Swiss Federation of Sambo and Associated Disciplines

Hervé Gheldman, the president and founder of the Federation Suisse de sambo & disciplines associees, discovered Sambo in 1985 during a practical seminar organised by Christian Bruzat. Inspired by this kind of sport he dedicated all his time to it and spend a whole year training to become a Master of Sambo.  Oleg Taktarov being his instructor and friend helped him achieve outstanding sports results and learn theoretical background.  

In 1991 thanks to Philippe Decoeur Hervé Gheldman met Sergey Tabakov, and that acquaintance helped Gheldman to learn more about sambo because he now could come to practice it in the Academy of Sports. Hervé Gheldman is very grateful for all that Sergey did for him. 

In 1995 under the auspices of the International Sambo Federation Hervé Gheldman together with Etienne Labrousse and Christian Bruzat officially established the Swiss Sambo Federation with its headquarter in Geneva. Hervé Gheldman actively promotes and develops Sambo in Switzerland by carrying out courses and practical seminars. He organises a lot of different seminars with participation of great experts like David Rudman, Igor Yakimov, Alexandre Iaskevitch, Sergey Lopovok, Sergey Gromov. 

Then, the International Sambo Federation transformed in FIAS under the presidency of Michael Tikhomirov. For several years the Suisse Sambo Federation was affiliated to different Federations of FIAS – the World Federation and the World Combat Sambo Federation. Till then the election of Sergey Eliseev as the European Sambo Federation president and David Rudman as the FIAS President, Switzerland is now affiliated to ESF and FIAS. 

Swiss Sambo represents approximately 10 clubs practicing only Sambo and 10 clubs with mixed styles. Being located in Geneva the federation has a plan to develop in Swiss German part and Italian Swiss part.