Sambo vs. Wrestling — What's the Difference?

Sambo is a martial art and combat sport developed in the Soviet Union in the early 20th century, integrating judo, wrestling, and other fighting techniques. It is known for its distinctive feature of allowing jacket gripping. Wrestling, on the other hand, is an ancient sport that appears in various forms worldwide, generally focused on taking the opponent to the ground and controlling them, often without the use of a jacket.

Sambo practitioners wear jackets, shorts, and shoes, and compete on a mat similar to those used in judo, allowing for a variety of throws, joint locks, and leg submissions. In contrast, wrestling attire typically consists of a singlet and wrestling shoes, and the sport does not generally allow joint locks or submissions, focusing instead on pins and holds.

The rules of sambo allow for quick transitions between throwing and submission techniques, encouraging dynamic and fast-paced combat. Wrestling rules vary by style (such as freestyle, Greco-Roman, and folkstyle) but generally prioritize control, positioning, and pinning the opponent rather than submissions.

Sambo competitions are categorized into sport sambo, which resembles judo but with some differences in rules and allowed techniques, and combat sambo, which includes striking and more comprehensive self-defense capabilities. Wrestling competitions, however, are divided by style, each with its own set of rules, scoring system, and techniques, reflecting the sport's diverse global heritage.

While both sports are practiced internationally and included in various multi-sport events, wrestling has a longer Olympic history, reflecting its widespread popularity and establishment. Sambo, while recognized worldwide, is still growing in international recognition and is primarily popular in Eastern Europe and former Soviet countries.