About Vlad
Vlad is a world champion competitor; placing three times in the USA Open and represented team USA in combat SAMBO in the World Championship in 2008. Placed and won multiple NAGA and Grapplers Quest tournaments and was awarded the most technical fighter in the very first Grapplers Quest competition winning all his matches by submissions.
Vlad's Story
As you might have guessed, I’m Russian. Some kids get into martial arts because their parents want them to train for various reasons—being bullied, improving focus, and gaining discipline to name a few. That was not the case with me. My older cousin and my dad were my inspiration.
My father was my role model during my childhood. He wrestled, boxed and did power promotion things such as ripping chains, bending coins, and wrapping nails around his fingers. In the southern resort towns, there were several of kiosks where passers could test their strength. I remember one particular grip strength indicator. My dad always squeezed it hard enough to cause the arrow to go beyond the highest number. I wanted to be just like him.
During the last three years of high school, I enrolled in four additional subjects that were offered for in-depth study: Russian language, world history, world literature, and English. That course of study determined my college choice as well. My major was journalism and my work got published while I was still living in Russia.
As you might have guessed, I’m Russian. Some kids get into martial arts because their parents want them to train for various reasons—being bullied, improving focus, and gaining discipline to name a few. That was not the case with me. My older cousin and my dad were my inspiration.
My father was my role model during my childhood. He wrestled, boxed and did power promotion things such as ripping chains, bending coins, and wrapping nails around his fingers. In the southern resort towns, there were several of kiosks where passers could test their strength. I remember one particular grip strength indicator. My dad always squeezed it hard enough to cause the arrow to go beyond the highest number. I wanted to be just like him.
During the last three years of high school, I enrolled in four additional subjects that were offered for in-depth study: Russian language, world history, world literature, and English. That course of study determined my college choice as well. My major was journalism and my work got published while I was still living in Russia.
In 1996, I immigrated to the United States. Upon arrival to the U.S., I couldn’t find a SAMBO gym. I started to go to a grappling club in the area where I was exposed to Jiu Jitsu. I fell in love immediately. It made sense to me and wasn’t a much of a departure from SAMBO. They are both grappling arts, after all.
Both SAMBO and Jiu Jitsu have their strengths. And both have plenty of restrictions. There are fewer restrictions in no-gi sub grappling, and I’ve always preferred it.
My SAMBO background has enhanced my Jiu Jitsu performance. I have learned to implement and adapt my SAMBO skills to the Jiu Jitsu rules. Just like in chemistry, you get a reaction if you mix two agents. It took some time to get rid of “bad” habits from SAMBO such as turtling once in a danger of being pinned. Also, it took some time to be comfortable to be on my back. I would willingly play off my back in practice but would try my hardest not to end up facing the ceiling in competition.
Here in the United States, I placed three times in the USA Open and represented team USA in combat SAMBO in the World Championship in 2008. I also placed and won multiple NAGA and Grapplers Quest tournaments and was awarded the most technical fighter in the very first Grapplers Quest competition winning all my matches by submissions.
I am fluent in Russian and English. I enjoy reading, music, and philosophy.
FAQ
I get a lot of questions about SAMBO, so I’ve attempted to answer the most common ones here. If you can’t find the answer to your question here, call me or fill out the contact form below.
What is SAMBO?
SAMBO is actually an acronym, a group of letters that stand for several words. Those words are “SAMozashchita Bez Oruzhiya.” Literally, SAMBO means “self-defense without weapons.”
I don't see any nunchucks or swords in SAMBO tournaments. Why?
Right you are, my friend. SAMBO started as a self-defense system that slowly turned into a sport. People need to test their skills in a competition setting. And the sport must be conducted in a safe manner, so swords and nunchucks are not allowed.
So how is SAMBO different from the best martial art of all times, KUNG FU?!
SAMBO originated from Japanese judo and jiu jitsu. To that, SAMBO added elements from indigenous wrestling styles of the former Soviet republics. So SAMBO has Japanese and Soviet origins, not Chinese origins.
Didn't you play hockey for the Detroit Red Wings?
I can see why this might be confusing given my name, but no. You are confusing me with one of the “The Russian Five,” “The Detroit Red Army,” or, my favorite, the “Wizards of Ov.”
The Wizards were: (1) defensemen Vyacheslav Fetisov and (2) Vladimir Konstantinov and forwards (3) Igor Larionov, (4) Sergei Fedorov, and (5) Slava Kozlov. I’d like to think that maybe SAMBO had something to do with their success on the ice, but that’s just a hunch.
Are you related to Vlad the Impaler?
No. And he was Romanian, not Russian.
Is SAMBO basically wrestling with submissions?
Yes, it’s jacket wrestling with certain arm locks and leg locks. No chokes are allowed in sport SAMBO. However, there are two more styles of SAMBO: Combat Sambo, in which strikes and chokes are allowed, and Freestyle Sambo, developed by Stephen Koepfer, president of American SAMBO Association. This style bridges the gap between sport sambo and other grappling styles. Rules and techniques differ significantly from sport SAMBO.
Why doesn't SAMBO sound Russian?
It’s an acronym. SAMooborona Bez Oruzhiya. Self-defense without weapons.
Is SAMBO basically Russian Judo?
Not entirely. Though it was influenced by judo, it has different feel to it. There’s only so many ways to throw or arm lock someone. It’s rules and regulations plus philosophy that sets it apart.
Isn't SAMBO a dance?
No. That’s the Samba you’re thinking about.