Sambo Bay of Plenty

The secret to success in SAMBO: don’t argue with biomechanics. Multiply your opponent’s weight with your desire to win, and you get a beautiful fall trajectory. No parachute, but at least you get a medal 💪🏽

It’s all go in Hamilton 💪🏼

SEND 2–3 HRS TO HAMILTON AND FORGET 🔥

This Sunday, don’t miss a rare opportunity to train with a true Sambo master.

We’re hosting a Team NZ training session at San Bu Kai Gym (Hamilton), led by Master Abdullah Rezaev — New Zealand’s top wrestler, undefeated in the Shuriken MMA series, and our most experienced Sambo coach and fighter.

It’s a privilege to have a Dagestan Sambo master here in NZ — take advantage of it.

👊 What’s happening:
An open masterclass + national team session. Come train alongside and support our international athletes.

📅 When: Sunday, 9:30am
📍 Where: San Bu Kai Gym, Hamilton
💲 Cost: $10 at the door (no sign-up needed)

🥋 Who can join:
Intermediate & advanced martial artists (no beginners on the mat — but you’re welcome to come watch)

🎒 What to bring:

Gi (if you have one) or shorts & t-shirt
MMA gloves, headgear, shin guards (optional for combat rounds)

This is not something we get every day in New Zealand. Make the trip, get on the mat, and level up. (Apologies for the late notice, there will be another session planned with better lead time.)

Sambo Bay of Plenty Hamilton Hawks Wrestling Club MMA Wrestling NZ Waikato Bays Judo Martial Arts Tauranga CORE MMA

Get amongst it 💪🏼

SEND 2–3 HRS TO HAMILTON AND FORGET 🔥

This Sunday, don’t miss a rare opportunity to train with a true Sambo master.

We’re hosting a Team NZ training session at San Bu Kai Gym (Hamilton), led by Master Abdullah Rezaev — New Zealand’s top wrestler, undefeated in the Shuriken MMA series, and our most experienced Sambo coach and fighter.

It’s a privilege to have a Dagestan Sambo master here in NZ — take advantage of it.

👊 What’s happening:
An open masterclass + national team session. Come train alongside and support our international athletes.

📅 When: Sunday, 9:30am
📍 Where: San Bu Kai Gym, Hamilton
💲 Cost: $10 at the door (no sign-up needed)

🥋 Who can join:
Intermediate & advanced martial artists (no beginners on the mat — but you’re welcome to come watch)

🎒 What to bring:

Gi (if you have one) or shorts & t-shirt
MMA gloves, headgear, shin guards (optional for combat rounds)

This is not something we get every day in New Zealand. Make the trip, get on the mat, and level up. (Apologies for the late notice, there will be another session planned with better lead time.)

Sambo Bay of Plenty Hamilton Hawks Wrestling Club MMA Wrestling NZ Waikato Bays Judo Martial Arts Tauranga CORE MMA

Grassroots grows champions

8 weeks to go 🇵🇭 Asia Oceania Sambo Championships 2026

We made the trip out to Whaingaroa BJJ this week, and it’s exactly what martial arts should feel like.

We worked positional drills and spent time sharpening the ground game, with Hamish (23, Judo black belt) really starting to find his rhythm in newaza.

What makes his journey special isn’t just his ability, it’s who he is.

He’s the guy who coaches others before competing himself. The guy who still shows up for our Kimura Kiwis community class in the middle of a high performance camp (yep, that’s the rashie in the photo).

But growth at this level asks a different question:
can you give that same energy to your own development?

That’s the path he’s on now.

One of the best parts of the day, Phil and Mark reconnecting from the early days of BJJ in Hamilton. A reminder that this community runs deep.

At Hamilton Sambo, we’re proud to work with clubs, not against them. Judo, BJJ, wrestling, we know athletes get better when communities connect, not compete.

As we build toward Manila, we’re opening the door for athletes who want to be part of the process.

If you’ve got a background in wrestling (even rugby), submission grappling, or just bring a different “look” to training, you’re welcome to jump in. You’ll train at your own pace, add real value to camp, and help sharpen our athletes for international competition.

In return, you become part of the journey, seeing first-hand what it takes at this level, and having a stake in the performance when we step onto the world stage.

Manila is on the horizon, and the work continues.

This weekend, come for a rumble and have some fun.

Sambo NZ Waikato/BOP Open 2026 Welcome to the 2026 New Zealand Sambo Federation Season.