British Sombo Federation a success story
British Sombo Federation Recognised Coaches
Is European Judo Japanese Sambo
International Amateur Sambo Federation takes on Judo Organisation
Allan Clarkin Full Contact Sombo
World SAMBO Championships in Vilnius November 10th till 13th
 |
 |
 |
 |
CHICO HERNANDEZ
Most probably USA most successful Sombo Wrestler visited the British Open for the 3rd time and took a Silver, Chico is quite a Caleb in the USA recently sent a Thankyou to those Brits who made him welcome, he also sent a report on the recent FILA USA Closed Sombo Nationals
Here is a report from Steve who attended the US National Sombo Event.
Steve Wrote.....
I just got back from the USAW Sambo Nationals. Here are my comments and
observations.
Based on the posted brackets, there were 52 competitors...15 were women. The official results list 54 competitors.
There were 2 men's and 3 women's divisions where there were only one competitor. The large turnout in the women's division was directly related to the fact that women's wrestling had completed the day before and many stayed to try out sambo. Based on the women's play, they were primarily wrestlers with no jacket experience.
In the men's divisions, most of the competitors were wrestlers with little or no sambo background. However, Doug Fournet of Louisisana did compete and win the 96kg division. Fournet is a veteran sambo player with lots of national and international experience. There were also a few seasoned jujitsu players. Jeff Zastrow, last year's gold medalist for USAW lost to a player from a Gokor Chivichian affiliated club, who in turn, lost to Doug Fournet in the final.
Gokor's team had approximately 4 guys who, for the most part scored very well against the wrestlers. One backed out due to injury. There was also a member of the 2006 FIAS US team, Roman Mitichyan, who cleaned up getting the silver in 74kg.
All of last years USAW gold medallists were not able to repeat their wins.
Aside from a few matches, most were clearly convert wrestlers not familiar with gripping and jacket work. That aside, there were some competative matches that looked much like Greco Roman with kurtka. There were very few submissions in this event. There were also a few injuries including a seperated shoulder and a broken forearm (result of posting when being thrown).
There was 16 year old High School wrestler named Jake Bohn who cleaned up the 66kg division....beating Ray White, last year's gold medallist. This kid was incredible. His takedowns were so fast...as well as his counters. I am told he is closing in on the US national record for takedowns in High School Wrestling.
The biggest and most common criticism based on watching the matches and talking to competitors, was the clear lack of knowledge of the rules on the part of the USAW wrestling officials. One official even told me after it was over that he did not know the rules well. Several of the athletes comlpained of last minutes rule changes, additions, and many missed or unclear calls by the officials. Apparently, there was no rules meeting before the start of competition. One of the rule changes made was the allowance of wrist locks. There were others that people complained about, but I can't recall exactly what they were. Scissor takedowns did seem to be legal and did not get stopped when done. The officials also did not always seem clear on standing escapes of leg/ankle submissions.
I personally observed an attempted triangle choke which would not have been stopped by the referee had the corner man not protested. The referee had no idea what was going on. I also witnessed a rear naked choke that was not stopped (unsuccessful), attempted toe holds, and several shoulder lock attempts with the hand way behind the back which were not stopped. While I did not witness it, I was told that there was a flying armbar which caused some cotroversy among the judges. These occurances confused many of the competitors as some moves were being stopped by some referees and not by others. Athletes did not know what was what and rules seemed to fluctuate with the wind.
Another unclear point for me and the competitors was the determination of winners in the event of a tie. There was no sudden death or overtime. I had been told at the event by several different people that winners were determined based on judge's decision (based on aggression), based on who had scored the last point in the match, or based on warnings during the match. In the end, I was unable to clearly determin how winners were chosen in the event of a tie. Some decisions made sense and other did not.
The most debated bout was Doug Fournet's win over Aram Ghukasyan (from a Gokor affilitated club - Kenam's Judo/Sambo) in their final match. The match ended at 4-4 as listed on the board. It was assumed by most that Ghukasyan had won as there were no warnings and he had scored the last points in the match. However, Fournet was declared the winner. I was not clear as to why and most of the spectators were also confused. In any event, it was a very close match. Fournet was the more aggressive player in my opinion and this is why I thought he had won. The next day on the USAW website they had Fournet's final match listed as him winning 4-3. I am not sure where this came from, but that is what they have listed. At the event, the score was 4-4.
I reviewed my tape of the match and this is
what I saw. I do not have the mat side judge in view, but I do have the
center and table judges in view.
-Ghukasyan attempts front leg sweep, Fournet
reverses with lateral drop putting Ghukasyan on his back. Center judge
scores 4 points. 4 points go on board.
-Ghukasyan scores sacrifice throw for one point (as seen on center judges hand). 1 point goes on board.
-Ghukasyan again scores sacrifice throw. Center judge raises hand, but I can't see call...it is out of camera view. 1 point is scored on board.
-The board now shows a 4-2 score.
-Ghukasyan scores an inner reap on Fournet who lands on butt/back (tough to tell as Doug rolls out very quickly). Center ref scores 4 points initially. Then there seems to be discussion between the table judge and matside judge (who I can't see). Table judge seems to correct to 2 points. Scoreboard shows 4-4 score now.
-In the last 20 seconds on play, Ghukasyan attempts a single leg, but Fournet reverses with a 1/2 suplex and plants Ghukasyan on his face and upper chest. Center ref scores 1 point. This never shows on board. Time ends. Board still shows 4-4.
After the match ends there is discussion at judges table and Fournet is declared the winner. No warnings were given during the match. Now, if that last point counted, Fournet would have won 5-4. But, the board showed 4-4 and the USAW results show 4-3. So I have no idea what happened. In any event, it seems Doug did win, but officiating caused confusion.
-Ghukasyan scores sacrifice throw for one point (as seen on center judges hand). 1 point goes on board.
-Ghukasyan again scores sacrifice throw. Center judge raises hand, but I can't see call...it is out of camera view. 1 point is scored on board.
-The board now shows a 4-2 score.
-Ghukasyan scores an inner reap on Fournet who lands on butt/back (tough to tell as Doug rolls out very quickly). Center ref scores 4 points initially. Then there seems to be discussion between the table judge and matside judge (who I can't see). Table judge seems to correct to 2 points. Scoreboard shows 4-4 score now.
-In the last 20 seconds on play, Ghukasyan attempts a single leg, but Fournet reverses with a 1/2 suplex and plants Ghukasyan on his face and upper chest. Center ref scores 1 point. This never shows on board. Time ends. Board still shows 4-4.
After the match ends there is discussion at judges table and Fournet is declared the winner. No warnings were given during the match. Now, if that last point counted, Fournet would have won 5-4. But, the board showed 4-4 and the USAW results show 4-3. So I have no idea what happened. In any event, it seems Doug did win, but officiating caused confusion.
In the end, it ws a typical US sambo event
with low turn out and some good matches. While the players were very
game and tough, the officiating was the major problem with the event.
Most competitors I spoke with were not happy with the officiating and
were confused about the rules.
I did also hear some folks in the stands (not USAW officials) complaining that the "Armenians" (meaning Gokor's guys) should not have been able to compete as they were not citizens and that this was a US national, not an international open event. Well, I doubt anyone had checked citizenship at registration and these comments seemed to me to be bitter comments based on Gokor's team's positive performance. Besides, with such a small turn out, they needed as many guys as they could get. Citizenship will be an issue for his guys who placed for the USAW world team though. I have been told subsequently that all of Gokor's athletes were US citizens.
Two nice moments for me were getting meeting many folks I had only met on-line prior and getting to spend some time chatting with Gene LeBell, who had come with Gokor's team. Despite the problems, I always love watching sambo and I believe the event did showcase the sport to more interested parties by being held at the USAW nationals. Most spectators watching had never seen or heard of sambo before. I do not regret going to check it out.
Props to all the players who stepped on the mat!
I did also hear some folks in the stands (not USAW officials) complaining that the "Armenians" (meaning Gokor's guys) should not have been able to compete as they were not citizens and that this was a US national, not an international open event. Well, I doubt anyone had checked citizenship at registration and these comments seemed to me to be bitter comments based on Gokor's team's positive performance. Besides, with such a small turn out, they needed as many guys as they could get. Citizenship will be an issue for his guys who placed for the USAW world team though. I have been told subsequently that all of Gokor's athletes were US citizens.
Two nice moments for me were getting meeting many folks I had only met on-line prior and getting to spend some time chatting with Gene LeBell, who had come with Gokor's team. Despite the problems, I always love watching sambo and I believe the event did showcase the sport to more interested parties by being held at the USAW nationals. Most spectators watching had never seen or heard of sambo before. I do not regret going to check it out.
Props to all the players who stepped on the mat!
Here are the full results:
Men's results:
55 kg / 121 lbs
1st Place - Eric Albarracin of EA Kombat/ModernArmyCombatives
60 kg / 132.5 lbs
1st Place - Alfredo Varela of Underdog Inc.
66 KG / 145.5 lbs
1st Place - Jake Bohn of J.E.T.S./No Limits
2nd Place - Phil Rizzo of Team Pusuit
3rd Place - Khachatur Arakelyan of Hayastan
4th Place - Ray White of Team Pusuit
5th Place - Ethan Castanon of J.E.T.S./No Limits
6th Place - Bo Hines of J.E.T.S./No Limits
74 KG / 163 lbs
1st Place - Seth Bregman of Colorado BJJ
2nd Place - Roman Mitichyan of Hayastan
3rd Place - Karapet Akhverdyan of Hayastan
4th Place - Bj Adams of Embry Riddle WC
5th Place - Juan Ramos of U.S. Marines
6th Place - Ara Muradyan of Hayastan
7th Place - Robert Lusk of J.E.T.S./No Limits
8th Place - Enrique Manibusan of Spartan WC
84 kg/ 185 lbs
1st Place - Scott Garcia of American Pankration
2nd Place - Jeff Funicello of American Pankration
3rd Place - Jack Kitchen of Sunkist Kids
4th Place - Matt Sommerville of Warhawk WC
5th Place - James Clay of Hayastan
6th Place - Alberto Crane of J.E.T.S./No Limits
7th Place - Rodney Fisher of Spartans
8th Place - Scire Dompe of J.E.T.S./No Limits
96 kg / 211.5 lbs
1st Place - Douglas Fournet of Gladiators Academy
2nd Place - Aram Ghukasyan of Kenam`s Judo Club
3rd Place - Paul Jones of Roughrider Wrestling
4th Place - Jeff Zastrow of J.E.T.S./No Limits
5th Place - Shaun Scott of Team Palay
6th Place - Brandon Abeyta of J.E.T.S./No Limits
7th Place - Michael Sullivan of FusBoxe
120 kg/ 264.5 lbs
1st Place - Carlos Dolmo of Blast Double NY
2nd Place - Gabe Beauperthuy of unattached
3rd Place - Kenny Lester of Sunkist Kids
4th Place - Stevie Grodie of J.E.T.S./No Limits
5th Place - Brandon Ruiz of Sunkist Kids
Women
48 kg / 105.5 lbs
1st Place - Tanya Miyasaki of Missouri Valley College
2nd Place - Amantha Hordagoda of Spartan WC
3rd Place - Cindy Pacheco of Spartans
4th Place - Elizabeth Osborne of J.E.T.S./No Limits
Women's results
51 kg/ 112 lbs
1st Place - Jessica Ortiz of Spartan WC
55 kg / 121 lbs
1st Place - Courtney Martell of Missouri Valley College
2nd Place - Samantha Schuman of Missouri Valley College
3rd Place - Kristin Condello of WOW
59 kg / 130 lbs
1st Place - Samantha Phillips of Spartan WC
2nd Place - Amberle Montgomery of J.E.T.S./No Limits
3rd Place - Shamaine Danner of Missouri Valley College
63 kg/ 138.5 lbs
1st Place - Leigh Jaynes of U.S. Army
2nd Place - Julieta Okot of J.E.T.S./No Limits
67 kg/ 147.5 lbs
1st Place - Bethany Harris of J.E.T.S./No Limits
72 kg / 158.5 lbs
1st Place - Marina Piccolotti of Spartan WC
__________________
Stephen Koepfer
President, American Sambo Association