Posts Tagged ‘American Sambo Association’

Fedor and his team with Stephen Koepfer at NYCS before Strikeforce Heavyweight Tournament

‘SAMBO STEVE’
© Marc Wickert www.knucklepit.com

President and co-founder of the American Sambo Association, Stephen Koepfer first took up the martial art of Shotokan Karate in 1976 at age eight; however Stephen has achieved so much since initially participating in the fighting arts, having earned the prestigious Master of Sport of Russia in February 2009 and being invited to instruct at the FKE’s Academy and the Suvorov Military Academy in St. Petersburg.

Speaking of the Russian combat system’s origin, Koepfer told Fight Nerd “Sambo was sort of the brainchild of the new Soviet government and it was established early in the 20th Century, around 1918…” Sambo has been rapidly spreading across the globe in recent years thanks to the success of its internationally successful practitioners, such as Oleg Taktarov (former UFC Champion), Andrei Arlovski (former UFC Champion), Igor Yakimov (former World Judo Champion and World Sport Sambo Champion), as well as Fedor Emelianenko (Former Pride and WAMMA Heavyweight Champion, and four-time World Combat Sambo Champion), and Russian Prime Minister Vladimir Putin (Master of Sport in both Sambo and Judo).

Sambo received a further worldwide boost through M-1 Global and the launching of M-1Challenge, which featured many Sambo practitioners showcasing their skills backed by their unwillingness to tap out. MMA fans then developed a desire to learn more about these hardened athletes and their fighting system.

Stephen ‘Sambo Steve’ Koepfer first took up Sambo training under Alexander Barakov in 1999 and has been one of the system’s greatest advocates in the United States since then. He graciously agreed to chat with Knucklepit about this amazing art that continues to grow across the globe.

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American Sambo Association

OCTOBER 21 – 23, 2001. SAMBO SUMMIT TRAINING CAMP: SEATTLE

This year the Summit will be held in Seattle, Washington at Seattle JuJutsu/Sea Town Sambo. Sea Town Sambo is a member club of the American Sambo Association under the direction of ASA Vice President Aaron Fields. This incredible location will make for a weekend of hard training punctuated with some recreational and relaxing activities.

This year the camp boasts 3 days of training in beautiful Seattle, Washington. Coaching staff includes Aaron Fields (of Seattle JuJutsu/Seatown Sambo), Gregg Humphreys (Crossfit Invincible/Sambo for Professionals), Doug Fournet (LA Boxing Baton Rouge), and Stephen Koepfer (NY Combat Sambo).

This is THE premier Sambo training camp in the United States and is open to all stylists – Judo, BJJ, Sambo, CATCH Wrestlers, etc. If you are going to attend one camp this year THIS SHOULD BE THE ONE.

2011 Sambo Summit Coaching Staff

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