The third in our series of exclusive interviews with three of Americas top Sambo coaches: Joe Neely. As you'll learn Joe has had an incredible impact on the sport of Sambo here in the US. He was a national team coach and competitor, who now runs a very successful program in the Kentucky and Ohio areas, where he also organizes National level Sambo competitions. In this interview Joe makes some very good points and observations about Sambo, not the least of which is the name itself, the state of its organizing bodies and the resurgence of collaboration of its top coaches.-Greg
Photos top to bottom:1. Joe (back row-second from right) World Team 1987 Milan Italy. 2. Joe (second from right) with Gregg Humphreys at one of his SomboJoe locations. 3.Joe with some of his Sombo Joe Students.
SOTG: Joe can you tell us about your background: when did you start Sambo, what was your first impression of it, when did you know this is what you wanted to do. Any career highlights you’d like to share?
Joe: I started dabbling with Sombo while wrestling with the 1978 All Marine Wrestling Team (Greco-Roman). I was a young wrestler that thought Greco-Roman Wrestling was the toughest style of combative sport out there. After a long nine hour day workout, I would drag myself up into the bleachers and watch some of my team members (Wilfredo Levi, Jimmy Howard, Jack Beard, Greg Gibson, etc…) put on those funny looking jackets and go for another couple of hours of Sombo only practice. I heckled them quite a bit. One day Levi (105.5lbs) challenged me to come down on the mat (I was 180.5) so he could show me what it was all about. After they put a jacket on me, he proceeded to throw; arm lock, leg lock, and calf crush me to the point of embarrassment! I said that no one that small should be able to do that to me, so I wanted to learn what it was all about. I would venture to say that it was love at the first lock!
I received an honorable discharged in 1979, and came home to start a local summer wrestling program. Title 9 was in full swing back then, so wrestling programs were leaving colleges at an alarming pace. We practiced all styles of wrestling, including Sombo. I still did all the other styles of wrestling (Folk, Free, Greco), but Sombo had stolen my desire for the other styles. I taught what I knew to local kids, and to adult competitors. Around this time FILA had just given up control of Sombo to a newly formed organization, FIAS. We participated in Sombo through the USSA, under the AAU at that time. I won several National titles, USSA, AAU Grand Nationals, AAU Masters, USSA Masters, etc. In 1987 I was ask to coach the USA National Women’s Team, at the World Championships in PAU France. One of my students took second, and the Team took third. From that point in 1987 thru 1993 I travelled to many National, and International Championships, World Cups, and invitational tournaments. After a brief return from my retirement, I placed 4th in the Pan Am Championships in San Diego, CA. The first three were John Maschido, Greg Dixion, Rigan Machido. I have only coached since then. My competitive days are through. In 1999 I was inducted into the USSA Sombo Hall of Fame.
SOTG: Wow, that is an amazing resume and impressive accomplishments…but you've also grown a very successful program in a grassroots way: do you want to talk about your program a bit?
Joe: In 2006 the path of my Teaching/Coaching took a different turn. The Northern KY Wrestling Club changed to the “SOMBOJOE” Program. There was no longer a need for a summer program for the youth to participate in anymore (most schools had their own now). At this point, we focused primarily on Sombo in our club. The SOMBOEJOE program is set up as a Christian Outreach and we still compete in many different type of grappling/martial arts styles. We do what we need to supplement our need for diversity in styles.
SOTG: From what I've noticed I've seen more collaboration with You and some of the other top Sambo coaches Can you tell us more about your relationship with them ? How have those relationships grown and what’s next for Sambo? Also what in your opinion are the hurdles that Sambo has to overcome to progress here in the USA? Do you believe Sambo has to make any significant changes to be successful here?
Joe: The collaboration between myself and other coaches, and organization is an attempt to bring back some of the swagger that Sombo used to have here in the States. The largest tournament that I can remember, was three hundred plus in Billing, MT. I wish to see us surpass those numbers before I finish with all that I have left to do. I have met some new people during this continuing adventure, and I always stay in contact with my OLD friends. Recently I have seen many people put aside their egos for the good of the sport. What we seem to forget is, when people fight for titles, position, or status, it’s the local athlete that suffers the most. I am happy that for the first time in many years, it looks like people are finally starting to work together again.One thing that I catch a lot of flak about is the spelling of Sambo with an O (Sombo). I think that our sport has enough to deal with without using a word that brings up racial discussions. I truly believe that if a sport is to make it in the world, it’s has to make it in America also. Television is the market that we need to bring on board. I don’t think that we would ever be accepted with the name using the SAMBO spelling.
SOTG: That is a GREAT point! Joe, considering your contributions, where do you see Sambo, sorry, Sombo, in the next 5 -10 years here in the US, where does it fit into the jiu-jitsu/grappling /mma scene in your opinion
Joe: Not just with my contributions, but with the hard work of everyone working together, Sombo could become the pinnacle of Combat Sports. It has everything you need to be a great fighter. It’s not just good on the ground, not just in the standing, not just with the striking, and not just good with the submissions, IT HAS IT ALL IN ONE PACKAGE! I can see Sombo really taking hold and growing with the people that we have involved now, maybe a new Sombo Fight League!
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