Martina VASQUEZ: "I feel confident thanks to my mastery of SAMBO technique"

Martina Vazquez from Uruguay made a successful debut at the Pan American SAMBO Championships this year. Her performance at her first continental championship brought her gold in the Sport SAMBO competition and bronze in the Combat SAMBO tournament. In an interview for the FIAS website immediately after the award ceremony, Martina spoke about the main surprise of the past tournament, her love for striking martial arts and the confidence that SAMBO gives.

Martina, could you share your feelings immediately after the award ceremony?

– I am very happy and still cannot believe what happened. I am incredibly happy that I was able to worthily represent my country and experience these incredible emotions when the Uruguayan anthem was played in honor of my victory.

You participated in the Pan American SAMBO Championships for the first time. What were your expectations before the start of the tournament, and to what extent did they coincide with reality?

– Indeed, I made my debut at the continental SAMBO championship in Brazil. To be honest, I didn’t know what to expect from a tournament of this level. And the biggest surprise for me was my own victory in Sport SAMBO. I’ve been involved in martial arts for a long time, I train a lot and hard, but you never know how a particular competition will go and whether you’ll be able to win.

How long have you been doing SAMBO?

– I’ve been doing sambo for two years now. I also do Thai boxing and jiu-jitsu.

You compete in both Sport SAMBO and Combat SAMBO. Which discipline do you like more?

– I like both of these disciplines, but by nature I prefer martial arts with strikes, so Combat SAMBO is closer to me. Even though I wasn’t so successful in this discipline at this tournament. At the same time, I give credit to Sport SAMBO, it provides an excellent basis for an athlete to have as few weak points as possible.

Have you ever used SAMBO techniques outside the gym, for self-defense?

– Fortunately, no. I have never had to use SAMBO outside the gym. And I think that this is primarily due to the confidence I gain during sports. Walking down the street, I feel calm and know that I can stand up for myself thanks to my SAMBO technique.

What about confidence at the Pan American Championships? Were you very nervous before going out on the mat?

– At first, I felt a lot of tension, but as soon as I got used to the arena, I was able to relax and have a great time. After my first victory, I gained self-confidence. I can say that wrestling at the tournament was a real pleasure for me.

What else do you remember about the past championship?

– I managed to communicate with many people from countries I have never been to and learn a little about their culture. And for me, the greatest reward is the opportunity to communicate with different people.

What are your plans now? Are you planning to participate in SAMBO tournaments in future?

– Yes, I liked the atmosphere at the tournaments, I liked fighting on the mats. I would like to continue doing this. In addition, performing at international tournaments gives me the opportunity not only to compete in what I like, but also to travel and communicate with different people. And this is another plus in favor of participating in SAMBO competitions. I hope I will have such an opportunity.