing on the head, a painful hold on the spine, neck, fingers or toes, a chokehold (in Sport Sambo), a hit to the face with hands, legs or head, an elbow or knee hit, or a hold after the whistle. The athlete gets a warning with a score, and withdrawal for a repeat.

Withdrawal

An athlete is withdrawn from the bout (Sport) or competition (Combat) for repeating a prohibited technique, a fourth warning, being two minutes late for the mat, or exceeding the medical time (two minutes in Sport, three in Combat). The opponent gets a total victory.

Disqualification

Removal for unethical behaviour such as intentional scratches or bites, offensive language, cheating, refusing the handshake, or injuring an opponent with a prohibited technique so they cannot continue. The opponent wins and the athlete gets no place or medal.

Officials

Side referee

One of the two other referees on the trio. The table side referee also oversees the technical secretary, timekeeper and scoreboard.

Referee trio

The arbiter and two side referees, who must come from three different countries. Each evaluates independently and decisions are by majority.

Deputy Chief Referee

The official at a table with a video monitor who oversees a mat. They can delay a decision, stop a bout for a video review, and decide on a fourth warning or withdrawal.