Sambo is not Russian judo, and Pierre Longblade Shepherd a.k.a. Sambo Shepherd is here to prove it. Sambo Shepherd breaks down why this brutally efficient grappling art rewards urgency, punishes stalling, and produces fighters who can strike, throw, pin, and submit with real-world purpose.Pierre is a three-time National Combat Sambo champion, a Pan American medalist, and a coach who has spent seven years inside the Sambo Nation system. He shares how a movie, a nearby gym, and a mission to become a more complete fighter pulled him into the sport - and why combat sambo’s “grappling first” logic changes everything about how strikes, takedowns, and submissions actually work.You’ll discover:- Why strikes in combat sambo are often just tools to create takedowns, pins, and submissions- How sambo’s tight ground time limits force faster, more decisive attacks-The simple but devastating mechanics behind knee bars, Achilles locks, hip locks, and pin-to-submission chains- What wrestlers and jiu-jitsu athletes get wrong when they walk into a sambo room- Why the American sambo scene is growing, but still fights an uphill battle against visibility, infrastructure, and tribalismPierre also opens up about the bigger picture - from the need for stronger tournament pipelines and better youth development to his bold vision that we speak about in this episode.If you care about grappling, MMA, wrestling, or the future of martial arts in America, this one is packed with sharp takes, practical coaching insight, and a bigger idea that could reshape the sport. Perfect for anyone who wants to understand why sambo keeps producing dangerous, well-rounded fighters - and where it might go next.Here are Sambo Shepherd’s social media accounts as well as where you can find him online:Instagram: @samboshepYouTube: @samboshepFacebook: @facebook.com/people/Sambo-Shepherd/61572963022040/If you want to get some AWESOME Grapplezilla merch, check out our Grapplezilla Store in the link below:https://grapplezilla-shop.fourthwall....If you would like to support the Grapplezilla Podcast and buy me a coffee, I’ll leave a link below as any support is always appreciated:https://buymeacoffee.com/grapplezilla Also, if you enjoyed this episode of the Grapplezilla Podcast, we invite you to subscribe to Grapplezilla’s YouTube channel for more great Grappling and Wrestling content updated regularly.Until next time…Grab, Throw, Tap!Follow Grapplezilla for more world-class combat sports conversations.#sambo #combatsambo #sambopodcast #sambonation usasamb #samboshepherd #grapplingpodcast #GrapplezillaPodcast