A Report by Martin Clarke

This was the 4^th World Open organized by FIAS in conjunction with the AAU National Free Style & Greco Roman Championships. The whole event ran for four days over 12 mats. I have been many times to the USA and have always found it a pleasure to be there. If you believe what you see on TV and Film you would think that there was a shooting or robbery on every street corner, I have over the last 20 years visited Washington, Virginia, Maryland, Montana, Wyoming, New Mexico, Arizona with the exception of New York (which I thought was the pits) found the USA a pleasant place. In fact it reminded me a lot of what Britain was 30 years ago, the people were polite, courteous, friendly on the whole law abiding. They still used British measurements i.e. Pounds, ounces, gallons, Miles etc. I did not miss our Yob culture and a government that wants turn our Country into a province of a United States of Europe but I did miss our beautiful countryside, pleasant villages and history.

I would like to thank Bulmer’s Strongbow Cider for supplying Team Tracksuits and to Neil Arkley for organizing the sponsorship.

The Tournament was well organized as per usual, the AAU have had many years experience in organizing these events. I doubt if there are many tournaments in Europe which can boast 12 mats over 4 days and finish on time. I was to compete in my last Sombo tournament but was disappointed that I had nobody in my age and weight class 100 k +, I was offered a walk over and the World Title but declined the offer. In fact there was only 5 competitors 100k plus in the whole tournament. The one thing FIAS can do is to let competitors know how many fighters they have in their category in advance, the closing date for entries is normally 2 weeks before the event, most organizations have email so it is not a difficult task. Apart from the 100 k plus the rest of the tournament was of a high quality with the French, Russians and Venezuela (yes Venezuela who had an exceptional team) being the dominant force. President Josh Henson tells us that he had a lot of entries from the Eastern block but all were refused Visa’s by US immigration maybe the US think that Sombo or Sambo as they liked to call it, is linked to the Mafia who knows but lets hope next year the problem is sorted.

The British Team consisting of Fighters Paul Sawyer, Stan Cantrill, Joyce Malley, and Neil Arkley all were veteran fighters. Paul, Neil and Joyce all entered the senior event as well as the Masters.

Neil Arkley 100 kilo plus. Gold 40 years to 50 years, Silver overall Masters, Bronze Senior. This was a big disappointment for Neil who like me had expected many more competitors. He had one fight in the Masters where he beat Texan John Solleder on 1-point victory; he then entered the senior event where there were only 3 competitors, where we expected to win another Gold. This was not to be as in the first fight he injured his shoulder and had to withdraw. This led to ridiculous spectacle of the Frenchman who had no fights in age group claiming the Gold 30 years to 40 years and then with Neil injured he claimed the overall Masters title without a fight. So here we have had a man winning two world titles without a fight. This type of thing must stop no fight no medal. Already we have an American who claims to be the leading authority on Russian Martial Arts (what ever that is) and Sambo saying he won World Sambo event when in fact he had a walk over in fact he has never won a Sombo match. I expect they will award him a Master of Sport for this.

Paul Sawyer 68 Kilo 4^th Senior, Gold 30 to 40 years, overall Master Champion. Totally different story here Paul our most experienced player had some very hard fights his Master event he won with relative ease but the senior event was completely different. As I mentioned earlier on there were some very good players and Paul was conceding some 16 years on some occasions but his superb fitness took him into the last 4. He lost his fight to get into the final by just 2 points from a pin to Chris Heckaden USA the eventual winner, his bronze medal fight went the distance but the margin was 6 points to Nil for Andres Garcia France.

Not content with a 4^th place Paul went on to win World Open Sombo Masters Gold 30 to 39 years, All round Masters Gold u68 kilo, in the AAU Freestyle Wrestling Master’s Bronze, Greco Roman Master’s Gold.

Joyce Malley a very experienced Judo player was competing the previous week in the World Master’s Judo in Arizona, Paul managed to talk her in to entering the World Sombo. So with borrowed Sombo Kit and an impromptu lesson from Paul Sawyer she was ready to go. She did the team proud by beating the Venezuelan girl in the Final of the Ladies u64 kilo.

Stan Cantrill another player from the World Judo Master’s won Gold in the Master’s over 50 years and a Bronze in the All round Master’s. Stan is certainly a veteran of the tournament scene his Judo career started in the late 60’s. He enjoyed the Sombo very much, his first taste, saying it was interesting to see all the different styles.

A special mention must go to US competitor Curt Shearer at the age of 61 years he was the oldest competitor at the tournament. What was most impressive is that he competed in the Sombo, Freestyle and Greco Roman plus refereed all styles over a 4 day period well done Curt (also he was brave enough to wear a red leotard with blue and white stars on it).

The famous Ultimate Fighting Champion Oleg Taktarov also brought some players to the event. Oleg is now an up and coming film actor.

The World Open Sombo Championships is now one of the Top three tournaments on the World Sombo scene, it is always well run, the USA is always a pleasure to visit and most importantly any one can have a go, this event you do not have to be selected by your country. Next years tournament is near New Orleans.

Any further information contact Martin Clarke 118 East Street Sittingbourne Kent ME10 4RX. Email: Founder@CombatSombo.co.uk

World Sombo Open 2001

Albuquerque USA

British Team

Supported by Strongbow Cider

World Open Sombo Championships Report by Martin Clarke

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