Anatoly Kharlampiyev

Kharlampiyev's grandfather, Georgy Yakovlevich Kharlampiyev, was a gymnast and fist-fighter. For many years, he collected, studied, and classified various techniques of hand-to-hand combat and self-defense. [5][6]

Kharlampiyev's father, Arkady Georgievich Kharlampiyev (1888-1936), graduated with honors from the Academy of Arts and was sent to Paris at the state's expense to continue his studies. After a while, due to lack of funds to continue his studies, he began to fight in a professional European boxing ring. He soon became the champion of France, and then Europe (in the absolute category). After that he returning to Russia to begin making boxing popular. He was considered one of the founders of the Russian boxing school.

From his early childhood, Kharlampiyev was trained by his grandfather and father. At the age of six, he acted in a group of aerial acrobats in a circus. By 16, he had already become a versatile athlete and a well-trained wrestler and boxer.

Kharlampiyev dedicated his life to the creation and development of a new application of martial arts - Sambo. At the beginning of 1920, he began to collect and systemize national games containing methods of struggle, and in 1934 to describe and classify sports and fighting techniques. In 1936, he graduated from the Russian State University of Physical Education, Sport, Youth and Tourism (Department of Judo directed by Vasili Oshchepkov).[7]

Starting in 1935, Kharlampiev led judo training at the Moscow Palace of Sports, known as the "Wings of the Soviets". From 1945 to 1952, he worked the senior manager of the Central "Dynamo" Council. From 1953 on, he was Associate Professor of the Department of Physical Education.

Kharlampiyev created the Sambo system including a sports subsystem (which is the foundation). Sambo is commonly practiced by the Soviet, and later Russian, militaries (which was seen as the target application).[1] The sport subsystem eventually became known as Sambo Wrestling (or simply Sambo), and the combat form as Combat Sambo.

By creating the system of Sambo, Anatoly Kharlampiyev carefully studied judo and mastered it in practice. In judo, he saw evidence of a new type of combat clothing, enriched with the most effective techniques of other forms of struggle. He mastered judo under the direction of Vasili Oshchepkov during a long-term stay in Japan and practiced in the Kodokan Judo school.

During his years as physical training instructor at the Communist University of the Toilers of the East (TAS) and the International Society of red stadium builders (OSMKS), Kharlampiyev continued to study different kinds of combat.

Comprehension of the essence of the struggle (both science and art) assisted learning techniques and tactics of fights outstanding fighters (Ivan Poddubny, Klimenty Buhl et al.).

For a number of years Kharlampiyev traveled to the Central Asian and Caucasus republics for the study of national kinds of struggle. He studied and systematized techniques and training methods. He took part in the competitions. With a body weight of 72 kg, he sometimes beat heavyweights. The 1983 film Invincible was based on these journeys, and the character "Andrei Khromov" was based on Kharlampiev. His role was played by Andrei Rostotsky.

The development of a new kind of wrestling was halted by World War II when Anatoly Kharlampiev volunteered and was sent to the front in the Red Army on July 7, 1941. Since September 1941 he was with the 18th Infantry Division of the Leningrad region of Moscow.

After the war, Anatoly Kharlampiyev stepped up his activities on the development and spreading of a new kind of wrestling. Since 1947, the holding of the USSR championships continued.

In 1947, the Second All-Union gathering of trainers was held on the initiative of Kharlampiyev. During this conference it was decided that the new type of combat clothing, cultivated in the Soviet Union would be called Sambo (abbr. From the "self-defense without weapons"). At the same assembly, it was decided to create a Federation of Sambo.

Sambo competitions became a regular occurrence in the cities, regions and republics of the Soviet Union. It began publication of educational materials for Sambo. Sports and educational work with young people, young people and security forces in the sections Sambo, which was held by Anatoly Abramovich (head coach of the anti DSO "Wings of the Soviets" (Moscow); senior "Dynamo" CA coach (1945-1952)) and his companions, He boosted the number involved in the fight Sambo in the USSR.

In those years, Anatoly Kharlampiev may have been one of the most prolific Sambo coaches.

In 1953, Kharlampiyev became Associate Professor of Moscow Power Engineering Institute (MPEI). Since that time, Sambo began to spread to universities in Moscow and other cities of the USSR.

Kharlampiyev died on April 16, 1979.

The first All-Union tournament in Combat Sambo in memory of Anatoly Kharlampiev held in Moscow's universal gym "Friendship" on 10–11 October 1980. Since 1982, these events have become international.