Customer Reviews

Wrestling Sambo: The Secret Combat Art of the Former Soviet Union for Special Forces and Real Self Protection

5 star:		(4)
4 star:		(1)
3 star:		(0)
2 star:		(1)
1 star:		(1)

 

 

Book Description
This book makes up for the lack of literature on this fascinating combat art of wrestling Sambo of the former Soviet Union, which is gaining increasing popularity particularily between no holds barred fighters and self protection experts in general. This book is suitable for all people, starting from beginners, enthusiasts, and finishing with experienced athletes, also it is a strong guide for martial arts trainers, grappling and wrestling coaches and no holds barred fighters.
Recommendations and 89 actions, including 44 throws, takings down, sweeps, 23 submission techniques, 11 holdings down in ground work, 11 over turnings, presented in the book, equips people with adequate skills, qualifying them to be much mentally, physically, emotionally stronger and confident in real combat street situations and even for participation in important tournaments and competitions.

From the Author
I am writing in response to the reviews of my book. I welcome all comments both positive and negative, but am disappointed when criticism comes from not carefully reading the contents of the book.

This is not a book to read once but studied and referred back to time and again. This book is a technical manual to learn and develop the techniques of Wrestling Sambo, techniques that have been very successfully used in real combat situations.

This is not a book on pure sport technique, if you look to chapter 3 Submissions, p95, p96 and p102, you can clearly see that these techniques can never be used in any kind of competition. You must first learn and master these techniques like any other activity, like for example golf you don't expect to master just because you picked up a club, it takes practise and study till you really began to appreciate and love the game.

As I state at the beginning of the book p.11, this book is a small but important step into the combat art of Wrestling Sambo, opening your eyes to this fascinating art of wrestling and that you begin to get your first taste of it. This is a secret art because there is very little literature on the history or techniques of Wrestling Sambo, hence the title.

More techniques such as neutralizing your opponent when all kinds of strikes, punches and submissions are involved will be covered in following video as there is more than enough techniques to learn and conquer in the book, only having mastered them will you be ready to take on such things and be in my way of thinking. These techniques take a much longer time to master than other martial arts techniques for self-defence like all kind of strikes to the groin, flicks to the eyes, slaps to the Ears all kinds of strikes to the knee etc, and still you have to practise them hundreds of times to succeed. You can read more about this in p138 of the book.

I would like to make a more direct comment to someone who reviewed my book. The comment about the pictures on street grappling, it is clearly stated p133, that these pictures are for your own imagination and that I would not be explaining them. I gave a short description of how to use wrestling Sambo in general in the street. The last comment about the pictures is that me, grabbing and throwing a guy is not self-defence, I don't know how an opponent feels when you are smashing him against a wall, car or pavement to protect yourself, or that a hold that basically dislocates or tears the ligaments of both your opponents elbows is not self defence.

So when you have learnt everything from the book, including 44 throws, takings down and sweeps, 23 submission techniques, 11 holdings down, 11 over turnings in ground work you will be ready for the deep explanation of how to use all Sambo Wrestling techniques for real self protection in street situations.

Thank you for all comments and good luck to everyone!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

The photography is good. Nice sequential layout making the book easy to follow.

The techniques? Well...I reckon the ippon masterclass series is much, much better for coverage of technical variations.

This book purports to be a manual for developing good grapplers and real self protection skills. Most of the techniques shown are basic, basic techniques you could learn in a garden variety judo school.

The examples of how to use sambo in "real street situations" as the author puts it are nothing more than a photo gallery of stills from somewhere I suspect to be the author's driveway where he and his students show techniques being executed with no reference to how initial attacks began.

This manual has got little of interest for the experienced grappler and you would be far better to just join your local judo club if just a novice.

Whether this book is Mr Bukauskas' best effort, or merely an attempt to surf the grappling fad that UFC anbd Pride has caused to rear it's ugly head, I think there are far better books out there.

Try any of the ippon masterclass series. Each one is worth its weight in gold. If you are more serious, try "Best Judo" by Inokuma and Sato. I wouldn't go out of my way to get this book if I were you.

I think that this book was solid at best, but not more than that. It really did not go too far into detail, and I thought that there would be more on submissions.

I have studied the grappling arts for years and currently train in Judo and Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu. I bought this book to add some techniques to my arsenal of moves and what I saw was what already knew from my training. The photographs are in black and white and there are very few close-ups on the techniques. If you have any formal training in the grappling arts this book is not for you and if you are looking for books on grappling don't buy this book. I suggest you buy books on Judo, Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu, and wrestling or attend a school that offers instruction in those styles. I think Sambo is an excellent martial art and if you live near a Sambo school train there.

This book is for the serious minded about martial arts. Whether you are a beginner or an experienced martial artist there is something in this book for you. This is a book to study and practice whatever your level, referring back to and revising as you progress through each move. The writing shows that the author knows what he is talking about, and with this book gives you enough actions to get a good grounding in Sambo Wrestling and not be overwhelmed or intimidated. I am very happy with this book and look forward to the next with interest and other works from this author.

For anyone interested REAL self defense this is book is a MUST!!! The techniques are fully professionally photographed and have detailed description of correct technique. All methods are easy to use for practitioners of all levels and physical size and strength. These techniques I have been able put in to practise with training partners are 100% effective in combat situations! There are excellent tips and drills for making these moves instinctively and expanding you repertoire. This is a serious book written by a serious professional fighter and trainer. I look forward to more books by Gintas, demonstrating his legendary striking and weapons techniques!

This book was really useful in demonstrating how techniques can be used in real life practical situations and I hope that this provokes more discussion on wrestling sambo and that more books of this nature will be written on the subject.