Gintas Bukauskas - Wrestling Sambo: The Secret Combat Art of the Former Soviet Union for Special Forces and Real Self Protection

WRESTLING SAMBO

BY

GINTAS BUKAUSKAS

Copyright 2004 Gintas Bukauskas. All rights reserved.

No part of this publication may be reproduced, stored in a retrieval system, or transmitted, in any form or by any means, electronic, mechanical, photocopying, recording, or otherwise, without the written prior permission of the author.

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ISBN 1-4120-1892-7

ISBN 978-1-4122-2009-5 (eBook)

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Contents

I wish to thank all of the people who supported and helped me in the development and publishing of this book. This book is as a result of my countless contact with students and strong-minded colleagues and experts of combat arts and applies in practise of those techniques in real combat and fighting situations over the years. To those who volunteered to assist in the production of this book include my students Peter James Murphy, Paul Burgess, Yatin Mahandru and in particular Catherine Whittaker for taking over 500 photographs, which demonstrates every single important detail of each movement, and editing the book. I would like to thank my publishers Trafford for having the faith in me and making my dream come true, and of course my family for supporting me all the way along. My wife Meilute, daughter Ernesta and son Modestas for giving me inspiration and the strength to carry on. I would like to dedicate this book to my father, who died in 1995 from cancer and my mother, who survived an operation by showing bravery, strong will and courage.

Gintas Bukauskas

Gintas Bukauskas, from Kaunas, Lithuania, 6th Dan black belt in Combat Self Defence, Lithuanias national martial art, and black belt in Kickboxing and Karate, is a vastly experienced athlete and sportsman who has competed in swimming, modern pentathlon, fencing and professional fighting at international level. Ranked in 1983 as one of the top 10 swimmers in Lithuania, he was a candidate for the USSR national Olympic swimming squad, before turning to martial arts.

As a professional fighter from 1984-1994, he was ranked as one of the top 10 fighters in Lithuania in 1991, and was the first person to win the prestigious heavyweight title in Combat Self Defence, (which has similar rules to no holds barred fighting) after it was once again legal to train in martial arts and compete in organised competitions in Lithuania and the USSR. After this competition he became a vice president of the Combat Self Defence Federation. In 1992 he led Lithuanias national team in the Professional International Tournament of Combat Self Defence, facing European and World champions from around the world. Having secured the title and that of European champion in 1994 he retired from professional fighting and began focusing his attention on teaching and improving the style of Combat Self-Defence, the art of dealing with real combat situations. Incorporating the knowledge and experience gained from his numerous fights and studies, Gintas has produced champions in both adults and childrens competitions at national, European and international level. He has also instructed army, police personnel and government bodyguards in the use of un-armed combat.

From 1984 to 1990 he studied at the State Lithuanian Institute of Physical Culture and Sport, covering a diverse range of disciplines including anatomy and physiology, biochemistry, biomechanics, sports metrology, psychology, philosophy and sports medicine. Sporting disciplines included Sambo Wrestling, bodybuilding, fencing, swimming, track and field, basketball, shooting, boxing and weight lifting. Gintas was awarded with a Diploma of Excellence, the qualification of teacher and coach of Physical Culture, on the completion of his studies.

In 1996, he moved to England with his family. Gintas began teaching adult and childrens Combat-Self Defence and Kickboxing classes in London in 1997. Giving all students of all ages and backgrounds, the knowledge of fitness for a healthy life forlife, while building confidence. Encouraging students to develop their skills through class competitions, Gintas has then taken his students on to national competitions around the country. In the short time teaching here he has already produced an English champion in full contact kickboxing (BKBU adult title,) and British and English champions in childrens kickboxing (BKBU childrens title) and most recently a European title-holder (BKBU under 16s title.) This is not only impressive in the short time that Gintas has been teaching here, but also that all these champions are Combat Self Defence students who are only using a very small range of their skills in competition.

Although producing a number of champions, competition is not Gintas main focus, this being to teach real self-protection for life in real situations. He continues to teach and develop the art of Combat Self Defence using yoga breathing techniques and sports methodology and his vast knowledge of physical culture and sport gained through his vast experience of training, fighting and study.

Gintas owns a private martial arts and fitness studio in London, focusing on personal training of clients and their needs.

Sambo Wrestling

Idecided to write this book about Sambo wrestling for two reasons. First, because it is becoming so popular after Sambo wrestler Oleg Taktarov won the Ultimate Fighting Championship in the USA a few years ago and a lot of other Sambo wrestlers well proved, represent themselves in a lot of No-Holds-Barred tournaments all around the world. Second, there is not enough proper literature available about this type of wrestling. I am a trainer and former professional fighter in Combat Self Defence, more of which I will write about in my following books.

You may question why I can write about Sambo wrestling. I studied at the Lithuanian State Institute of Physical Culture and Sport from 1984 until 1990, gaining a Diploma of Excellence on the completion of my studies. While there I choose to study Sambo wrestling separately, achieving qualifications in both Sambo wrestling and Combat Self-Defence, in addition to those of Fencing and Coaching of Physical Culture and Sport. Sambo wrestling is one component of Combat Self Defence, a combat art in which I have significant experience, becoming Lithuanian champion in 1991, winner of the International Professional Tournament in 1992, and European champion in 1994. The Combat Self Defence competition is similar to the Ultimate Fighting Championship in the USA, but it was started much earlier in Lithuania then America. In addition, I had the opportunity to train in Sambo wrestling with Richardas Rocevichius, many-times Lithuanian champion, USSR, European and Champion of the World. In summary, my experience means that I am not just a former professional fighter, but I am now a professional trainer with considerable experience and knowledge, having studied the disciplines of anatomy, physiology, biochemistry, psychology, philosophy, biomechanics, sport metrology and instructing in the treatment of an injured body.