Judo Master V.S.Oshchepkov and his students I.V.Vasilyev, L.B.Turin, N.M.Galkovsky, B.A.Sagatelyan, P.A.Shkolnikov, S.V.Dashkevich, and others created and promoted SAMBO during the 1920s and 1930s. Also, in 1927 V.Spiridonov published a manual called “Samozaschita bez oruzhyia.” At that time, the book was classified for use by the Military, Police, and KGB (Russian Secret Police).

This new martial art system was officially recognized as a legitimate sport in the USSR in 1938. At first it was named “Free style wrestling.” Later it was called “Free wrestling,” and in 1946 was renamed “SAMBO.” This is an acronym for “Samooborona Bez Oruzhia" which means “Self Defense Without Weapons.”