Russell Dodds senior Coach at the
Bedford Academy is certainly doing a good job of promoting Sombo and the
British Sombo Federation. He has already organised a Sombo Competition early
this year and has another planned for July. This course was attended by 25 of
his students; a lot of them were juniors. British National Coach, John Clarke,
and English National Coach, Colin Carrott, both gave the instruction. Well done
Russell keep up the good work.
You cannot keep a good man down and
that is certainly the case with 60-year-old British national Full Contact Sombo
Coach Allen Clarkin. He has run one very successful Level 1 Full Contact Sombo
Course and now has another planned for Sunday July 8th. Allen has been involved
with
Martial Arts for over 40 years and has
a lot of contacts which hopes to bring into Combat Sombo; he tells me he has
several clubs in Wales which want to get involved, plus he wants run a
Championship Belt Competition for Full Contact Sombo. Now that would be
something.
Robin tells me the entries are better than
expected for the British on May 5th. We were expecting an extremely
low turnout of about 25 because of the cost of travelling and accommodation but
the numbers have already reached 60 and the closing date is not until May 3rd
so things are looking up. Robin also tells me that CLOSING Date means closing date, none of this “I am a
top class Judo player and do not need to book on time.”
Commonwealth Sombo/Full Contact Sombo
is on May 17th at Dumfries, this will be a good competition. It will
be open to all affiliated country; with regard to UK: if you belong to a BSF
recognised Sombo Association you can compete for Wales, Scotland, Northern
Ireland, England or the Channel Islands so starting booking your accommodation
now.
The proposed Commonwealth Sambo
Association led by a Russian
Judo player (What’s Russia got to do
with the Commonwealth?) has caused a lot of controversy on the International
Scene as this new group sort to usurp the power of FIAS Commonwealth countries
by placing Judo men in charge of Commonwealth Sombo. Within GB the BSF is
recognised by all 5 sports Councils and is run by Sombo people for Sombo people.
Most importantly it is not run for profit!
Yet out of something that had a dubious
beginning some good has come -
The formation of the Commonwealth Sombo
Championships, this will decide whether there is a demand for Commonwealth
Sombo. It is a shame the BSF has to fund it rather than the Russian who wanted
it; also Northern Ireland Sombo federation Chairman, Chris St John, has made
contact with Terry Watt, an extremely good Judo man and someone who is
genuinely interested in Sombo.
More and More people are approaching
the BSF for courses and competitions - this year Britain will see a good
contingent of Sombo Players from the Liverpool area; Sue King from Mushin
Academy has been pushing Sombo in the area and her members have joined a BSF
Association. Well done Sue!
Look out for our advert in Combat and
some of our features.
Martin Clarke
BSF President
