History UsefulNotes / Sambo

* '''Samboud''' (acronym for an expression translated as "unarmed self-defense... by strikes"): another weird but very obscure style developed in 1970s, first at the Dzerzhinsky Military Academy (which currently goes by the Peter the Great Military Academy of the Strategic Missile Forces) and later at the Moscow University of the MVD as '''UPO''' (acronym for a term meaning "Shock Disarming Techniques") and was also said to have been taught to the soldiers of Belarusian military. It was described as combat sambo with a heavy emphasis on striking instead of grappling, which was very limited as only strikes were used to finish off opponents and believed to be ineffective when dealing with multiple opponents, which made it vaguely similar to karate and taekwondo even more than ARB, especially in its competition form (which is basically extinct). Aside from training manuals published by its creators, there is very little information about the style as it never received official recognition by the Soviet army (which probably just classified it as either combat sambo or ARB) and some believe it was actually just a form of karate due to the USSR's 8 year ban on karate in the 1980s, during which several so-called "hand-to-hand fighting" styles popped up, which were actually karate groups that tried to get away with practicing karate under acronyms like NAPIZA ("attack and defense"), ZAINAPA ("defense and attack"), NAZABO ("unarmed attack and defense"), etc. Furthermore, many former practitioners later became karate and taekwondo practitioners, with one of the most notable being Georgiy Mikhaylovich Astaf'yev, the guy who brought Kyokushin to Siberia and Novosibirsk and was also a former "absolute" champion in Samboud among officers and cadets of the KGB of Novosibirsk in 1977 and 1978. Currently there are no official schools for this style and is mostly known as a curiosity among people interested in Russian martial arts, self-defense and hand-to-hand fighting, but if it is still taught, it would most likely be as combat sambo or some form hand-to-hand fighting listed above.

* '''Sport Sambo''', '''Sambo Wrestling''', '''Traditional Sambo''', '''Classic Sambo''', '''International Sambo''' or '''FIAS Sambo''': the oldest and most well known ruleset with very few changes over the years. It is fought with little to no protections and over a circular wrestling mat. It is primarily a submission wrestling competition where most throws, takedowns and locks are allowed, with the notable exception of chokeholds, neck cranks, wristlocks, hammerlocks, toeholds, heel hooks and all standing submissions as they can only be applied when the opponent is grounded (the attacker can remain standing, but the grounded opponent cannot apply submissions on a standing opponent in turn). Closing guard is considered a form of stalling and thus more or less forbidden too, and deliberately pushing the opponent out the mat is weirdly discouraged as it is also considered a form of stalling unlike most wrestling styles. It also bans using the knees and elbows to push down on any part of the body of a grounded opponent (meaning no knee-on-belly). Sambists can win by submitting the opponent or by scoring points, which are earned through throws and pins (the cleaner a throw is, the more points you will receive, and a picture perfect throw leads to total victory).

** '''Combat Sambo - Wrestling''': a ruleset created in 2015 and used by the World Combat Sambo Federation (WCSF, for more see below) and is its version of sport sambo. It is actually very similar to freestyle sambo due to its lesser restrictions compared to the rules under the FIAS, but one main difference is that shoes are optional.

* '''Beach Sambo''': [[NotMakingThisUpDisclaimer Yes really]]. Compared to the others above, the rules are modified in that the combat lasts three minutes and are held only in the standing position, making it a throwing-only sport. Victory is awarded after a throw or when the opponent falls on the sand on any part of the body other than the feet. The kurtkas are also slightly modified and ankle wraps are used instead of shoes.

** '''WCSF Rules''': a version of combat sambo created by the Russian Combat Sambo Federation established in 2001 and now under the authority of the WCSF (established in 2004) for international competitions, both of which are organizations that are separate from and have no affiliation to the FIAS. Since these organizations and their affiliates are a lot smaller than the FIAS and its affiliates, their competitions are mostly limited to Russia and a few other countries in Europe like Ukraine, Kazakhstan, France and Moldova and even the Middle East with Iran. The main difference between this version and the others above is that it does not use the helmet (unless one has a condition that requires one to compete), which also means headbutts to the head are banned (but the every other legal part below is free game), also shoes and shin guards are optional. It also bans low blows, soccer kicks, and ground-and-pound with elbows (though still allowed to the head when standing), but allows wrist locks (or at least does not mention them). It is mostly held in wrestling mats, but can also be contested in either a boxing ring or a MMA cage.

Practitioners of it are sometimes called sambists, but this not usual because that is also how practitioners of the Brazilian music style of {{samba}} are called (the very similarity of the names is an endless source of confusion and bad jokes in real life). Equipment in sambo consists of shorts, a loose jacket named ''kurtka'' and wrestling shoes, as well as a number of protective gear pieces depending on the kind and level of competition.

** '''WCSF Rules''': a version of combat sambo created by the Russian Combat Sambo Federation established in 2001 and now under the authority of the WCSF (established in 2004) for international competitions, both of which are organizations that are separate from and have no affiliation to the FIAS. Since these organizations and their affiliates are a lot smaller than the FIAS and its affiliates, their competitions are mostly limited to Russia and a few other countries in Europe like Ukraine, Kazakhstan, France and Moldova. The main difference between this version and the others above is that it does not use the helmet (unless one has a condition that requires one to compete), which also means headbutts to the head are banned (but the every other legal part below is free game), also shoes and shin guards are optional. It also bans low blows, soccer kicks, and ground-and-pound with elbows (though still allowed to the head when standing), but allows wrist locks (or at least does not mention them). It is mostly held in wrestling mats, but can also be contested in either a boxing ring or a MMA cage.

** Classic: the original format, with competitors being prohibited from striking each other, using submission holds, intentionally tear off the opponent's equipment, tearing off their our ribbons, and to snatch back the ribbon from the opponent's hands.
** Freestyle: almost the same as classic though flippers and diving masks are not used and competitors are instead positioned in the middle of the ring, two meters apart between them, disregarding the ring gate from classic, with the only way to score points is to take possession of the opponent's ribbon fixed on the ankles or grab the opponent's ankles, and bring it above the surface.
** SCUBA: competitors wear a diving mask, a 10kg weight belt, and diving cylinder with a breathing valve and they are positioned in the middle of the ring two metres apart between them, and feet touching the bottom of the pool. The goal is to push the opponent outside the ring area, which earns 1 point, which stops the clock to reposition and repeat until the round is over.
** Combat: takes place in not only underwater, but also afloat, above the water surface, both with or without diving gear, utilizing dummy weapons like rubber knives, bayonetted rifles, etc. and barehanded fighting, combined with grappling, choking and submission techniques in order to neutralize or submit the opponent allows intentionally tearing off the opponent's equipment. It is used in the training of rescuers and special forces soldiers.
** Gymnastics: underwater gymnastics and acrobatics exercises, as well as exercises on special underwater simulations.

In the sports aspect, despite looking more like judo without pants than wrestling, sambo was recognized as a wrestling style by Fédération Internationale des Luttes Associées in 1968, after which it spread to the whole world. It actually seemed on the way to be an Olympic discipline for a while, but politics intruded again in its way, and due to the 1980 Olympic boycott that rose after the Soviet invasion of Afghanistan, sambo stayed firmly out of the Olympics, which many people regard as a good thing overall seeing what happened to judo and its infamous Olympic rule changes. Also, being still technically a hybrid of judo and wrestling mixed with striking, sambo also helped to make the Russian fighting scene a closed-knit circuit, with many wrestlers, judokas and even boxers and [[UsefulNotes/{{Kickboxing}} kickboxers]] often cross-train with each other in a regular basis; most sambists in Russia also compete as judokas or wrestlers, and vice versa.

* '''Sport Sambo''', '''Sambo Wrestling''', '''Traditional Sambo''', '''Classic Sambo''' or '''Sambo FIAS''': it is fought with little to no protections and over a circular wrestling mat. It is primarily a submission wrestling competition where most throws, takedowns and locks are allowed, with the notable exception of chokeholds, neck cranks, wristlocks, hammerlocks, toeholds, heel hooks and all standing submissions as they can only be applied when the opponent is grounded (the attacker can remain standing, but the grounded opponent cannot apply submissions on a standing opponent in turn). Closing guard is considered a form of stalling and thus more or less forbidden too, and deliberately pushing the opponent out the mat is weirdly discouraged as it is also considered a form of stalling unlike most wrestling styles. It also bans using the knees and elbows to push down on any part of the body of a grounded opponent (meaning no knee-on-belly). Sambists can win by submitting the opponent or by scoring points, which are earned through throws and pins (the cleaner a throw is, the more points you will receive, and a picture perfect throw leads to total victory).

** '''Combat Sambo - Wrestling''': a ruleset created in 2015 and used by the World Combat Sambo Federation (see below) and is its version of sport sambo. It is actually very similar to freestyle sambo due to its lesser restrictions compared to the rules under the FIAS, but one main difference is that shoes are optional.

* '''Combat Sambo''' (popularly known as '''Commando Sambo''' in Japan and sometimes referred to as '''Sport Combat Sambo''' to differentiate it from the style used in self-defense, law enforcement and military training): essentially old Brazilian vale tudo with protective gear and quick-draw rules. Its competitors fight with gloves, helmets and shin protections, which comes in handy for a ruleset that effectively allows throws, submissions (including ones on standing opponents unlike sport sambo) and strikes (though strikes don’t earn points, however, a knockdown resulting from strikes is regarded as a throw). Unusually for a combat sport, combat sambo is perfectly fine with headbutts, soccer kicks and even low blows; the only real techniques it forbids are pulling guard and sitting on the mat, as it is usually done in UsefulNotes/BrazilianJiuJitsu, as well as wrist locks. Unfortunately the original ruleset seems to have been made extinct (or at least rarely used) due to the majority of competitions falling under the International Sambo Federation's authority, though thankfully the changes have been minimal... so far.
** '''International''' or '''FIAS Rules''': a newer and slightly more restrictive version of combat sambo in competitions under the International Sambo Federation. It originally only removed soccer kicks and punches to a grounded opponent when the attacker is standing (though it still allows the grounded opponent to strike the standing one), neck cranks, heel hooks and toeholds and surprisingly even open hand and palm strikes, both standing and grounded, though more recent rules changes have removed low blows and ground-and-pound to the head when using elbows and headbutts.
** '''Light Rules''': an even more restrictive version of combat sambo used by some smaller regional organizations, most notably the British Sombo Federation. It farther removes headbutts and elbows altogether, along with knees to the head. Additionally, all strikes to the head are removed from the juniors division and below.
** '''WCSF Rules''': a version of combat sambo (it is even referred to in Russian as "boyevogo" sambo instead of the usual "boyevoye" sambo) created by the Russian Combat Sambo Federation established in 2001 before the creation of the World Combat Sambo Federation for international competitions, both of which are organizations that are separate from and have no affiliation to the International Sambo Federation. The main difference between this version and the others above is that it does not use the helmet, which also means headbutts to the head are banned (but the every other legal part below is free game), also shoes and shin guards are optional. It also bans low blows, soccer kicks, and ground-and-pound with elbows (though still allowed to the head when standing), but allows wrist locks (or at least does not mention them). It is mostly held in wrestling mats, but can also be contested in either a boxing ring or a MMA cage.

* '''Sport Sambo''', '''Sambo Wrestling''', '''Traditional Sambo''' or '''Sambo FIAS''': it is fought with little to no protections and over a circular wrestling mat. It is primarily a submission wrestling competition where most throws, takedowns and locks are allowed, with the notable exception of chokeholds, neck cranks, wristlocks, hammerlocks, toeholds, heel hooks and all standing submissions as they can only be applied when the opponent is grounded (the attacker can remain standing, but the grounded opponent cannot apply submissions on a standing opponent in turn). Closing guard is considered a form of stalling and thus more or less forbidden too, and deliberately pushing the opponent out the mat is weirdly discouraged as it is also considered a form of stalling unlike most wrestling styles. It also bans using the knees and elbows to push down on any part of the body of a grounded opponent (meaning no knee-on-belly). Sambists can win by submitting the opponent or by scoring points, which are earned through throws and pins (the cleaner a throw is, the more points you will receive, and a picture perfect throw leads to total victory).

Sambo (acronym for an expression translated as "unarmed self-defense") is a Russian martial art and combat sport. It is a direct offshoot of UsefulNotes/{{Judo}} mixed with several Eurasian wrestling styles, and as such, it is based around throwing the opponent to the ground and/or lock him with wicked joint locks and chokes, combined with minor striking. It was originally created as a military hand-to-hand style in the vein of UsefulNotes/KravMaga, but very unlike the latter, it has adapted very successfully to sports competition, being a semi-popular fixture of ProfessionalWrestling and UsefulNotes/MixedMartialArts.

* '''Sport Sambo''' or '''Sambo Wrestling''': it is fought with little to no protections and over a circular wrestling mat. It is primarily a submission wrestling competition where most throws, takedowns and locks are allowed, with the notable exception of chokeholds, neck cranks, wristlocks, hammerlocks, toeholds, heel hooks and all standing submissions as they can only be applied when the opponent is grounded (the attacker can remain standing, but the grounded opponent cannot apply submissions on a standing opponent in turn). Closing guard is considered a form of stalling and thus more or less forbidden too, and deliberately pushing the opponent out the mat is weirdly discouraged as it is also considered a form of stalling unlike most wrestling styles. It also bans using the knees and elbows to push down on any part of the body of a grounded opponent (meaning no knee-on-belly). Sambists can win by submitting the opponent or by scoring points, which are earned through throws and pins (the cleaner a throw is, the more points you will receive, and a picture perfect throw leads to total victory).

** '''Combat Sambo - Wrestling''': a ruleset created in 2015 and used by the World Combat Sambo Federation (see below) and is its version of sport sambo. It is actually very similar to freestyle sambo but one main difference is that shoes are optional.
** '''Sambo for the Blind and Visually Impaired''' or just '''Blind Sambo''': a ruleset that is the sambo equivalent of Paralympic (Para or Blind) judo created in 2017. Since the competitors are blind/visually impaired, they hold each other by the sleeve and lapel of the kurtka at the start of the match and have to wear custom combat sambo helmets that also cover their eyes. Other then that, it mostly keeps to the rules of sport sambo.

* '''Combat Sambo''' (popularly known as '''Commando Sambo''' in Japan and sometimes referred to as '''Sport Combat Sambo''' in Russia to differentiate it from the style used in self-defense, law enforcement and military training): essentially old Brazilian vale tudo with protective gear and quick-draw rules. Its competitors fight with gloves, helmets and shin protections, which comes in handy for a ruleset that effectively allows throws, submissions (including ones on standing opponents unlike sport sambo) and strikes (though strikes don’t earn points, however, a knockdown resulting from strikes is regarded as a throw). Unusually for a combat sport, combat sambo is perfectly fine with headbutts, soccer kicks and even low blows; the only real techniques it forbids are pulling guard and sitting on the mat, as it is usually done in UsefulNotes/BrazilianJiuJitsu, as well as wrist locks. Unfortunately the original ruleset seems to have been made extinct (or at least rarely used) due to the majority of competitions falling under the International Sambo Federation's authority, though thankfully the changes have been minimal... so far.
** '''International or FIAS Rules''': a newer and slightly more restrictive version of combat sambo in competitions under the International Sambo Federation. It originally only removed soccer kicks and punches to a grounded opponent when the attacker is standing (though it still allows the grounded opponent to strike the standing one), neck cranks, heel hooks and toeholds and surprisingly even open hand and palm strikes, both standing and grounded, though more recent rules changes have removed low blows and ground-and-pound to the head when using elbows and headbutts.

* '''Combat Sambo''' (popularly known as '''Commando Sambo''' in Japan and sometimes referred to as '''Sports Combat Sambo''' in Russia to differentiate it from the style used in self defense and military training): essentially old Brazilian vale tudo with protective gear and quick-draw rules. Its competitors fight with gloves, helmets and shin protections, which comes in handy for a ruleset that effectively allows throws, submissions (including ones on standing opponents unlike sport sambo) and strikes (though strikes don’t earn points, however, a knockdown resulting from strikes is regarded as a throw). Unusually for a combat sport, combat sambo is perfectly fine with headbutts, soccer kicks and even low blows; the only real techniques it forbids are pulling guard and sitting on the mat, as it is usually done in UsefulNotes/BrazilianJiuJitsu, as well as wrist locks. Unfortunately the original ruleset seems to have been made extinct (or at least rarely used) due to the majority of competitions falling under the International Sambo Federation's authority, though thankfully the changes have been minimal... so far.
** '''International Rules''': a newer and slightly more restrictive version of combat sambo in competitions under the International Sambo Federation. It originally only removed soccer kicks and punches to a grounded opponent when the attacker is standing (though it still allows the grounded opponent to strike the standing one), neck cranks, heel hooks and toeholds and surprisingly even open hand and palm strikes, both standing and grounded, though more recent rules changes have removed low blows and ground-and-pound to the head when using elbows and headbutts.

** '''WCSF Rules''': a version of combat sambo (it is even referred to in Russian as "boyevogo" sambo instead of the usual "boyevoye" sambo) originally created by the Russian Combat Sambo Federation which was established in 2001 before the creation of the World Combat Sambo Federation for international competitions, both of which are organizations that are separate from and has no affiliation to the International Sambo Federation. The main difference between this version and the others above is that it does not use the helmet, which also means headbutts to the head are banned (but the every other legal part below is free game), also shoes and shin guards are optional. It also bans low blows, soccer kicks, and ground-and-pound with elbows (though still allowed to the head when standing), but allows wrist locks (or at least does not mention them). It is mostly held in wrestling mats, but can also be contested in either a boxing ring or a MMA cage.

* '''Combat Sambo''' (popularly known as '''Commando Sambo''' in Japan): essentially old Brazilian vale tudo with protective gear and quick-draw rules. Its competitors fight with gloves, helmets and shin protections, which comes in handy for a ruleset that effectively allows throws, submissions (including ones on standing opponents unlike sport sambo) and strikes (though strikes don’t earn points, however, a knockdown resulting from strikes is regarded as a throw). Unusually for a combat sport, combat sambo is perfectly fine with headbutts, soccer kicks and even low blows; the only real techniques it forbids are pulling guard and sitting on the mat, as it is usually done in UsefulNotes/BrazilianJiuJitsu, as well as wrist locks. Unfortunately the original ruleset seems to have been made extinct (or at least rarely used) due to the majority of competitions falling under the International Sambo Federation's authority, though thankfully the changes have been minimal... so far.

** '''WCSF Rules''': a version of combat sambo (it is even refered to in Russian as "boyevogo" sambo instead of the usual "boyevoye" sambo) originally created by the Russian Combat Sambo Federation which was established in 2001 before the creation of the World Combat Sambo Federation for international competitions, both of which are organizations that are seperate from and has no affliation to the International Sambo Federation. The main difference between this version and the others above is that it does not use the helmet, which also means headbutts to the head are banned (but the every other legal part below is free game), also shoes and shin guards are optional. It also bans low blows, soccer kicks, and ground-and-pound with elbows (though still allowed to the head when standing), but allows wrist locks (or at least does not mention them). It is mostly held in wrestling mats, but can also be contested in either a boxing ring or a MMA cage.

** '''PRB''' (acronym for a term meaning "Full Contact Hand-To-Hand Fighting"): a style created by Sergey Borisovich Ermakov who had been developing it since 1976 and presented it internationally in 2003 as '''Full Contact Fighting''' ('''FCF'''). It is fought more like combat sambo just without the kurtka, helmets, and shoes and it originally had fighters wear judogis, gloves, and shin guards only and it doesn't allow headbutts, elbows, and forearms to the head (but are allowed on the body), low blows, and kicking to the inner thigh, while also only having a 20 second limit to apply and finish submission holds, making it look like a sort of Russian version of Full Contact Ju-Jutsu. It eventually began using a No Gi version (though originally it was conceived as the pro division and was fought in gi pants instead of fight shorts and shin guards were still worn) known as '''Full Contact Fighting MMA''' ('''FCF-MMA'''), which eventually became the more used and favoured ruleset used by its host federation; the International Federation of Full Contact Fighting. This newer version even got a pro division with competitors removing the shin guards and just wearing fight shorts and gloves, while also allowing elbows and forearms to the head and kicking to the inner thigh. Matches are held on a traditional wrestling mat, not a cage or ring like normal MMA fights. The older version is now seperately organized under the International Association of Amateur Full Contact Fighting which is based in Ukraine and headed by Anton Kulebiakin, who interestingly is also the president of the International Full Contact Ju-Jutsu Federation (not to be confused and is not affliated with the Ju-Jitsu International Federation nor the Combat Ju-Jutsu International Federation) and the founder of Zenryoku Ju-Jutsu.

** SCUBA: competitors wear a diving mask, a 10kg weight belt, and diving cynlinder with a breathing valve and they are positioned in the middle of the ring two metres apart between them, and feet touching the bottom of the pool. The goal is to push the opponent outside the ring area, which earns 1 point, which stops the clock to reposition and repeat until the round is over.

** '''Combat Sambo - Wrestling''': a ruleset created in 2015 and used by the World Combat Sambo Federation (see below) and its version of sport sambo. It is actually very similar to freestyle sambo but one main difference is that shoes are optional.

** '''Combat Sambo - Wrestling''': a ruleset created in 2015 and used by the World Combat Sambo Federation (see below). It is actually very similar to freestyle sambo but one main difference is that shoes are optional.

*** '''Rdojo Sambo''': a ruleset created by Reilly Bodycomb for a nationwide network of ranked in-house sambo tournaments dubbed the Rdojo Sambo League which ran from the end of 2016 to mid 2017 in order to give Americans a chance to experience the rules (or at least something similar) of an international Sambo event. It was basically a modified version of freestyle sambo as it replaces of the 'total victory' throw with an 8-point throw, only allowed twisting leg locks like heel hooks and toeholds in "play-off" events and since these events were held in gyms with padded walls ot was allowed to continue against the wall for 7 seconds. Athletes new to sambo were permitted to wear a gi top, non-matching shorts, and wrestling shoes if they don't have kurtkas and sambo shoes.

** '''WCSF Rules''': a version of combat sambo (it is even refered to in Russian as "boyevogo" sambo instead of the usual "boyevoye" sambo) created by the World Combat Sambo Federation, which is an organization that is seperate from and has no affliation the International Sambo Federation. The main difference between this version and the others is that it does not use the helmet, which also means headbutts to the head are banned (but the every other legal part below is free game), also shoes and shin guards are optional. It also bans low blows, soccer kicks, and ground-and-pound with elbows (though still allowed to the head when standing), but allows wrist locks (or at least does not mention them). It is mostly held in wrestling mats, but can also be contested in either a boxing ring or a MMA cage.

* '''Sport Sambo''' or '''Sambo Wrestling''': it is fought with little to no protections and over a circular wrestling mat. It is primarily a submission wrestling competition where most throws, takedowns and locks are allowed, with the notable exception of chokeholds, neck cranks, wristlocks, hammerlocks, toeholds, and heel hooks and submissions can only be applied when the opponent is grounded (the attacker can remain standing, but the grounded opponent cannot apply submissions on a standing opponent in turn). Closing guard is considered a form of stalling and thus more or less forbidden too, and deliberately pushing the opponent out the mat is weirdly discouraged as it is also considered a form of stalling unlike most wrestling styles. It also bans using the knees and elbows to push down on any part of the body of a grounded opponent (meaning no knee-on-belly). Sambists can win by submitting the opponent or by scoring points, which are earned through throws and pins (the cleaner a throw is, the more points you will receive, and a picture perfect throw leads to total victory).
** '''Freestyle Sambo''': a ruleset created in 2004 by the now defunct American Sambo Association. It could be described as sport sambo with less grappling restrictions, allowing all the submissions described above.

** '''Russian Rules''': a version of combat sambo exclusively used by the Russian Federation of Combat Sambo, which is an organization that is seperate from and has no affliation with the All-Russian Sambo Federation and by extention the International Sambo Federation. The main difference between this version and the others is that it does not use the helmet, which also means headbutts to the head are banned (but the every other legal part below is free game), also a rule change in 2012 has made shoes optional. It also bans low blows, soccer kicks, and ground-and-pound with elbows (though still allowed to the head when standing), but allows wrist locks (or at least does not mention them). It also has some competitions that is done without the kurtka.
*** '''Professional''': basically Russian Rules in either a boxing ring or a MMA cage.

** '''International Rules''': A newer and slightly more restrictive version of combat sambo in competitions under the International Sambo Federation. It originally only removed soccer kicks and punches to a grounded opponent when the attacker is standing (though it still allows the grounded opponent to strike the standing one), neck cranks, heel hooks and toeholds and surprisingly even open hand and palm strikes, both standing and grounded, though more recent rules changes have removed low blows and ground-and-pound to the head when using elbows and headbutts.
** '''Light Rules''': An even more restrictive version of combat sambo used by some smaller regional organizations, most notably the British Sombo Federation. It farther removes headbutts and elbows altogether, along with knees to the head. Additionally, all strikes to the head are removed from the juniors division and below.
** '''Russian Rules''': A version of combat sambo exclusively used by the Russian Combat Sambo Federation, which is an organization that is seperate from and has no affliation with the All-Russian Sambo Federation and by extention the International Sambo Federation. The main difference between this version and the others is that it does not use the helmet, which also means headbutts to the head are banned (but the every other legal part below is free game), also a rule change in 2012 has made shoes optional. It also bans low blows, soccer kicks, and ground-and-pound with elbows (though still allowed to the head when standing), but allows wrist locks (or at least does not mention them). It also has some championships that is done without the kurtka.

** '''URB''' (acronym for a term meaning "Ukrainian Hand-To-Hand Fighting"): An offshoot of DRB that is used in Ukraine. It has two divisions; one which is the same as DRB, while the other is called "Light Contact", where fighters instead wear boxing gloves and sashes instead of open finger gloves and belts along with knockouts being banned.
** '''PRB''' (acronym for a term meaning "Full Contact Hand-To-Hand Fighting"): A style created by Sergey Borisovich Ermakov who had been developing it since 1976 and presented it internationally in 2003 as '''Full Contact Fighting''' ('''FCF'''). It is fought more like combat sambo just without the kurtka, helmets, and shoes and it originally had fighters wear judogis, gloves, and shin guards only and it doesn't allow headbutts, elbows, and forearms to the head (but are allowed on the body), low blows, and kicking to the inner thigh, while also only having a 20 second limit to apply and finish submission holds, making it look like a sort of Russian version of Full Contact Ju-Jutsu. It eventually began using a No Gi version (though originally it was conceived as the pro division and was fought in gi pants instead of fight shorts and shin guards were still worn) known as '''Full Contact Fighting MMA''' ('''FCF-MMA'''), which eventually became the more used and favoured ruleset used by its host federation; the International Federation of Full Contact Fighting. This newer version even got a pro division with competitors removing the shin guards and just wearing fight shorts and gloves, while also allowing elbows and forearms to the head and kicking to the inner thigh. Matches are held on a traditional wrestling mat, not a cage or ring like normal MMA fights. The older version is now seperately organized under the International Association of Amateur Full Contact Fighting which is based in Ukraine and headed by Anton Kulebiakin, who interestingly is also the president of the International Full Contact Ju-Jutsu Federation (not to be confused and is not affliated with the Ju-Jitsu International Federation nor the Combat Ju-Jutsu International Federation) and the founder of Zenryoku Ju-Jutsu.
** '''New ARB''' (acronym for a term meaning '''Absolutely Real Combat'''): A simplified variant of ARB that was created in 2020 by Denis Yurievich Batsun, mostly so that children from ages 8 to 17 can compete in it unlike regular ARB, though it also has adult competition. It differs from regular ARB as it allows an additional round of 40 seconds if the fight is ruled a draw, bans headbutts, but allows knees and chokes. It even has a No Gi version which allows pinning, which is why the style is also known as '''ARB-MMA'''.

** '''Classic''': Basically the division that uses the rules mentioned above.
** '''Light''': This division changes the fighting stage to basically jacket wrestling, with only throws being allowed and a clean throw wins outright.
** '''Pro''': This division is kind of an anomaly as it is removes the obstacle course entirely and only includes fighting. Fighters wear short sleeved kurtkas and either long pants or shorts with gloves but without headgear. It allows striking on the ground, but only clean strikes are scored.
** '''Child''': A version made for children from 10-13 years old in both Classic and Light divisions. It makes modifications to the obstacle course such as replacing the knife throwing with throwing tennis balls at a target instead. It also adds extra protection like chest protectors in the fighting stage and are fought in 2 rounds of 1 minute with the finals being 2 rounds of 1 minute and 30 seconds.
* '''Stenka''': Another weird style developed in the late 2000s by Valeriy Maistrovoy. Like RBM above, it is based on Russian traditional fighting sports, modernized by the influence of sambo and gets its name from one called "Stenka na senkou", which involves two teams of people linking up to form "walls" of themselves and fighting the other team to break up the other team's wall. Competitors wear kurtkas over customized camouflage shirts and gi pants, and can also go barefoot or wear shoes. There are three main rulesets for international competition;

** '''Russian Rules''': A version of combat sambo exclusively used by the Russian Combat Sambo Federation, which is an organization that is seperate from and has no affliation with the All-Russian Sambo Federation and by extention the International Sambo Federation. The main difference between this version and the others is that it does not use the helmet, which also means headbutts to the head are banned (but the every other legal part below is free game), also a rule change in 2012 has made shoes optional. It also bans low blows, soccer kicks, and ground-and-pound with elbows (though still allowed to the head when standing). It also has some championships that is done without the kurtka.

** '''Sambo for the Blind and Visually Impaired''' or just '''Blind Sambo''': a ruleset that is the sambo equivalent of Paralympic (Para or Blind) judo created in 2017. Since the competitors are blind/visually impaired, they hold each other by the sleeve and lapel of the jacket at the start of the match and have to wear custom combat sambo helmets that also cover their eyes. Other then that, it mostly keeps to the rules of sport sambo.

** '''Russian Rules''': A version of combat sambo exclusively used by the Russian Combat Sambo Federation, which is an organization that is seperate from and has no affliation with the All-Russian Sambo Federation and by extention the International Sambo Federation. The main difference between this version and the others is that it does not use the helmet, which also means headbutts to the head are banned (but the every other legal part below is free game), also a rule change in 2012 has made shoes optional. It also bans low blows, soccer kicks, and ground-and-pound with elbows (though still allowed to the head when standing)

** '''Sambo for the Blind and Visually Impaired''' or just '''Blind Sambo''': a ruleset that is the sambo equivalent of Paralympic (Para or Blind) judo created in 2017. Since the competitors are blind/visually impaired, they hold each other by the sleeve and lapel of the jacket at the start of the match and have to wear custom combat sambo helmets that cover their eyes. Other then that, it mostly keeps to the rules of sport sambo.

* '''Combat Sambo''' (popularly known as '''Commando Sambo''' in Japan): essentially old Brazilian vale tudo with protective gear and quick-draw rules. Its competitors fight with gloves, helmets and shin protections, which comes in handy for a ruleset that effectively allows throws, submissions (including ones on standing opponents unlike sport sambo) and strikes (though strikes don’t earn points, however, a knockdown resulting from strikes is regarded as a throw). Unusually for a combat sport, combat sambo is perfectly fine with headbutts, soccer kicks and even low blows; the only real techniques it forbids are pulling guard and sitting on the mat, as it is usually done in UsefulNotes/BrazilianJiuJitsu, as well as wrist locks.
** '''International Rules''': A newer and slightly more restrictive version of combat sambo in competitions under the International Sambo Federation. It originally only removed soccer kicks and punches to a grounded opponent when the attacker is standing (though it still allows the grounded opponent to strike the standing one) and surprisingly open hand and palm strikes, both standing and grounded, though more recent rules changes have removed low blows and ground-and-pound to the head when using elbows and headbutts.
** '''Light Rules''': An even more restrictive version of combat sambo used by some smaller regional organizations. It farther removes headbutts and elbows altogether, and knees to the head, while all strikes to the head are removed from the juniors division and below.

** '''Sambo Parter''' or '''Sambo Par Terre''': a newer and weirder ruleset developed by Ivan Vasylchuk in 2019 that focuses on the ground game. Matches start with fighters sitting with their legs out with their backs towards each other, then immediately turn around and go to their knees when the match starts. Aside from a slightly different point system, it mostly keeps to the rules of sport sambo except throws can only be done when on the knees and allows for one minute to finish a submission and ten seconds beforehand to secure it. It also allows chokeholds (except for those that can be turned into neck cranks like guillotines (unless it's arm in), headscissors, or no-arm triangles) and closed guard (though pulling guard is still a no-no and it doesn't allow squeezing the legs together, only hooking the feet together is acceptable).

** '''Sambo Parter''' or '''Sambo Par Terre''': a newer and weirder ruleset developed by Ivan Vasylchuk in 2019 that focuses on the ground game. Matches start with fighters sitting with their legs out with their backs towards each other. Aside from a slightly different point system, it mostly keeps to the rules of sport sambo except throws can only be done when on the knees and allows for one minute to finish a submission and ten seconds beforehand to secure it. It also allows chokeholds (except for those that can be turned into neck cranks like guillotines (unless it's arm in), headscissors, or no-arm triangles) and closed guard (though is doesn't allow squeezing the legs together, just hooking the feet together is acceptable).

* '''Sport Sambo''' or '''Sambo Wrestling''': it is fought with little to no protections and over a circular wrestling mat. It is primarily a submission wrestling competition where most throws, takedowns and locks are allowed, with the notable exception of chokeholds, neck cranks, wristlocks, hammerlocks, toeholds, and heel hooks and submissions can only be applied when the opponent is grounded (the attacker can remain standing). Closing guard is considered a form of stalling and thus more or less forbidden too, and deliberately pushing the opponent out the mat is weirdly discouraged as it is also considered a form of stalling unlike most wrestling styles. It also bans using the knees and elbows to push down on any part of the body of a grounded opponent (meaning no knee-on-belly). Sambists can win by submitting the opponent or by scoring points, which are earned through throws and pins (the cleaner a throw is, the more points you will receive, and a picture perfect throw leads to total victory).

** '''Sambo Parter''' or '''Sambo Par Terre''': a newer and weirder ruleset developed by Ivan Vasylchuk in 2019 that focuses on the ground game. Matches start with fighters sitting with their legs out with their backs towards each other. Aside from a slightly different point system, it mostly keeps to the rules of sport sambo except that it also allows chokeholds.

* '''Combat Sambo''' (popularly known as '''Commando Sambo''' in Japan): essentially old Brazilian vale tudo with protective gear and quick-draw rules. Its competitors fight with gloves, helmets and shin protections, which comes in handy for a ruleset that effectively allows throws, submissions and strikes (though strikes don’t earn points, however, a knockdown resulting from strikes is regarded as a throw). Unusually for a combat sport, combat sambo is perfectly fine with headbutts, soccer kicks and even low blows; the only real techniques it forbids are pulling guard and sitting on the mat, as it is usually done in Brazilian jiu-jitsu, as well as wrist locks.

** '''PRB''' (acronym for a term meaning "Full Contact Hand-To-Hand Fighting"): A style created by Sergey Borisovich Ermakov who had been developing it since 1976 and presented it internationally in 2003 as '''Full Contact Fighting''' ('''FCF'''). It is fought more like combat sambo just without the kurtka, helmets, and shoes and it originally had fighters wear judogis, gloves, and shin guards only and it doesn't allow headbutts, elbows, and forearms to the head (but are allowed on the body), low blows, and kicking to the inner part of the thigh, while also only having a 20 second limit to apply and finish submission holds, making it look like a sort of Russian version of Full Contact Ju-Jutsu. It eventually began using a No Gi version (though originally it was conceived as the pro division and was fought in gi pants instead of fight shorts and shin guards were still worn) known as '''Full Contact Fighting MMA''' ('''FCF-MMA'''), which eventually became the more used and favoured ruleset used by its host federation; the International Federation of Full Contact Fighting. This newer version even got a pro division with competitors removing the shin guards and just wearing fight shorts and gloves, while also allowing elbows and forearms to the head and kicking to the inner part of the thigh. Matches are held on a traditional wrestling mat, not a cage or ring like normal MMA fights. The older version is now seperately organized under the International Association of Amateur Full Contact Fighting which is based in Ukraine and headed by Anton Kulebiakin, who interestingly is also the president of the International Full Contact Ju-Jutsu Federation (not to be confused and is not affliated with the Ju-Jitsu International Federation nor the Combat Ju-Jutsu International Federation) and the founder of Zenryoku Ju-Jutsu.

** '''No Kurtka Sambo''' (also known as '''No Jacket Sambo''' or '''Bez Kurtka Sambo'''): Basically the No Gi version of sport sambo, though it is not very widespread. One variant used by the Sambo League USA does seem to be a No Gi version of freestyle sambo.

* '''Sport Sambo''' or '''Sambo Wrestling''': it is fought with little to no protections and over a circular wrestling mat. It is primarily a submission wrestling competition where most throws, takedowns and locks are allowed, with the notable exception of chokeholds, neck cranks and heel hooks. Closing guard is considered a form of stalling and thus more or less forbidden too. Sambists can win by submitting the opponent or by scoring points, which are earned through throws and pins (the cleaner a throw is, the more points you will receive, and a picture perfect throw leads to total victory).
** '''Freestyle Sambo''': a ruleset created in 2004 by the now defunct American Sambo Association. It could be described as sport sambo with less grappling restrictions, allowing all the three submissions described above.

** '''International Rules''': A slightly more restrictive version of combat sambo used by organizations outside of the former Soviet bloc and Japan. It removes soccer kicks, low blows, ground-and-pound to the head with elbows and headbutts and surprisingly open hand and palm strikes.
** '''Light Rules''': An even more restrictive version of combat sambo used by some smaller regional organizations. It farther removes headbutts and elbows altogether, knees to the head, and submissions can only be done on the ground, while all strikes to the head are removed from the juniors division and below.

* '''ARB''' (acronym for a term meaning "Army Hand-To-Hand Fighting"): a weird style invented in the 1970s by the Soviet Airborne Troops. While some of its practitioners will deny any relation to sambo, it is very clearly an offshoot of combat sambo, although it uses a tatami instead of a wrestling mat, judogis instead of kurtkas (though military uniforms with martial art belts are used instead in military competitions), fights only have a time limit of 3 minutes with no additional rounds, grappling is limited beyond throwing and submissions which can only start and end on the ground and it seems to only allow armbars and leglocks that are not wrist locks or foot locks. Instead, its rules favor punching and kicking (it never actually mentions elbows and knees in its rules, but there seems to be a sort of gentleman’s agreement to not use them), making it vaguely similar to UsefulNotes/{{Karate}} and UsefulNotes/{{Taekwondo}}, though for some reason it bans kicks to the inner thigh, headbutts are only allowed while both fighters are standing, soccer kicks and ground-and-pound are legal, and has a time limit of 10 seconds to either strike a grounded opponent or put on a submission which adds an addtional 20 seconds to finish the submission.

** '''PRB''' (acronym for a term meaning "Full Contact Hand-To-Hand Fighting"): A style created by Sergey Borisovich Ermakov who had been developing it since 1976 and presented it internationally in 2003 as '''Full Contact Fighting''' ('''FCF'''). It originally had fighters wear judogis, gloves, and shin guards only, and was fought more like combat sambo just without the kurtka, helmets, and shoes and it doesn't allow headbutts, elbows, and forearms to the head (but are allowed on the body), low blows, and kicking to the inner part of the thigh, while also only having a 20 second limit to apply and finish submission holds, making it look like a sort of Russian version of Full Contact Ju-Jutsu. It eventually began using a No Gi version (though originally it was conceived as the pro division and was fought in gi pants instead of fight shorts and shin guards were still worn) known as '''Full Contact Fighting MMA''' ('''FCF-MMA'''), which eventually became the more used and favoured ruleset used by its host federation; the International Federation of Full Contact Fighting. This newer version even got a pro division with competitors removing the shin guards and just wearing fight shorts and gloves, while also allowing elbows and forearms to the head and kicking to the inner part of the thigh. Matches are held on a traditional wrestling mat, not a cage or ring like normal MMA fights. The older version is now seperately organized under the International Association of Amateur Full Contact Fighting which is based in Ukraine and headed by Anton Kulebiakin, who interestingly is also the president of the International Full Contact Ju-Jutsu Federation (not to be confused and is not affliated with the Ju-Jitsu International Federation nor the Combat Ju-Jutsu International Federation) and the founder of Zenryoku Ju-Jutsu.

** '''PRB''' (acronym for a term meaning "Full Contact Hand-To-Hand Fighting"): A style created by Sergey Borisovich Ermakov who had been developing it since 1976 and presented it internationally in 2003 as '''Full Contact Fighting''' ('''FCF'''). It originally had fighters wear judogis, gloves, and shin guards only, and was more like combat sambo just without the kurtka, helmets, and shoes and it doesn't allow headbutts, elbows, and forearms to the head (but are allowed on the body), low blows, and kicking to the inner part of the thigh, while also only having a 20 second limit to apply and finish submission holds, making it look like a sort of Russian version of Full Contact Ju-Jutsu. It eventually began using a No Gi version (though originally it was conceived as the pro division and was fought in gi pants instead of fight shorts and shin guards were still worn) known as '''Full Contact Fighting MMA''' ('''FCF-MMA'''), which eventually became the more used and favoured ruleset used by its host federation; the International Federation of Full Contact Fighting. This newer version even got a pro division with competitors removing the shin guards and just wearing fight shorts and gloves, while also allowing elbows and forearms to the head and kicking to the inner part of the thigh. Matches are held on a traditional wrestling mat, not a cage or ring like normal MMA fights. The older style is now seperately organized under the International Association of Amateur Full Contact Fighting which is based in Ukraine and headed by Anton Kulebiakin, who interestingly is also the president of the International Full Contact Ju-Jutsu Federation and the founder of Zenryoku Ju-Jutsu.