Combat Sambo (FIAS) Rules Explained

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Combat Sambo (FIAS) Rules Explained | OpenSourceSports

Full Rulebook(12 sections)

Plain-English summary drawn from the official rulebook — great for getting started. For competitive or formal play, see the Complete Rulebook. Hover any rule to see its source sentence.

Overview

Combat Sambo is a one-on-one combat sport governed by FIAS that builds on Sport Sambo's throws-and-groundwork foundation by adding closed-fist punches, head kicks, elbow and knee strikes, and chokes. Competitors engage under this full striking-and-grappling ruleset, making it effectively a pre-MMA mixed-rules discipli…

How to win

Decision priority: KO/TKO/submission > technical superiority > points > last-scoring competitor; Tournament: single-eli…
Win priority order — KO/TKO/submission beats technical superiority, then points, then last scorer.
Single-elim + repechage — Losers re-enter via repechage bracket; single elimination otherwise.
Medals per division — Gold, Silver, and two Bronze medals awarded per weight and gender category.

The game

Two competitors per match; Weight classes (Adult Male, kg): -58, -64, -71, -79, -88, -98, +98; Combat Sambo introduced …
Two competitors per match — Each match is contested between exactly two competitors.
Adult male weight classes — Seven divisions: -58, -64, -71, -79, -88, -98, and +98 kg.
Women's divisions addedCombat Sambo introduced women's divisions in 2017.

Cultural norms — not in the rulebook. These are widely understood traditions and expectations among experienced Combat Sambo players. Not enforced by referees; enforced by the game’s community.

📋 General Expectation— Generally expected; soft social enforcement among regulars

Handshake, not bow — respect the sambo tradition
— Unlike judo, sambo competitors greet and conclude matches with a firm handshake rather than a bow. Substituting a bow is considered culturally tone-deaf and signals ignorance of the sport's distinct Soviet/Russian identity. The handshake is a point of pride separating sambo from its judo antecedents.(FIAS competitions formally require the handshake; the cultural weight behind it is what makes it an unwritten rule, not just a procedural one.)[1]

Section 1: Introduction

Combat Sambo is the strikes-permitted variant of Sambo, governed internationally by FIAS. Originally developed by the Soviet armed forces, Combat Sambo combines Sport Sambo's throws + groundwork foundation with closed-fist punches, head kicks, elbow + knee strikes, and chokes — making it effectively a pre-MMA mixed-rules combat sport. Combat Sambo is the second of FIAS's two competitive disciplines (alongside Sport Sambo), and the bridge format that produced many of the early MMA pioneers (Fedor Emelianenko, Khabib Nurmagomedov). See sibling Sport Sambo entry for the no-strikes format.

Section 2: Equipment

Sambo jacket + shorts (red or blue per competitor) — same as Sport Sambo
Sambovki (sambo wrestling shoes) — mandatory
Open-face protective helmet — mandatory in Combat Sambo (chin guard, padded crown, open visor)
MMA-style fingerless gloves — padded over the back of the hand, open palm
Mouthguard — mandatory
Shin guards — mandatory
Groin protector — mandatory (men); chest protector for women optional

Section 3: Playing Area

FIAS-spec mat: 11m × 11m total, 9m central circle (same as Sport Sambo)
Padded safety zone
Multiple parallel mats at major championships

Section 4: Players & Officials

Two competitors per match
Weight classes (Adult Male, kg): -58, -64, -71, -79, -88, -98, +98
Combat Sambo introduced women's divisions in 2017
Age categories: Junior, Senior, Veteran (Cadet typically restricted from Combat Sambo for safety)
Officials: 1 mat referee + 2 corner judges + scoring official + timekeeper

Section 5: Rules of Play

Match Length

5 minutes (single period)
OT period: 2 minutes if score tied

Permitted Striking

Closed-fist punches (to head + body)
Kicks (to head, body, legs)
Knee strikes (to head + body)
Elbow strikes

Scoring (Throws + Strikes)

1 point: Knock-down (clean strike forcing opponent to ground)
1 point: Small throw (side landing)
2 points: Throw to knees
4 points: Clean back-landing throw from standing
1-2 points: Position-time pins (similar to Sport Sambo)

Submissions

Joint locks legal (arms, legs)
Chokes legal in Combat Sambo (unlike Sport Sambo)
Submission = total victory

Knockout / Technical KO

KO from clean strike = total victory
TKO via referee stoppage (cannot intelligently defend) = total victory

Section 6: Scoring

Decision priority: KO/TKO/submission > technical superiority > points > last-scoring competitor
Tournament: single-elimination + repechage
Gold/Silver/two Bronze per weight + gender

Section 7: Violations & Penalties

Illegal strikes: head-stomps, back-of-head, spine, eye-poke, throat — caution → DQ
Strikes to grounded opponent's head: generally restricted (specific rule varies by edition)
Passivity: warning → caution → opponent advantage
Equipment violations: warning + correction; refusal = DQ
Unsportsmanlike conduct: DQ
Anti-doping: WADA Code (FIAS signatory)

Section 8: Safety Considerations

Combat Sambo has substantially higher injury risk than Sport Sambo due to permitted strikes. Mandatory equipment (helmet, gloves, mouthguard, shin guards, groin protector) is non-negotiable. FIAS requires comprehensive on-site medical: ringside physician, EMT, ambulance, AED at all championship-level events. Concussion protocol: SCAT-5 assessment by team physician; mandatory rest period; medical-clearance return-to-competition. Knockouts trigger automatic medical suspension. Pre-competition cardiac + neurological screening. Skin-infection screening before mat use. Age restrictions: typically Junior/Senior/Veteran only (Cadets not generally permitted in Combat Sambo).

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