CombatSombo Grading

COMBATSOMBO GRADING SYLLABUS

Student Grades	1st Grade	2nd Grade	3rd Grade	4th Grade	5th Grade	6th Grade
Falling Techniques/Breakfalls	1	2	3	4	5	6
Striking Techniques	1	2	3	4	5	6
Kicking & Stamping Techniques	1	2	3	4	5	6
Throws	4	6	8	10	12	15
Takedowns			1	2	3	4
Joint Locks	1	3	6	8	10	12
Strangles/Chokes	1	2	5	4	5	6
Holds on Ground	1	3	5	7	8	9
Counter/Combination Throws	1	3	5	7	8	9

Master Grades	1st Degree	2nd Degree	3rd Degree	4th Degree
Falling Techniques/Breakfalls	7	8	9	10
Striking Techniques	7	8	9	10
Kicking & Stamping Techniques	7	8	9	10
Throws	20	25	30	35
Takedowns	5	6	7	8
Joint Locks	18	20	22	24
Strangles/Chokes	7	8	9	10
Holds on Ground	10	12	14	16
Counter/Combination Throws	10	12	14	16

 All Grades must show their competence at wrestling and sparring. All Grades must be physically fit to participate. Blocks, parries and avoidance techniques must be used at all levels.

Unlike other Self Defence where you are taught a specific technique per attack, CombatSombo give you basic techniques which the students can use in numerous defences, i.e. learning a Major Hip Throw correctly is the fore runner of many Self Defence manoeuvres, This way CombatSombo comes a more practical system quicker. Students are encouraged to learn how to use weapons not as a means of aggression but as a means of defence "If you know how to use a weapon, you will know how to defend against it"   

When grading the examiner may ask " You have demonstrated the techniques now demonstrate the move as a means of Defence, always follow the CombatSombo Philosophy"

Master Grades wear Black Belts with red tabs. Master Grades must hold a minimum of CombatSombo Instructor, other coaching awards can be recognised. 5th & 6th Degree are for long active service, they must hold a minimum of 3rd Degree in CombatSombo Wrestling, Black Belt with Red Blocks.

GrandMaster awarded by CombatSombo International.

CombatSombo Philosophy

 

As you can see by my cv which is enclosed I have been involved in the Martial Arts/Combat Disciplines since the age of 5 (1955) I was born in 1950. I have always enjoyed the competitive side of Combat and I have won medals at international and national level at Judo, Sambo, Jiu Jitsu and Free Style Wrestling. I have also been a keen advocate of the Founder of Judo Jigaro Kano, in one of books he made the following statement  “Judo is more than just a sport or Martial Art, it is a means of Physical and Cultural Attainment” in other words “it is a way of producing better human beings” I apply this philosophy to all my Martial Arts and Combat Disciplines. Grappling sports I feel help you achieve this by teaching us such simple things as:

 

Respect (all grapplers have respect for there opponent, note I use the word opponent not enemy, they may not always realise it)

Duty of care (this is a must as if some of the techniques are very dangerous that we could damage our opponent. This is not we trying to do we are trying to win but not at the expense of an injury).

To abide by the rules (competitions have rules not only to keep the activity as safe as possible but to make contest equal) 

Comradeship.

 

In my CombatSombo system I try and introduce people to a Self Defence/Combat Discipline system that has a set of morals. Unlike other systems I advocate control and restraint. My aim is not to turn people into Barbaric Animals with no consideration for others. After saying all this I am a practical man, I realise that self-defence has different degrees. Dealing with a drunk is different to dealing with several assailants with weapons. Although my system teaches techniques that can maim, they are only to be used in extreme cases. Remember no one has the right to cause life long disablement to another human being.

 

To do CombatSombo you need to be healthy and fit, we encourage our members to take regular excise and grapple on a regular basis. To understand any self-defence you need to practise in as near real situation as you get. To advise any one to get involved in a Pub fight to test their techniques would be immoral and irresponsible, so the nearest I can offer is some sort of controlled fighting, i.e. SportCombatSombo, CombatSombo Submission Wrestling, Sambo. Remember there is no easy route to becoming a proficient CombatSombo Practitioner.