SAMBO Arrives at Universities in China
FIAS Introduces SAMBO in the University Environment of the Country
In December 2018, FIAS Executive Director Sergey Tabakov gave a training course in SAMBO for students and teachers of Chengdu Sport University. The school is located in the southwestern part of Chengdu, the fifth largest metropolis of the People's Republic of China located in Sichuan Province. This seminar was organized at the invitation of the Chinese party, in the framework of cooperation between the local experts and the International SAMBO Federation.
To recap, in February-March 2017, a seminar was given in Moscow, on the premises of the Russian State University of Physical Education, Sport, Youth and Tourism (SCOLIPE), for the Chinese specialists from various provinces of the country. Among them was Gong Maofu, the Director of the Educational and Research Department of Martial Arts at Chengdu Sports University.
'I believe that our students will embrace and love SAMBO. This is a fine sport that has assimilated the best techniques of various martial arts. Besides, many sambists perform pretty successfully in MMA, which lends an extra publicity and weight to this sport. I think it will not take much time - perhaps, about 3-5 years for SAMBO to spread in China. Of course, to attain this, it is important to do a lot, and the recognition of SAMBO by the International Olympic Committee will greatly facilitate the development of SAMBO in China. But the most important thing is that this martial art is truly congenial to us, which means that SAMBO has every chance of becoming popular in China,' claimed Gong Maofu back at that time in his interview to the FIAS website.
Upon returning to his homeland, he was going to share the new material immediately with his students.
'It is important for me to see their reaction. If I see their interest, I have plans to create a SAMBO club at my university,' remark the martial arts expert.
Chengdu Sport University became the first higher school in China where a sports-oriented English-language department was created, aimed at training translators for the 2008 Beijing Olympics. For its contribution to the national initiatives in sports, the university is regarded by Chinese as one of the three leading sports universities of their country.
Upon returning to his homeland, he was going to share the new material immediately with his students.
'It is important for me to see their reaction. If I see their interest, I have plans to create a SAMBO club at my university,' remark the martial arts expert.
Chengdu Sport University became the first higher school in China where a sports-oriented English-language department was created, aimed at training translators for the 2008 Beijing Olympics. For its contribution to the national initiatives in sports, the university is regarded by Chinese as one of the three leading sports universities of their country.
Chengdu Sport University is regarded by Chinese as one of the three leading sports universities of their country.
Moreover, the university is known as the most advanced research center for kinesiology, or biomechanics, in the Southwestern China. Kinesiology is a scientific and applied discipline that studies the characteristic aspects of muscle movements in all their manifestations. In the global professional community of kinesiologists, this university is ranked among the top five universities of the kind.
Even though the SAMBO club is still in its infancy around here, the demonstration of SAMBO technique for Chinese students shows a brand new level. This has been facilitated by the visit of the FIAS Executive Director, Prof. Sergey Tabakov, to the university. He managed not only to demonstrate the SAMBO technique, but also to hook the students with this sport.
Even though the SAMBO club is still in its infancy around here, the demonstration of SAMBO technique for Chinese students shows a brand new level. This has been facilitated by the visit of the FIAS Executive Director, Prof. Sergey Tabakov, to the university. He managed not only to demonstrate the SAMBO technique, but also to hook the students with this sport.
'During the classes, I witnessed a sincere interest of students in this sport which was completely new to them. The main task that I set for myself was to demonstrate the characteristic SAMBO techniques that distinguish it from other martial arts, as well as to educate the students on its special spirit and principles,' noted Sergey Tabakov.
Eventually, more than 50 Chinese students have become closer to SAMBO, which may positively affect their sporting future. It is emblematic that in the lead-up to the visit of Sergey Tabakov to China, several important events occurred.
First, on November 30, the International SAMBO Federation received a provisional recognition from the International Olympic Committee. This is exactly that crucial factor mentioned by Gong Maofu as he was pondering on the prospects of SAMBO in China.
Eventually, more than 50 Chinese students have become closer to SAMBO, which may positively affect their sporting future. It is emblematic that in the lead-up to the visit of Sergey Tabakov to China, several important events occurred.
First, on November 30, the International SAMBO Federation received a provisional recognition from the International Olympic Committee. This is exactly that crucial factor mentioned by Gong Maofu as he was pondering on the prospects of SAMBO in China.
Second, on December 13, a preliminary agreement was signed for staging the 2021 World Summer University Games in Chengdu, China. The document was signed by the President of the International University Sports Federation Oleg Matytsin and the Mayor of the city, Luo Qiang. Consequently, this means that the Chengdu University of Sports could become a center for training Chinese sambists, and that SAMBO could get some extra chances for inclusion in the 2021 World University Games program.
'At the meeting with the university President, Chu Weiping, we discussed the prospects for the development of SAMBO in China, and also exchanged views on the possibility of opening SAMBO specialization at the Chengdu Sport University. This perspective has received even greater relevance, as the university can become a center for training Chinese sambists, provided that SAMBO is included in the 2021 World University Games program,' claimed Tabakov.
'At the meeting with the university President, Chu Weiping, we discussed the prospects for the development of SAMBO in China, and also exchanged views on the possibility of opening SAMBO specialization at the Chengdu Sport University. This perspective has received even greater relevance, as the university can become a center for training Chinese sambists, provided that SAMBO is included in the 2021 World University Games program,' claimed Tabakov.
The University can become a center for training Chinese sambists, provided that SAMBO is included in the 2021 World University Games program
China is known to be one of the oldest sports cultures in the world, and today's successes of Chinese athletes at major international forums, including the Olympic Games, deserve respect. FIAS places special emphasis on the expansion of SAMBO over the People's Republic of China. Several SAMBO clubs have been established in the country, with Russian coaches working there. And from time to time, Chinese athletes participate in the FIAS international tournaments. Nonetheless, it is necessary to take more and more steps in order to achieve comprehensive development of SAMBO in the country. One of such areas could become the propagation of SAMBO in the college environment.
'Universities in China are the state institutions that are engaged in professional training. Both students and teachers are trained to uphold and spread cultural values. As our meetings showed, there are many people in the university milieu who are interested in SAMBO and who would like to promote it. I believe that working with Chinese universities initiated by FIAS leads in the right direction and can become beneficial both to the country and to the global SAMBO community,' summed up Sergey Tabakov.
At the end of the visit, a meeting was held in Beijing with representatives of the National Olympic Committee of China who oversee the development of martial arts in the country. The Director of the Department, Zhou Jinqiang, accentuated the importance of the provisional recognition of FIAS by the International Olympic Committee and confirmed their intention to continue cooperation in promoting SAMBO in the territory of the People's Republic of China.
At the end of the visit, a meeting was held in Beijing with representatives of the National Olympic Committee of China who oversee the development of martial arts in the country. The Director of the Department, Zhou Jinqiang, accentuated the importance of the provisional recognition of FIAS by the International Olympic Committee and confirmed their intention to continue cooperation in promoting SAMBO in the territory of the People's Republic of China.
Zhou Jinqiang, accentuated the importance of the provisional recognition of FIAS by the International Olympic Committee and confirmed their intention to continue cooperation in promoting SAMBO in the territory of the People's Republic of China.
