The Only Sambo Academy in Massachusetts and New England
Premier Training in Sambo, Judo, BJJ & Wrestling | Billerica, MA
Welcome to Sambo 7.
Founded in 2007, we are the only dedicated Sport Sambo club in Massachusetts. We bridge the gap between Judo, Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu, and Wrestling to create complete athletes.
You don't need to be a fighter to train here. Whether you are looking for Combat Sambo for self-defense, a Kids Martial Arts program that builds real discipline, or you just want to get in the best shape of your life—we have a spot on the mats for you.
Why Train With Us?
Elite Instruction: Learn from a multiple-time National Champion and Pan American Sambo Bronze Medalist. With a background in gymnastics, powerlifting, and personal training, our coach teaches superior body control, functional strength, and safety alongside technique.
Become a Complete Grappler: Our curriculum bridges the gap between styles, covering Sport Sambo throws, Combat Sambo striking, and the ground game of BJJ.
For Everyone: We offer Kids Martial Arts (Ages 5+) to build confidence and discipline, as well as rigorous Teen & Adult programs.
Frequently Asked Questions
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Sambo is a great Russian martial art that combines the most effective techniques from Judo, Wrestling, and Jiu-Jitsu.
• Sport Sambo focuses on high-impact throws and fast submission grappling (especially leg locks).
• Combat Sambo resembles modern MMA, incorporating striking (punches and kicks) alongside grappling.
• BJJ vs. Sambo: While BJJ focuses heavily on fighting off your back, Sambo emphasizes aggressive takedowns, top control, and explosive transitions.
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Sambo and Judo share common roots, but they have evolved into distinct styles.
• The Rules: Modern Olympic Judo has banned leg grabs (touching the legs during a takedown). Sambo permits leg grabs, making it more similar to wrestling and real-world self-defense.
• The Submissions: Judo focuses heavily on pins and chokes but restricts joint locks to the elbow. Sambo allows for a wide variety of leg locks (kneebars and ankle locks) which are not allowed in Judo.
• The Stance: Because Sambo allows leg attacks, the stance is often lower and more defensive than the upright posture of Judo.
• Our Approach: At Sambo 7, we believe in the complete grappler. Because we teach the Sambo curriculum, you will learn the classic throws of Judo plus the wrestling takedowns and leg submissions that modern Judo has removed.
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Yes. Sambo 7 is currently the only dedicated Sport Sambo club in Massachusetts and New England. While other gyms may show a few moves, we are a registered member of the All American Sambo Federation. We are the primary hub for authentic Sambo training in Billerica, serving students from Lowell, Burlington, Chelmsford, and the Greater Boston area.
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Not at all. Our program is designed to build you up, not break you down. Our head coach is a Certified Sambo Coach with a background in Powerlifting and Gymnastics. This means our classes are structured to improve your strength, flexibility, and cardio safely. Whether you are a total beginner or a seasoned athlete, we scale the training to your current fitness level.
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We accept students starting at 5 years old. Safety is our number one priority. Because of our coach’s background in gymnastics, our kids' program places a massive emphasis on "learning how to fall" (breakfalls) and body coordination before anything else. This creates a foundation of safety that protects them not just on the mats, but in other sports and daily life.
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For your free trial class, you only need comfortable athletic clothing (t-shirt and shorts or sweatpants without zippers). Once you join, we will guide you on acquiring a Kurtka (Sambo jacket), sambo shoes, and/or a Gi.
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We teach Combat Sambo, which is the original foundation for many of the world's top MMA fighters (like Fedor Emelianenko and Khabib Nurmagomedov). It perfectly blends striking with takedowns and submissions. If you are interested in self-defense or MMA competition, our Combat Sambo curriculum provides the perfect base.