Rong LI: “Combat SAMBO is an excellent sport for girls”

Young SAMBO athlete Rong Li from the People’s Republic of China combines multiple roles with remarkable balance. While studying theory and methodology of martial arts at the Russian University of Sport (GCOLIFK), she competed in major international SAMBO tournaments and occasionally appeared in TV shoots alongside world-famous athletes. In an exclusive interview with the FIAS website, Rong spoke about how she first discovered SAMBO, why this sport is ideal for women, and what prospects it holds in China.

Why SAMBO?

Rong first heard about SAMBO from her coach in China. “I knew this sport is developed in Russia and wanted to learn it at the source,” she explains. The rich technical arsenal – including throws, joint locks, strikes, and chokeholds in Combat SAMBO – immediately caught her attention and seemed “more varied than wushu‑sanda, which I practiced since childhood.”

In 2018, she applied to the Russian University of Sport. Although the visa process took some time, she says it was relatively straightforward. The language proved more challenging: “Russian is tough, but I managed, made friends – first among Chinese classmates, then Russian girlfriends who helped me in everything.”

Rong was lucky to find a mentor in Professor Sergey Yevgenyevich Tabakov, who recognized her potential and “infected her with the SAMBO virus.” It’s no surprise – he is also the Executive Director of the International SAMBO Federation.

Studies, Training, and First Competitions

During her studies, Rong learned both theory and practice of martial arts, and names sports massage as her favorite subject. “We studied the technique of Professor Biryukov – one of the oldest instructors. He would say: if you apply massage gently, it’s massage; a little stronger – and it’s SAMBO,” she smiles.

Her first SAMBO matches took place in 2019 during university competitions. Nervousness accompanied her debut, but the thrill of early victories inspired her to continue.

Initially, she competed in Sport SAMBO. A typical training day included morning physical conditioning and an evening technical session on the mat, with time in between for study and scientific work.

Gaining International Competitive Experience

Rong’s first major international tournament was the 2023 World SAMBO Cup in Kyrgyzstan. That year, Women’s Combat SAMBO was included in the program of most international SAMBO tournaments under FIAS. Encouraged by this similarity to her native wushu‑sanda, she decided to try the discipline. Although her debut wasn’t seamless, she still earned a bronze medal.

“The nerves before the start were extreme: the level of competition and opponents was intimidating. I think the psychological factor played a big role in my less confident performance, although from a technical standpoint there were also weaknesses,” Rong reflects.

That experience provided important insight. On her mentor Professor Tabakov’s advice, she focused on improving two core preparation areas under top instructors: physical conditioning and technical‑tactical training.

Her physical condition was elevated under distinguished SAMBO coach and published pedagogue Dmitry Maksimov. One striking metric: at a body weight of 59 kg, Rong benched 100 kg.

Tactical Combat SAMBO training came under renowned coach Nikolai Yelesin. “In training, I learned to combine throws and strikes – an essential skill for success in Combat SAMBO,” she admits.

These efforts paid off at the 2023 World Combat Games in Saudi Arabia, where she competed in the 65 kg category instead of her usual 59 kg. Despite the weight difference, she earned another bronze medal, and experts noted significant improvement – she narrowly missed the final.

From these experiences, she learned: “You must not only refine technique and tactics, but also overcome fear of strong opponents and learn to move forward without hesitation.”

Participation in Video Projects

FIAS invited Rong to appear in a promotional video for Eurosport. “It was my first such experience. The shoot took about four hours, but only a few seconds appeared in the final clip. No acting required – I simply demonstrated strike technique on a boxing bag.”

Although the main star of the video was Fedor Emelianenko, Rong did not end up filming with him. “We worked on different days and just missed each other,” she says quietly.

Her filming continued with participation in the “Games Without Borders” TV project, representing China and SAMBO, working in tandem with another Chinese athlete. “Comparing myself with competitors, I realized I lacked some physical strength. But I compensated with SAMBO skills: balance and tactical play helped me win platform battles, and grip technique was useful during movement along the large sphere,” she explains.

Currently, Rong has completed filming a new FIAS project featuring self‑defense lessons for girls. The videos are now in post‑production and will soon be released on FIAS online platforms.

“I performed in a familiar role as a SAMBO instructor – and a bit as an actress. I think the concept is interesting and could attract many girls to SAMBO,” she says.

Master’s Thesis and Academic Work

Alongside her sporting successes, Rong defended a Master’s thesis on “Individualizing female athlete preparation in Combat SAMBO when transitioning from other martial arts.” The project took eighteen months and included data collection, surveying about 70 coaches at the World Championships in Armenia and Astana, and analysis of training methods.

Most importantly, the athlete’s own competition experience served as a self‑experiment guiding implementation of new approaches for preparing women in Combat SAMBO.

Returning to China… for the World Games

After graduating, Rong will return to her hometown in Sichuan Province, located near Chengdu, which will host the 2025 World Games – including Combat SAMBO competitions.

“I will not be able to compete, as China did not field a team. But I would be delighted to attend as a spectator – or possibly even as a volunteer. It would be amazing to see elite Combat SAMBO in my homeland,” she shares.

Looking ahead, Rong plans to pursue a coaching career and popularize SAMBO in China, drawing on European sports programs and university‑based scientific support.

SAMBO in China: Growth and Practicality

Rong demonstrates how sport can bridge cultures, and how perseverance and openness can pave the way to success far from home. When asked whether SAMBO could catch on widely in China, she replies with confidence: “There are several Chinese martial arts technically close to SAMBO, and SAMBO sections are appearing in universities. I’m certain this sport will continue developing in our country.”

She also shares how she came to the sport largely thanks to her father, who practiced and coached wushu‑sanda in his youth. “SAMBO disciplines, boosts confidence, and improves fitness – and it also helps you deal with difficult situations,” she smiles.

Rong recounts an incident in a bus where an older man harassed her. “He got too close and pushed me. I freed myself with a strike to the abdomen and he got off. I didn’t look back – I just left when the doors opened,” she recalls calmly.

It’s no surprise, then, that when asked whether girls should practice SAMBO, Rong replies without hesitation: “Absolutely! And Combat SAMBO is the best choice.”