Tactics of SAMBO Wrestling

In the whole of SAMBO wrestling, there is victory based on systems and methods. To achieve this, the wrestler must be trained to fight well and to not train alone and just for him. The basics of SAMBO wrestling require knowledge of both offense and defense.
Therefore logically, there must be training to support both aspects. Pursuing an opponent by pressing him with constant attack appears to be the most obvious plan toward victory on the mats. However, this method requires great energy and can be thwarted by good counter wrestling.

The SAMBO wrestler must have several ploys ready to use against his opponent. He must show only what is needed for each basic plan and no more. Tactics may allow victory without great expenditures of energy or strength. Tactics demand that the SAMBist must:

• Study his opponent for strengths and weaknesses
• Disguise his own intentions toward the opponent
• Manipulate the opponent into weaker defensive situations. The manipulation is where the tactics of SAMBO begin. In the well-controlled bout, the SAMBist uses the correct techniques at the best moments using the methodologies of his SAMBO system. He does what is needed to win and no more.

• Sudden, surprise attacks
• Suppressing the opponent's ability to attack
• Harassing and wearing down the opponent and his defenses
• Distracting the opponent from his own match plan
• Luring the opponent into traps and set-ups for your own techniques.

1. Offense- Put oneself into the match, finish off the adversary quickly and always demonstrate improvement in gaining the tactical advantages needed to win.
Attack- Apply the SAMBO principles to the match and boldly take the initiative in the match to develop successful offense. Expend all efforts to attain clear and ultimate victory.

2. Active Wrestling- Strong SAMBO basics are needed to survive in competition while being in a position to harass and wear down a strong opponent. Active and technical SAMBO wrestling is needed to fight and negate the powerful opponent's strengths. The strong SAMBist's training and desire must be up to intercepting and negating the adversary's offensive initiatives while scheming on how best to defeat him.

3. During the match in SAMBO Wrestling- Determine what the desire and physical qualities of the adversary are. Study his strengths and skills demonstrated in his SAMBO techniques and tactics. Determine his abilities to be able to recognize the manner of his offense.

4. Against the Adept SAMBist- Reconnoiter the adversary. Determine your best techniques to use and camouflage their identity until the opportunity to strike presents itself. Tactical knowledge is often the means for creating this opportunity. If well done, the adversary will have no clue that the technique is being implemented.

5. Maneuver for the Attack- Initial SAMBO training provides the SAMBist with the techniques and defensive stances to position himself for offense by allowing him to exploit any flaws that appear in the opponent's defense.

Intelligent SAMBO planning manifests itself in powerful wrestling demonstrated by experienced SAMBO veterans. True SAMBO reacts to the match environment adapting the tactics and techniques to fit the circumstances and the adversaries. For example, active defense often leads to the chance to reconnoiter the adversary's prowess. In turn, this leads to time for determining the maneuvers and disguises for the set-ups needed to implement the proper offense.

Well planned SAMBO wrestling may be disguised, and thus, not evident, but it is the one condition always demonstrated by veteran SAMBists. Techniques combined with varied plans of wrestling control adapt to the situation. Therefore, this book expounds on various plans to combine techniques with tactics.

1. Method of Element of Surprise-- ensure SAMBO wrestling success with very little effort or risk by taking advantage of the unprepared opponent. Exploiting the element of surprise is a basic tenet of controlled wrestling with distinct applications to offense, pursuit, and ultimate victory.

2. Method of Suppressing the Opponent-- ensure SAMBO wrestling success by mentally unbalancing the opponent to make him lose and never recover his confidence. Block off the opponent's offensive techniques and cause him to overestimate your strength. Force the opponent to hesitate and to lose his match plan, so that he is indecisive in his offense. This will sap his will to win. Suppressing the opponent's ability to attack is basic SAMBO wrestling. It is part of the offense-- the pursuit to ultimate victory in every SAMBO wrestling match.

3. Method of Wearing Down the Opponent-- ensure SAMBO wrestling success by wearing down the opponent's strength to enable the SAMBist to equalize or even gain superior strength over an adversary who is physically stronger than the SAMBist. Wearing out the adversary is also an excellent and aggressive defensive ploy, but other ploys may have to be exploited as part of controlled wrestling tactics.

4. Method of Distracting the Opponent-- ensure SAMBO wrestling success by distracting the opponent to promote breaking the adversary's concentration. This negates his strength or long instilled training to leave him unprepared for the SAMBist's attack. This ploy works best with deception. Distraction may be employed in all aspects of controlling wrestling.

5. Method of Setting-Up the Opponent-- ensure SAMBO wrestling success by exploiting victory from a strong opponent's body by tactically moving him into a position of vulnerability for a series of techniques. Making good use of good fighting methods, the SAMBist arranges the match advantage that allows his opponent to fall into a tactical trap to initiate the winning techniques. The means of inviting the adversary into the set-up applies universally and basically to a well-developed and controlled wrestling approach.

Chapter 2 Offensive