Sambo - How to Throw Uchimata (Podhvat Iznutry)
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Sambo Throw·Vadim Kolganov Sport
Sambo Wrestling. Podhvat Iznutry ( Uchimata) and variation of Rolling Uchimata. Counter throws : Pick up and side step.…
Sambo Throw
Familyサンボ投げ技(Sanbo Nage-waza)
HybridTranslation: Sambo throwing technique
Overview
Sambo Throw is the family of throwing techniques characteristic of sport sambo and combat sambo, which combine elements of judo, Greco-Roman wrestling, freestyle wrestling, and the folk wrestling traditions of the diverse peoples of the former Soviet Union. [1],[2] Sambo throws are distinguished by their permissive rules regarding leg grabs, belt grips, and unorthodox entry angles — techniques that have been restricted or banned in modern judo competition. [2],[3] The sambo throwing arsenal emphasises practical effectiveness, with athletes trained to execute throws from a wide variety of gripping positions including belt holds, collar ties, underhooks, and direct leg attacks. [3],[4] Many throws in sambo resemble judo or wrestling techniques but are adapted to the sambo jacket (kurtka) and the sport's specific scoring criteria, which reward amplitude and decisive finishes. [4]
History & Origin
Sambo's throwing techniques were systematised during the 1920s and 1930s in the Soviet Union by Vasili Oshchepkov, who held a second-dan in Kodokan judo, and Viktor Spiridonov, a military hand-to-hand combat instructor. [1],[2] They combined Japanese judo throws with Georgian chidaoba, Uzbek kurash, Mongolian wrestling, and other Central Asian folk wrestling techniques to create a comprehensive throwing system. [2],[3] FIAS (the International Sambo Federation) now governs the sport internationally. [3]
Effectiveness
Lineage
Competition Record
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Biomechanical Mechanism
Primary Action — Sweeping, reaping, or blocking the opponent's foot or leg to remove their base of support
Joints Involved — Attacker's sweeping leg (ankle or shin contact), opponent's supporting ankle or knee (swept)
Force Vector — Two opposing forces — the upper body is directed one way while the sweeping leg removes the support in the opposite direction
Timing Principle — Maximum effectiveness when the opponent's weight is committed to the targeted foot — timing supersedes strength
Position & Entry
From judo grip — Break balance forward, turn in and hook the opponent's inner thigh with the throwing leg, continue rotation to sweep them off the ground
From underhook — Secure inside position, turn and hook the leg while driving the upper body forward
Videos
1 video
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Ratings
Risk of injury to the person this technique is applied to
6
High6/10
Sambo throws combine judo and wrestling mechanics (Kolychev 1988)
Skill level needed to execute this technique reliably
Intermediate
Whether this technique is allowed under major competition rule sets
Illegal
— IJF — Banned since 2010 leg grab prohibition — direct han...
IJF Sport and Organisation Rules 2025, Article 27PDFLegal
— IBJJF — Legal at all belt levels
IBJJF Rules Book v6.0, June 2024PDF— UWW — Legal in both freestyle and Greco-Roman
UWW International Wrestling Rules, January 2026PDF— Unified MMA — Legal throwing technique
Unified Rules of MMA, August 2025PDF— ADCC — Legal
ADCC Rules Update, April 2025PDF— FIAS Sport Sambo — Legal
FIAS International Sambo Competition RulesPDF— FIAS Combat Sambo — Legal
FIAS Combat Sambo RulesPDFTraining Notes
✓Sambo throwing combines judo, wrestling, and Central Asian folk wrestling techniques — it permits leg grabs that are now banned in judo competition (Lukashev, 10 Thousand Paths to Victory, 2000)
✓Sambo gripping uses the kurtka (jacket) similarly to judo but allows belt grips, leg grips, and two-on-one sleeve control
✓Leg-grab throws (podnozhki, podsechi) are a sambo specialty — sweeping or reaping the legs while controlling the upper body
✓Sambo throws emphasise practical effectiveness over aesthetic form — any throw that puts the opponent on their back scores
✓The sport distinguishes between amplitude throws (clean back-landing) and partial throws (side or rolling)
✓In combat sambo, throws can be combined with strikes, making setup and timing even more critical
✓Train sambo throws in both gi (kurtka) and no-gi to develop versatility — sambo competitions use both
Common Mistakes
!Using only judo-style entries without adapting to sambo's wider grip vocabulary — sambo allows more grip options
!Neglecting leg-grab throws, which are sambo's competitive advantage over modern judo
!Not training submission defence alongside throws — in sambo, opponents can attack submissions immediately after being thrown
!Relying only on upper-body control without using leg techniques — sambo's leg attacks are what distinguish it
!Ignoring the kurtka's shorter length and different material compared to a judo gi — adjust grip height accordingly
!Not adapting to combat sambo's striking environment when training for that rule set
!Training throws in isolation without chaining — sambo emphasises combination attacks
Related Techniques
Counter Techniques
Setup Chain
1Grip Setup (Kumi-kata) — establish the controlling grips needed for the throw
2Off-Balance (Kuzushi) — break the opponent's balance in the throwing direction
3Entry (Tsukuri) — position the body for the throw by turning, stepping, or loading
4Execution (Kake) — complete the throwing action with full commitment and follow-through
Sources & References
Primary Source
Japanese Sambo Federation terminology
1OtherJapanese Martial Arts Community Terminology
Japanese Sambo Federation terminology
2OtherJapanese Martial Arts Hybrid Terminology
Mixed Japanese-Western terminology — combines traditional Japanese terms with katakana loanwords
3CitationJapanese Sambo Federation terminology
Katakana transliteration used in Japanese Sambo (サンボ)
Community
Athletics
Requires
single-leg balance, hip flexibility, explosive driving power
Favours
long legs for hooking reach, strong standing balance
Key muscles
glutes, hip flexors, hamstrings, core, calves (balance)
Sub-techniques
Notes
Sambo throws appear in 7 passages across 3 books under 'sambo throw' plus extensive coverage under individual throw names. Sambo combines judo throws with wrestling takedowns and leg attacks — the throwing system allows gripping the legs (unlike modern IJF judo). (3+ books; Sambo competition records)
Frequently Asked Questions
How does the Sambo Throw work?
Sambo Throw is the family of throwing techniques characteristic of sport sambo and combat sambo, which combine elements of judo, Greco-Roman wrestling, freestyle wrestling, and the folk wrestling traditions of the diverse peoples of the former Soviet Union. Sambo throws are distinguished by their permissive rules regarding leg grabs, belt grips, and unorthodox entry angles — techniques that have been restricted or banned in modern judo competition.
Where does the Sambo Throw come from?
Sambo's throwing techniques were systematised during the 1920s and 1930s in the Soviet Union by Vasili Oshchepkov, who held a second-dan in Kodokan judo, and Viktor Spiridonov, a military hand-to-hand combat instructor. They combined Japanese judo throws with Georgian chidaoba, Uzbek kurash, Mongolian wrestling, and other Central Asian folk wrestling techniques to create a comprehensive throwing system.
Is the Sambo Throw legal in competition?
IJF: banned — Banned since 2010 leg grab prohibition — direct hansoku-make; IBJJF: legal — Legal at all belt levels; UWW: legal — Legal in both freestyle and Greco-Roman; Unified MMA: legal — Legal throwing technique; ADCC: legal — Legal; FIAS Sport Sambo: legal — Legal; FIAS Combat Sambo: legal — Legal
How dangerous is the Sambo Throw?
Danger rating 6/10. High — Sambo throws combine judo and wrestling mechanics (Kolychev 1988)
How do I set up the Sambo Throw?
The standard setup chain: Grip Setup (Kumi-kata) → Off-Balance (Kuzushi) → Entry (Tsukuri) → Execution (Kake).
How do I defend against the Sambo Throw?
Standard counters include: Lower Centre of Gravity — bend knees and drop hips to make the throw harder to execute / Grip Break — deny the thrower their preferred gripping configuration / Stiff-Arm — maintain distance with straight arms to prevent the entry.
What are the variants of the Sambo Throw?
Common variants: Standard technique (primary execution from standard grip and positioning); No-gi adaptation (modified without gi grips for submission grappling or MMA); Combination entry (entering from a failed attack or chain of techniques); Counter throw (applied as a direct counter to the opponent's throw or at…).
How effective is the Sambo Throw in competition?
Sambo throws are featured in International Sambo Federation (FIAS) World Championships and are used by MMA fighters with sambo backgrounds, notably Khabib Nurmagomedov and Fedor Emelianenko.
What are common mistakes when doing the Sambo Throw?
Top errors to watch for: Using only judo-style entries without adapting to sambo's wider grip vocabulary — sambo allows more grip options / Neglecting leg-grab throws, which are sambo's competitive advantage over modern judo / Not training submission defence alongside throws — in sambo, opponents can attack submissions immediately after being… / Relying only on upper-body control without using leg techniques — sambo's leg attacks are what distinguish it.
What are other names for the Sambo Throw?
The Sambo Throw is also known as Sanbo Nage-waza, Sambo throws, Russian throws, Combat sambo throws.