Combat SAMBO Gear Checklist: What You Actually Need for Your First Fight

For your first Combat SAMBO fight you need seven pieces of gear: a FIAS-approved jacket, shorts, gloves, headgear, shin guards, a groin guard, and a mouthguard. Combat SAMBO adds striking to the standard SAMBO grappling rule set, so the protective gear list is longer than Sport SAMBO. Below is exactly what each item does and what's actually required versus optional for your first event.

What protective gear does Combat SAMBO actually require?

Combat SAMBO is the striking-plus-grappling discipline within SAMBO, which is why it carries more mandatory protective gear than Sport SAMBO. The jacket, shorts, gloves, headgear, shin guards, and groin guard are all FIAS-mandated for competition. A mouthguard is required by virtually every tournament organiser even where it is not separately listed in the FIAS gear regulation, since it's standard practice anywhere striking is permitted.

Item	Why it's needed	Status
Jacket (kurtka)	Grappling grips, throws	FIAS required
Shorts	Standard competition uniform	FIAS required
Gloves	Controlled striking	FIAS required
Headgear	Head protection against strikes	FIAS required
Shin guards	Leg kick protection	FIAS required
Groin guard	Basic safety	FIAS required
Mouthguard	Dental and jaw protection	Standard tournament requirement

Always check your specific tournament's gear regulations before you compete. Requirements are consistent across FIAS-sanctioned events, but local or club-level competitions occasionally vary slightly.

The full Combat SAMBO gear checklist

FIAS-approved jacket. The same grappling foundation as Sport SAMBO, built to handle grip fighting and throws.
Shorts. Competition-cut, paired to your jacket colour assignment (red or blue) for the match.
Gloves. Combat SAMBO gloves allow open-hand grip while still padding strikes, different from a standard boxing glove.
Headgear. Full coverage, FIAS-approved, fitted snugly enough not to shift during a takedown.
Shin guards. Protect against leg kicks while staying low profile enough not to interfere with grappling.
Groin guard. Worn under shorts, mandatory for both grappling and striking exchanges.
Mouthguard. Buy a boil-and-bite or custom-fit mouthguard well before fight week, not the morning of.

Full Combat SAMBO gear kit: jacket, gloves, headgear, shin guards — Combat SAMBO requires more protective gear than Sport SAMBO because striking is permitted.

What's included if you buy the Combat Sambo Bundle

Buying each item individually means matching sizing, colour, and FIAS approval status across seven separate products, which is where most first-time competitors waste time or end up with mismatched gear close to fight week. The Combat Sambo Bundle is built specifically to remove that problem.

Competition Ready

Combat Sambo Bundle

FIAS-approved jacket, shorts, gloves, headgear and shin guards, sized and matched.

$479 AUD Shop the Bundle →

Add a groin guard and mouthguard sized to you personally, since both need an individual fit the bundle can't pre-select for you.

Gear mistakes first-time competitors make

Buying generic gloves instead of grappling-specific gloves. Standard boxing or MMA gloves don't allow the open-hand grip Combat SAMBO grappling requires. Buy gear made for the discipline.
Leaving the mouthguard until fight week. A boil-and-bite needs a proper fitting session, not a five-minute job the night before.
Mismatched jacket colour on the day. You're assigned red or blue per match. Own both, or confirm your assignment before you travel.
Skipping a trial round in full gear. Headgear and shin guards that feel fine standing still can shift or restrict movement under live grappling. Test the full kit in training before competition day.

How much should you expect to spend?

Piecing together a full FIAS-approved Combat SAMBO kit item by item, across a jacket, shorts, gloves, headgear, and shin guards, typically runs higher than buying a matched bundle, before accounting for the time spent comparing sizing across separate listings. The Combat Sambo Bundle is priced at $479 AUD for the matched core kit, with a groin guard and mouthguard to add separately based on your own fit.

How do you look after Combat SAMBO gear between fights?

FIAS-approved gear is a real investment, and Combat SAMBO kit takes more punishment than most martial arts equipment because it covers both grappling and striking. A few habits make it last:

Air your gloves and headgear out after every session. Sealing damp padded gear in a closed bag is the single fastest way to break down the foam and create odour that doesn't wash out.
Wash your jacket and shorts after every use, not every few sessions. Sweat breaks down stitching over time, and a jacket that's degraded at the seams can fail inspection at weigh-in.
Check shin guard and headgear straps before every fight, not just every training block. Velcro and elastic wear out gradually, and the worst time to discover a loose strap is mid-match.
Replace your mouthguard if it's visibly worn or you've had a hard impact. It's the cheapest item on the list and the one most worth not gambling on.

Looked after properly, a FIAS-approved jacket and gloves will comfortably see you through a full competition season. Treating gear as disposable is the more expensive habit in the long run.

Frequently asked questions

What gloves do you wear in Combat SAMBO?

Combat SAMBO uses grappling-specific gloves that allow an open-hand grip for throws while still padding strikes, different from standard boxing or MMA gloves.

Is headgear mandatory in Combat SAMBO?

Yes. FIAS-approved headgear is required for Combat SAMBO competition, since the discipline permits striking to the head.

Do you need shin guards for Combat SAMBO?

Yes. Shin guards are FIAS-required and protect against leg kicks during striking exchanges.

Can I use my Sport SAMBO jacket for Combat SAMBO?

If it's FIAS-approved and the correct colour assignment for your match, yes. The jacket requirement is the same grappling foundation across both disciplines.

What's the one piece of gear people forget to buy?

The groin guard and a properly fitted mouthguard. Both need an individual fit, so they're easy to leave until the last minute. Sort them out well before fight week.