New Zealand SAMBO Federation

SAMBO is FAMILY-POWER-PEACE

Check out this song 🎵
https://suno.com/s/TXUY6yG6FZfzbKV1

In the flow of the moves, we learn to release,
From the ground to the clouds, we discover our peace.
With every cycle, we find a way to grow,
In the heart of Sambo, our spirit will always know.

Strength in unity — that’s what we breathe,
Through every battle, through every weave.
Stand tall, stand proud, we will never divide,
With Sambo as family, we stand side by side.

Sambo is family, come take my hand, let’s rise,
In the dance of combat, we reach for the skies.
Sambo is power, a strength that unites,
In the heart of the struggle, we find our light.

Every throw, every step, every lesson we share,
Builds a bond that grows stronger with trust and care.
Across every nation, beneath every sun,
Different paths together, yet our hearts beat as one.

No matter the challenges, no matter the scars,
We fight with our spirits, we reach for the stars.
In this circle of trust, we discover our grace,
Together we move forward, together we embrace.

Sambo is family, come take my hand, let’s rise,
In the dance of combat, we reach for the skies.
Sambo is power, a strength that unites,
In the heart of the struggle, we find our light.

Sambo is peace, it’s the love that we share,
Together we stand, together we care.
Feel the embrace of this art that we claim,
In the soul of Sambo, we carry its name.

International SAMBO Federation - FIAS

Islam Makhachev – SAMBO Ambassador to the World.

“If we're talking about me personally, about Khabib, about Fedor Emelianenko – I think that those who know MMA would agree, and I'm almost afraid to say it, that the best fighters are precisely the representatives of SAMBO. And the reason I say this is that SAMBO is one of the best options for those who want to transition to MMA, because everything carries over – it's essentially the same thing, just with a kurtka on. The same strikes, and in some aspects SAMBO is even more intense – you could even strike with your head.”
International SAMBO Federation - FIAS

Executive committee of NZ Sambo Federation happy to announce:
Sambo Team NZ 🇳🇿for Asia & Oceania SAMBO Championships / Manila -2026 as following :
1. Lily HOUBEN JSS -80
2. ⁠Eddie TALIAI CS -79
3. ⁠Hamish MURRAY SS -71
4. ⁠Rickson HILL CS -88
5. ⁠Jediah LEILUA CS 98+
6. ⁠Carlo MEISTER coach
7. ⁠Renea MANDERSON coach
8. ⁠Sergey PERMITIN president NZ Sambo Federation

Saint Nicholas of Japan → Orthodox Mission in Tokyo → Seminary → Kodokan Judo → Vasily Oshchepkov → SAMBO

Saint Nicholas of Japan stands as one of the most remarkable and unusual figures in the shared history of Russia and Japan — and, unexpectedly, in the historical origins of SAMBO.

In Japan, he became known as Nikorai, and to this day the great Orthodox cathedral in Tokyo is still widely called Nikolai-do.

Born Ivan Dmitrievich Kasatkin in 1836 in the Smolensk Province of the Russian Empire, he later entered monastic life after graduating from the theological academy and took the name Nicholas.

In 1861, at just 24–25 years of age, he was sent to Hakodate as a priest attached to the Russian Consulate. At that time, Japan had only just begun opening itself to the outside world after centuries of isolation during the Sakoku period. Christianity had only recently emerged from prohibition.

Rather than immediately beginning missionary work, Nicholas spent nearly seven to eight years studying the Japanese language, history, Buddhism, Shinto traditions, and the deeper character and mindset of the Japanese people.

Contemporaries wrote that he often understood Japanese culture better than many local intellectuals of his time.

Only then did he begin his mission — respectfully, patiently, and without pressure.

One of his earliest and most remarkable converts was Takuma Sawabe, a former samurai who initially approached Nicholas with hostility, yet later became one of the first Japanese Orthodox priests.

By the end of the 19th century, Japan already had approximately 18,000–19,000 Orthodox believers, along with schools, seminaries, libraries, and parishes established across the country.

Saint Nicholas:
* translated the New Testament and liturgical texts into Japanese;
* created a structured system for training Japanese clergy;
* introduced Orthodox church singing in the Japanese language;
* effectively laid the foundation of the Japanese Orthodox Church.

The greatest symbol of his life’s work became Nikolai-do in Tokyo, completed in 1891 — a landmark still recognized by many Japanese by his name alone.

After his death in Tokyo in 1912, he was canonized in 1970 and given the title:

“Equal-to-the-Apostles Nicholas, Archbishop of Japan.”

⸻

Saint Nicholas of Japan and Vasily Oshchepkov — The Unexpected Bridge to SAMBO

Saint Nicholas of Japan is directly connected to Vasily Sergeyevich Oshchepkov, one of the founding fathers of SAMBO.

In many ways, it was through Father Nicholas’s Orthodox Mission that the Japanese chapter of Oshchepkov’s life began.

Following the Russo-Japanese War, young Vasily Oshchepkov, an orphan from Sakhalin, came under the care of the Russian Orthodox Mission in Japan.

In 1907, he was sent to study at the Orthodox Seminary in Tokyo, founded by Saint Nicholas of Japan.

This was far more than a religious school — it was a place of serious intellectual and cultural education, where students studied Japanese language, discipline, philosophy, and deep respect for Japanese traditions.

Nicholas himself placed enormous emphasis on raising Russian boys to understand and respect Japanese culture.

Historical recollections suggest that Saint Nicholas noticed Oshchepkov’s calm character, discipline, and unusual ability to adapt naturally to Japanese society. Among fellow Russian seminarians, Oshchepkov was even considered “too Japanese.”

It was at this seminary that Judo training became part of the educational environment.

Through the seminary’s teachers and connections, young Oshchepkov received a recommendation to enter the legendary Kodokan, founded by Jigoro Kano.

There, in 1913, Oshchepkov became the first Russian to earn a 1st Dan in Judo, and later one of the earliest Europeans to receive a 2nd Dan.

These were not simply martial arts achievements.

He later carried this knowledge back to the Soviet Union, where the technical foundations of SAMBO were shaped through the integration of Judo principles with wrestling traditions of many peoples of the USSR.

⸻

A Historical Chain That Led to SAMBO

Seen through the lens of martial arts history, the connection forms an extraordinary chain:

Saint Nicholas of Japan → Orthodox Mission in Tokyo → Seminary → Kodokan Judo → Vasily Oshchepkov → SAMBO

Without the mission established by Saint Nicholas of Japan, Oshchepkov’s path to Japan — and ultimately to Kodokan — might never have happened.

For the world of SAMBO, this represents a powerful historical and spiritual line:

A bridge between Orthodox mission work in Japan and the birth of one of the world’s most distinctive martial arts systems.

There is also one remarkable and lesser-known detail.

Saint Nicholas of Japan died in February 1912 — just one year before Vasily Oshchepkov earned his first Dan at Kodokan.

They were contemporaries.

And Nicholas lived long enough to witness how a simple orphaned Russian boy from Sakhalin was growing into a disciplined student of Japan — and eventually into one of the men who would help shape the future of SAMBO.

International SAMBO Federation - FIAS

SEND 2–3 HRS TO HAMILTON AND FORGET 🔥

This Sunday, don’t miss a rare opportunity to train with a true Sambo master.

We’re hosting a Team NZ training session at San Bu Kai Gym (Hamilton), led by Master Abdullah Rezaev — New Zealand’s top wrestler, undefeated in the Shuriken MMA series, and our most experienced Sambo coach and fighter.

It’s a privilege to have a Dagestan Sambo master here in NZ — take advantage of it.

👊 What’s happening:
An open masterclass + national team session. Come train alongside and support our international athletes.

📅 When: Sunday, 9:30am
📍 Where: San Bu Kai Gym, Hamilton
💲 Cost: $10 at the door (no sign-up needed)

🥋 Who can join:
Intermediate & advanced martial artists (no beginners on the mat — but you’re welcome to come watch)

🎒 What to bring:

Gi (if you have one) or shorts & t-shirt
MMA gloves, headgear, shin guards (optional for combat rounds)

This is not something we get every day in New Zealand. Make the trip, get on the mat, and level up. (Apologies for the late notice, there will be another session planned with better lead time.)

Sambo Bay of Plenty Hamilton Hawks Wrestling Club MMA Wrestling NZ Waikato Bays Judo Martial Arts Tauranga CORE MMA

8 weeks to go 🇵🇭 Asia Oceania Sambo Championships 2026.

Tonight’s session is part of that build, not separate from it.

This isn’t a “regular class” in the usual sense. It’s a chance to step onto the mat alongside athletes in camp, share rounds, and experience the same room where preparation for international competition is happening.

From beginners to experienced grapplers, everyone adds something different, and that variety is exactly what sharpens performance at this level.

If you’ve ever wanted to feel what that environment is like, this is your window.

🕕 6:00–7:00pm
📍 The Hamilton Roller Skating Club, Melville Park, Hamilton

Open to all ages and abilities, whether you’re brand new or coming from BJJ, Judo, wrestling, rugby or beyond.

First session is free (we think you’ll like it).

Bring a gi if you have one, otherwise just wear shorts and t-shirt and come ready to train. (or just watch)

No sign-up — just show up.

Be part of the room.

8 weeks to go 🇵🇭 Asia Oceania Sambo Championships 2026

We made the trip out to Whaingaroa BJJ this week, and it’s exactly what martial arts should feel like.

We worked positional drills and spent time sharpening the ground game, with Hamish (23, Judo black belt) really starting to find his rhythm in newaza.

What makes his journey special isn’t just his ability, it’s who he is.

He’s the guy who coaches others before competing himself. The guy who still shows up for our Kimura Kiwis community class in the middle of a high performance camp (yep, that’s the rashie in the photo).

But growth at this level asks a different question:
can you give that same energy to your own development?

That’s the path he’s on now.

One of the best parts of the day, Phil and Mark reconnecting from the early days of BJJ in Hamilton. A reminder that this community runs deep.

At Hamilton Sambo, we’re proud to work with clubs, not against them. Judo, BJJ, wrestling, we know athletes get better when communities connect, not compete.

As we build toward Manila, we’re opening the door for athletes who want to be part of the process.

If you’ve got a background in wrestling (even rugby), submission grappling, or just bring a different “look” to training, you’re welcome to jump in. You’ll train at your own pace, add real value to camp, and help sharpen our athletes for international competition.

In return, you become part of the journey, seeing first-hand what it takes at this level, and having a stake in the performance when we step onto the world stage.

Manila is on the horizon, and the work continues.

Hamilton Sambo took a couple of judoka along to an in-house comp at a friend’s BJJ gym recently. A great experience all around.

We really value opportunities like this. Getting athletes into different environments, under different rulesets, and alongside different styles is a powerful way to build well-rounded grapplers.

For athletes and parents, having access to a variety of experiences like this can make a big difference in confidence and long-term development.

At Hamilton Sambo, we’re big on skill development through exposure—more mat time, more learning, and more chances to test themselves.

Appreciate the invite and the positive environment on the day 🙏