Martin Clarke receives FIAS Award
Martin who is chairman of the British Sombo Federation
received special medal at the World Sambo
Championships in ST Petersburg
Russia. The medal was to celebrate the 75th year of the birth of
Sambo, the Russian Jacket Grappling Sport, only eight other people received this
award throughout the World. This was a great honour for Martin and he received
the award from FIAS President Vasily Shestakov in front of packed worldwide
audience.
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He was in very good company and the only one who was not part of the Ex
Communist Block here are the following recipients:
1 Ceslovas
Eserskis - the first World Champ. 1973 (Lithuania)
2 Ivan
Tikhomirov - Hon. trainer (Russia)
3 Murat
Khasanuv - 11 times World Champ. (Russia)
4 Fedor
Emelianenko - 4 times World Champ. (Russia)
5 Djeikhun
Mamedov - 7 times World Champ. (Azerbaidjan)
6 Haltmaa
Batulga (Mongolia)
7 Vasil
Sokolov (Bulgaria)
8 Aleksey
Shor (Russia)
Martin is no stranger to receiving awards from FIAS in 2008
World Championships he was presented with a Gold medal for services to
International Sambo, he was also presented with another medal for being in the
top 10 of most influential Sambo Personalities in the World.
After the award ceremony Martin commented, “ I am pleased
that my wife Valerie was here to see my award but I was saddened that my
parents Margret and Nobby were no longer with us to share my pride in receiving
this excellent award. For it was them who started me Judo in 1955 at the age of
5 that led me to Sambo”
So why has Martin been honoured in such a way. He started
Sambo in 1975 under the auspice of the British Wrestling Association and in
1984 he was asked by the BWA to form a team for the World Games, which was to
be held in London 1985. The team was very successful, 4 Bronzes, 1 Silver, 1 Gold.
Martin’s competition success in Sambo was World games Silver, World
Championship Silver, World Masters Silver plus World Masters Judo Gold, World
Jiu Jitsu Silver, Moscoe Olymic reserve
FIAS was formed in 1984 Martin has been a member since 1985,
in 1986 he founded the British Sombo Federation, he has been a Executive
Committee member of FIAS, FIAS Treasurer and in 1989/90 was FIAS European
President.
Martin has always supported FIAS and sometimes will
criticise some of the things FIAS EC do
but has always believed in strengthening the organisation, he is a firm
believer in that under the Presidency of Mr Shestakov FIAS has advanced
tremendously. He like the rest of the BSF look forward to the day Sambo becomes
and Olympic and Commonwealth Games sport
Well Done Martin
Keith Costa
BSF Secretary
