Anatoly Kharlampiev

Anatoly Kharlampiev (1906-1979) is officially credited by the Soviet state as the founder of Sambo, though modern historians recognise the parallel contributions of Vasili Oshchepkov and Viktor Spiridonov. Kharlampiev trained under Oshchepkov and spent decades systematising and codifying Sambo as a sport and self-defence system. He lobbied successfully for Sambo's official recognition as a Soviet sport in 1938, and his 1949 book 'Sambo Wrestling' became the foundational text of the discipline. Kharlampiev is often called 'the father of Sambo' in Russian sporting culture.