sambosteve
12/19/2008 2:01pm,
On December 17th and 18th, Serge Gerlach travelled to NYC and tested for the NY Combat Sambo full instructor certification.
Serge has trained sambo since 1999, beginning under my coach Alexander Barakov, continuing under myself after Alex's return to Russia, as well as training with Igor Kurinnoy in the US and Moscow. Serge has also cross trained in BJJ and Judo. I have trained with Serge since the mid 1990s staring with grappling and san shou. Serge later began Combat Sambo after I introduced him to Barakov.
The exam which Serge took was the final in the NYCS 4 exam series toward an instructor cert and was very demanding. It encompassed both a technical exam and fighting exam. In addition, persons testing need to have demonstrated competative success, which Serge has done honorably over many years - including the heavyweight bronze medal at the 1997 Gene LeBell World Grappler's Challenge in Toronto, Canada; a gold medal (2004) and silver medal (2006) at the United Gracie Tournament in San Francisco; a bronze medal at the 2005 Unity Classic Sambo Tournament; and a silver medal at the 2005 and 2007 North American Freestyle Sambo Championships.
Serge was inspirational during his exam demonstrating 100s of flawless techniques. During the fighting sessions, he had to face off against opponants in six successive 5 minute rounds: sub wrestling, sport sambo, freestyle sambo, combat sambo, MMA, and weapons sparring. During these rounds he fought myself, Anthony Sansonetti (Team Renegade coach), and some of my top students including Alexius Pheonix, Max Sedikh, Vadim Vaschuk, Jon Sichel, and Ken Gibson (2 time Ring of Combat Veteran).
While we all knew beforehand that Serge was worthy of an instructor cert, he showed his true spirit and guts during the 2 days of testing.
Serge is the man. He is also the first person I have tested through to full instructor rank. I am very happy for Serge and proud to have trained with him for so long. He has been a staple of helping to put sambo on the west coast map!
Congrats to Serge! I will post pics and vids soon.
Serge has trained sambo since 1999, beginning under my coach Alexander Barakov, continuing under myself after Alex's return to Russia, as well as training with Igor Kurinnoy in the US and Moscow. Serge has also cross trained in BJJ and Judo. I have trained with Serge since the mid 1990s staring with grappling and san shou. Serge later began Combat Sambo after I introduced him to Barakov.
The exam which Serge took was the final in the NYCS 4 exam series toward an instructor cert and was very demanding. It encompassed both a technical exam and fighting exam. In addition, persons testing need to have demonstrated competative success, which Serge has done honorably over many years - including the heavyweight bronze medal at the 1997 Gene LeBell World Grappler's Challenge in Toronto, Canada; a gold medal (2004) and silver medal (2006) at the United Gracie Tournament in San Francisco; a bronze medal at the 2005 Unity Classic Sambo Tournament; and a silver medal at the 2005 and 2007 North American Freestyle Sambo Championships.
Serge was inspirational during his exam demonstrating 100s of flawless techniques. During the fighting sessions, he had to face off against opponants in six successive 5 minute rounds: sub wrestling, sport sambo, freestyle sambo, combat sambo, MMA, and weapons sparring. During these rounds he fought myself, Anthony Sansonetti (Team Renegade coach), and some of my top students including Alexius Pheonix, Max Sedikh, Vadim Vaschuk, Jon Sichel, and Ken Gibson (2 time Ring of Combat Veteran).
While we all knew beforehand that Serge was worthy of an instructor cert, he showed his true spirit and guts during the 2 days of testing.
Serge is the man. He is also the first person I have tested through to full instructor rank. I am very happy for Serge and proud to have trained with him for so long. He has been a staple of helping to put sambo on the west coast map!
Congrats to Serge! I will post pics and vids soon.