Neil ADAMS: “The essence of SAMBO lies in respect and the spirit of competition”

Combat SAMBO at The World Games 2025 in Chengdu reached audiences around the globe thanks to live broadcasts on the official TWG2025 and FIAS websites. Among those who closely followed the matches and brought the action to international viewers were renowned commentators Patrick Brennan and Neil Adams, whose voices captured the intensity and atmosphere of the tournament.

In an interview for the FIAS website after the event, Neil Adams shared his impressions:

“For me, it’s always important to look not only at the technical level of the athletes but also at their spirit. I’ve always judged competitors not just in moments of victory, but also in defeat – in how they carry themselves, how they behave. That, to me, reflects the true essence of martial arts. What impressed me most here in SAMBO was seeing athletes enter the mat with full determination while maintaining mutual respect.”

According to Adams, the atmosphere of the tournament reminded him of the best traditions of martial arts, where fair play and sportsmanship stand at the core:

“This is a tough, demanding combat sport, but what stands out is the mutual respect among athletes. They fight with everything they have, but never lose sight of fair play. For me, that is one of the most important values – and it is where SAMBO’s strength truly lies.”

Neil Adams is a British judoka, 1981 World Champion, five-time European Champion, two-time Olympic silver medalist, and the author of several books on martial arts. His background as both an elite athlete and an analyst gives special weight to his observations.

The Combat SAMBO tournament in Chengdu, held on August 13-14, was the only new sport added to the program of The World Games 2025 compared to the previous edition in Birmingham. Over two days, fans in the arena witnessed both individual and team competitions, while audiences worldwide tuned in to live streams on the official platforms of The World Games and FIAS.