SAMBO Comes to Costa Rica's Sports Day: 150 Schoolchildren Try Their First Throws

As Costa Rica celebrated its National Sports Day, around 150 schoolchildren gathered at the UACA university campus for something new: their very first SAMBO session.

The event was organized as part of the national holiday festivities and brought together young pupils from a local school for an introduction to the martial art. The session included a warm-up, a demonstration of SAMBO techniques, and – most importantly – a hands-on opportunity for the children to attempt their first throws on the mat.

The activity was held in part under the umbrella of the FIAS “Sport and Active Society” Commission, chaired by Guillermo Sanchez, President of the SAMBO and Associated Sports Federation of Costa Rica.

“Children of primary school age are particularly receptive to everything they encounter in the world,” said Sanchez. “"Getting acquainted with SAMBO will surely remain a memorable experience for many of them – and for some, it could even prove life-changing. Who knows, perhaps among the kids who attempted their first SAMBO technique today, there are future World Champions or even the first Olympic champions in SAMBO.”

The event reflects a broader effort by the Costa Rican federation to grow the sport at the grassroots level and bring SAMBO closer to the next generation.