Camcorder certification - sambo

[Kintanon]

Awesome. I hope to see you guys busting out the Sambo at NAGA in the Atl soon. Just remember, the Gi divisions are retarded and don't allow much in the way of leg attacks, so No-Gi is probably gonna be the preferred venue for you guys. Even as a blue belt I can only do straight ankle locks.

[Diesel_tke]

It's a weird situation any way you look at it. If you live in a area where there are no Sambo instructors, and you want to learn Sambo, how are you to do this? If Sambo is going to grow in America, there is going to have to be some tolerance for newly opened clubs that have little to no instruction. Otherwise, every time someone gets interested, and starts trying to find like minded people, they will just be beat down by people who don't want fraudulent instructors.

I don't want fraudulent instructors as much as anyone else. It is a difficult situation. I think Steve should just travel around and teach it to all of us little people. Comon, you can sleep on my couch. Or at least send down one of your students.

[sambosteve]

I think the issue with Martin's program...for me anyway...is ranking this way. There is a difference between setting up sattelites, affiliates, etc, and helping people get started or providing resources. But, granting ranks that don't really exist and are viewed by non-sambists with more weight than they deserve is the serious issue. It smells like commercialism.

[Diesel_tke]

Yeah, absolutely. I don't agree with ranking anyone by distance learning. Be it Sambo, BJJ, Gracie University, or anything else. Just seems pretty ignorant to me.

[Don Gwinn]

That was my first thought, as someone who has never attempted Sambo in any form except getting crushed by a huge heavyweight who did it: "Is there even a legit Sambo organization that would recognize such a thing as a '3rd Degree Black Belt' in Sambo?"

If Steve thinks Carl has good intentions, that's great, but it doesn't help me much with the distance-learning program. If Carl has shown his good intentions by running a good club, being straightforward about his level, and joining the ASA to get teaching and support from legitimate Sambo people, what has the distance learning guy contributed to Carl's career except a shady ranking that apparently made Carl fear that people would assume he was a fraud?

[Diesel_tke]

Well, I can completely understand doing the program for the sake of learning. I have been doing it with the GU stuff. And many others. If getting the BS certification was a side effect then whatever. You don't have to claim it or put it off as a certification.

However, if you do go around telling people that you are some rank that you got from a distance learning organization, then you deserve to get called out.

[theotherserge]

If Carl has shown his good intentions by running a good club, being straightforward about his level, and joining the ASA to get teaching and support from legitimate Sambo people, what has the distance learning guy contributed to Carl's career except a shady ranking that apparently made Carl fear that people would assume he was a fraud?

Martin Clarke was the man in his day, he probably still is; I'm not an Englander so I don't really know except for his fine reputation.

I've been able to pick up information, footwork, hints and ideas from watching videos online and otherwise. I would not consider it rank-able learning unless I could verify my conclusions and outcomes with a proper coach/sensi/etc.

Now this belief does not stop me from training and trying to improve in such ways but it does keep me from claiming I have something I haven't personally proven (a Judo BB for instance). I do not consider camcorder-Skyping a verifiable, ranked test of knowledge, you need someone standing right there in the same room with you.

[AnacondaMMA]

I'm going to have to agree with the consensus opinion here. I too have joined Mr. Clarke's organization, as well as the ASA. I run a small MMA school and I'll take information about Sambo from any source I can to improve my curriculum. I have found Mr. Clarke to be an amazing Sambist and Judoka, and the lessons I have learned from him have been beyond helpful. Scott Sonnen's books have been a tremendous resource as well. It's not like I can invite a local Master of Sport to come do a weekend seminar on Sambo. BJJ is the art du jour, and we do a ton of it, but I am totally bitten with the Sambo bug. Sambo Steve needs a shout out too. I soon realized that joining the ASA was looooong overdue after our email correspondence. There are so few reputable sources of Sambo techniques and teachers that I have no problem accepting any assistance from Mr. Clarke, or the previously mentioned Mr. Fuller. I actually think that Mr. Clarke's CombatSombo (tm) and the associated rankings give the younger practicioners something tangible to strive for. It gives them some validation and recognition of their improvements. I completely understand the hesitancy towards the awarding of rank via camcorder certification, but for now, there's not a lot of options. There is a BJJ school, karate dojo, TKD McDojo on every corner, but Sambo is a woefully misunderstood and under-represented art. I'm not saying I'm gonna put a CombatSombo rank certificate on the mantle next to my Master's Degree, but until there are more options for a small MMA school in the middle of a martial arts wasteland, you gotta take what you can get. I may be opening myself up for some abuse, but I'll do whatever I have to do to improve my students.

[RealManOfSteel]

Not sure how relevant this is, but I thought SAMBO didn't award belts as rank?

[Diesel_tke]

Some Sambo schools have an in house ranking system. Other than that the two belt colors are red and blue, depending on what color Kurtka you are wearing.