How to Enter a Sport Sombo Tournament

Sombo is one of the four forms of wrestling recognized internationally. The other three are Greco-Roman, Freestyle and Judo. Sport Sombo is similar to amateur wrestling and Judo except it allows leg holds, unlike Judo. Sombo has not spread as quickly in America as have many other forms of martial arts. This means that finding competition sometimes requires a bit of sleuthing.

Instructions

Difficulty: Moderate

1. Check a regional list of clubs and organizations that are Members of Sport Sombo's National Association (see Resources below).
2. Check a regional list of "friends of Sombo" if you cannot find an organization close to you that is a member of the National Association.
3. Look at a regional listing of members of Federation International Amateur Sombo. Log onto sombo.com if you still have not found an organization close to where you live.
4. Check a regional list of schools that are associated with the United States Sombo Association. This list is located on sombo.us and has perhaps most comprehensive in terms of geographic distribution.
5. Contact one or more of the clubs, schools or associations. If possible, visit one of their events. Use the club as a means of keeping your skills intact and learning new skills as well as a source of information about Sombo competitions.
6. Participate in local competitions. These may be nothing more than round-robin tournaments within a club but they are at least some form of competition. Use the organizations contacts to stay updated regarding larger competitions.
7. Find regional or national competitions and enter them. These are smaller competitions than those of the other three wrestling styles and not held with the same regularity as competition in the other three styles.

Tips & Warnings

• It is best to subscribe to a number of newsletters about Sombo since no one organization has purview over the entire sport. Subscribe to newsletters through each organization's website.