BJJ and Sambo: An Exploration of Two Grappling Disciplines
While BJJ is a Brazilian grappling discipline that emphasizes positional ground fighting, Sambo is a Russian martial art that emphasizes throws and submissions. In this article, we will explore the history of Sambo, compare it to BJJ, and conclude that trying the sport is a great way for BJJ athletes to test their fighting mettle, learn to mix judo throws with submission attacks, and learn to think and react quickly.
Sambo is a relatively new martial art that was developed in the early 1920s by the Soviet Red Army as a way to improve their hand-to-hand combat skills. It was originally developed as a combination of various grappling styles such as judo, jujitsu, and wrestling, and later incorporated elements of boxing and karate. Sambo is known for its emphasis on throws and submission holds, which are used to subdue an opponent quickly and efficiently, but it also has a point system which includes the possibility of winning by pin. Today, Sambo has become a popular sport and is practiced by martial artists all around the world.
BJJ, on the other hand, is a grappling discipline that originated in Brazil in the early 20th century. It is primarily a ground fighting style that emphasizes the use of positional control leading to submission holds to defeat an opponent. The goal of BJJ is to take an opponent to the ground and then use a variety of techniques to control them and submit them. BJJ has become a popular martial art in recent years and is widely practiced by mixed martial arts fighters.
While BJJ and Sambo are similar in that they are both grappling disciplines, they differ in a few key ways. The first and most obvious difference is that BJJ emphasizes slower paced ground fighting based on attaining positional control prior to submission, while Sambo emphasizes throws and rapid submissions which rely on speed and the element of surprise. This means that BJJ fighters are often more comfortable fighting on the ground for long periods, while Sambo fighters are more comfortable fighting standing up. Additionally, Sambo has a wider variety of ways to win, and matches are often faster-paced, which (as with mma) can make it more exciting for laypeople to watch.
The faster pace of Sambo matches has prevented the sport from developing the same level of technical depth as BJJ or judo. Nevertheless, Sambo has incubated the current generation of Dagestani MMA champions, who have demonstrated the effectiveness of the Sambo grappling system in mixed martial arts competition.
For BJJ practitioners, trying Sambo can be an excellent way to improve their skills and test their fighting mettle. By mixing Judo throws with submission attacks, Sambo can help BJJ fighters to develop a more well-rounded set of skills. Additionally, the faster pace of Sambo matches can help BJJ fighters to learn to think and react quickly, which can be a valuable skill in competition.
In conclusion, while BJJ and Sambo differ in some key ways, both are effective grappling disciplines. For BJJ athletes who can physicall endure the pace, trying Sambo can be an excellent way to gain a deeper understanding of grappling, learn to mix Judo throws with submission attacks, and develop quick reflexes.
