Olga BERDYSHEVA: "Blind and visually impaired children show a high level of hard work in SAMBO training"

SAMBO for the Blind is a very young discipline for the international SAMBO world. Nevertheless, there are teachers who have devoted many years to teaching blind and visually impaired children SAMBO techniques. One of these trainers is Olga Berdysheva, a physical education teacher and a SAMBO and judo coach at the Ufa correctional boarding school #28 for the blind and visually impaired, which is located in Bashkiria, Russia. Olga Berdysheva spoke about the nuances of working with blind and visually impaired children, their victories and achievements in an interview with the FIAS website.

Olga, how did you get into the world of SAMBO?

- I started wrestling at the age of 14 under the guidance of coach Yuri Rashidovich Galeev. I took part in city, republican and All-Russian SAMBO competitions. In May 1993, I took part in the World Youth and Junior SAMBO Championships in Nizhny Novgorod and took 5-6 place.

Have you ever regretted that from an early age you connected your life with SAMBO?

- I have never regretted my choice. The only thing, it was a pity to part with my braids. I had big ones, and during fights it was inconvenient to fight with them, rivals constantly stepped on them, and I decided to get rid of them.

How did you become a coach for blind and visually impaired children?

- Everything turned out by chance: after graduation, I was offered the position of a teacher of physical education at a boarding school for blind and visually impaired children, and I agreed, since the work schedule suited me. At that time my mother was very sick, and I had to help her, and my daughter was very young. In short, I had to say goodbye to training and SAMBO competitions and go to coaching.

Was it difficult at the very beginning to train blind and visually impaired children?

- No, it's not difficult. When I was still training myself, I often helped my coach conduct SAMBO classes with younger groups. Here everything is the same as with sighted sambists, it is necessary just to take into account that someone does not see at all, while someone has a rest. If sighted children just need to demonstrate by example, then with the blind they need to show them, work out for a long time and carefully. It is very interesting to work with blind and visually impaired children - they show a high level of hard work and perseverance in SAMBO training.

Do your pupils delight you with success in competitions?

- Of course, they do (Olga smiles)! Many of my students are winners of the SAMBO championships of the Republic of Bashkortostan among the blind and visually impaired. Also, some of my students are winners and medalists of the Youth Games of Martial Arts, where there is also SAMBO discipline among the blind and visually impaired.

What tasks do you set for your pupils for the future?

- The most important task for me, as a teacher, is to raise full-fledged members of society from children, despite the health problems of vision. And as a SAMBO coach, the pupils may have one task - so that the children become champions of the World Youth and Junior SAMBO Championships among the blind and visually impaired!

I want to tell you a little about some of my students:

Kristina Pogorelova

A girl born in 2002, a student of the 11A class of the State budgetary educational institution of the Ufa correctional boarding school #28 for blind and visually impaired students. Has been engaged in SAMBO (blind and visually impaired) for 2 years, is the winner of the Championship of the Republic of Bashkortostan in SAMBO (blind and visually impaired) in the weight category up to 64 kg. Kristina is a good student, actively participates in school-wide activities. A girl from a large family, she has an older sister and a younger brother.

Adelina Khalikova

A girl born in 2003, a student of grade 10B, studies at boarding school #28 from grade 1. An active participant in all sports events held at the school. She is engaged in SAMBO (blind and visually impaired) for the second year, is the winner of the Youth Championships of the Republic of Bashkortostan in SAMBO (blind and visually impaired).

Rufina Yamansarina

Girl born in 2004, student of grade 11A. Has been practicing SAMBO (blind and visually impaired) for the second year, is a prize-winner of the Youth SAMBO Championship of the Republic of Bashkortostan (blind and visually impaired). Rufina is an excellent student.

Adilya Absalyamova

Girl born in 2007, student of 6B grade. Has been practicing SAMBO (blind and visually impaired) for 2 years, is the winner of the Youth SAMBO Championship of the Republic of Bashkortostan (blind and visually impaired). Adilya is studying in "4" and "5" marks. She is brought up in a complete large family.

Ramazan Karimov

Boy born in 2009, student of grade 6A. Has been practicing SAMBO (blind and visually impaired) for the first year. An active participant in all sports and school-wide events. Studying at "4" and "5" marks.