The Star-News from Chula Vista, California • Page 24

D4 The Star-Newsx Saturday-Sunday, Aug. 31- Sept 1, 1991 Fart judo, part wrestling, Sombo has CV resident captivate By Phillip Brents SporUWriUr Sombo, also known as "Jacket Wrestling from Russia is a combination of judo and freestyle wrestling and is taught by the i i i sport in 1976 at age 27. Matsumoto's duties as head official for the sport in this country include testing referees and keeping track of rule changes. He refereed the Sombo finals in the 1983 Pan-American Games in Caracas, Venezuela, and has served as an official at five World Cups (continental championships), six World Championships, the 1989 World Games in London and the 1983 National Sports Festival. Last December, Matsumoto was part of a 53-member American entourage to travel to Moscow for the World Championships.

In March, he was in Cincinnati for the U.S. Sombo Association National Championships while he spent Memorial Day weekend in Amarillo officiating a regional tournament. His latest adventure took him to Battle ooviei military as a iorm oi sen-defense. While this highly-specialized sport presently has fewer than 250 enthusiasts in this country (about 50 in San Diego County), Chula Vista resident Jerry Mat-sumoto Head Official for Sombo in the United States feels both interest and participation in the sport is on an encouraging upswing. The home of Sombo is in the Soviet Union, the East Bloc and Mongolia but it's growing around the world.

What's enjoyable is seeing more young people become involved in it," said Matsumoto, who was first introduced to the Photo by Jama Brimmer Sombo student Eddie Beltran displays fifth place medal he won at this summer's AAU Grand Nationals. tlers must start on their feet and the takedown must be completed in one continuous motion; sub' mission hold, similar to arm bars in wrestling or Kansetowaza in judo; or throw, similar to judo or Greco-Roman upper-body throws that are scored by the position of the attacker and how the defensive wrestler lands. Points are awarded in increments of four, two and one point A wrestler may receive four points for throwing an opponent to his side without falling to the mat but only two points if he falls to the mat after executing the throw. Accordingly, wrestlers are awarded two points for a 20-se-cond hold down and one point for a 10-second hold down. No match may end in a draw.

Matsumoto sees Sombo becoming an Olympic sport, at least at the demonstration level, within the next eight years. At the World Championships in Moscow, he refereed about 30 matches, including 15 in the finals. "The World Championships are always fought between the Mongolians, Bulgarians and Russians for the team title. For the individual title, it's either a Russian versus a Bulgarian or a Russian versus a Mongolian or a Bulgarian versus a Mongolian," he quipped. The U.S.

placed six wrestlers in the 10-day tournament, capturing one title in the Espoir Division (18-20 year-olds). Matsumoto said because of recent reforms initiated by President Mikhail Gorbachev, the U.S. group enjoyed a surprising amount of freedom in its movement throughout the Soviet capital though the language-barrier restricted much of the group's access. Matsumoto described Moscow as "clean but drab." "Some of our group said they saw one, but what I noticed wasr the absence of gas stations," said Matsumoto, who also described the omnipresent long lines for consumer goods and services. There was also the specter of the notorious KGB, the Soviet secret police force, to contend with.

Creek, for the AAU Grand Nationals, July 10-13. Matsumoto who coached wrestling at Marian High School from 1974-79 has no formal training in judo though his father, Tommy Matsumoto, was a third degree blackbelt. After discovering Sombo, the younger Matsumoto was active as a participant for three years. He placed fifth at the U.S. Nationals in 1977.

Nov. 16, 1938 is considered the official birthdate of Sombo when it was recognized as a sport in the Soviet Union. The first World Championships were held in Iran in 1973. Two years later, the first national Sombo championships ever held outside the Soviet Union took place in Mesa, Arizona, when the U.S. hosted its first national finals.

In Sombo, participants wear a jacket akin to a gi but which ends just below the waist and has sleeves which extend to the wrist. Cuffs are sewn in at the shoulders for gripping though participants cannot grip inside the sleeves or below the belt. Bouts consist of one six-minute period. The match ends immediately following "total victory" equivalent to a pin in wrestling which occurs in the following instances: A perfect throw which puts the opponent on his back while the attacker remains standing. Submission the opponent surrenders or gives up by calling out or tapping the mat twice.

Submissions occur when a joint is hyperextended (arm-submission or leg-submission). Technical victory in which one wrestler gains a 12-point advantage over his opponent. Injury, default or disqualification. Technical points may be scored either by hold down (immobilization), similar to a judo hold down on an extended near-fall in wrestling where one wrestler must hold the other's back in a danger position (less than 90 degrees); takedown, similar to a freestyle takedown, except that both wres pete with the Black Market Matsumoto is also a teacher, and his protege, South Bay's Ed-; die Beltran, 17, competed at this year's Grand Nationals. Beltran, who earned his brown belt in judo earlier this summer, placed fifth out of eight entrants in his Elite Division weight of 154 pounds.

He lost his first match by arm-submission, won his second match by decision and lost his third match by ankle-submission. Matsumoto takes obvious pride in his handiwork. "He did really welFfor a beginner with only two months training in the sport," Matsumoto said. Matsumoto said he believed the group's translatorguide, a woman in her late 20's with a hard-line stance, was a KGB agent. On at least one occasion, he said, a member of the U.S.

group was intentionally tailed on the way to the U.S. Embassy. Matsumoto was informed by his Russian hosts that most Soviet citizens still depend on the Black Market for basic goods. Matsumoto was told as long as the dealings are kept as inconspicuous as possible, the KGB looks the other way. In fact, he said the Soviet government recently had to change its official rate of exchange at the Moscow airport (U.S.

dollars for rubles) to com Rummage sale to benefit Hilltop football teams The Hilltop High School football team will hold a rummage sale Saturday, Sept. 7 on the front parking lot at Hilltop Junior High from 7 a.m.-5 p.m. to help raise funds for the school's varsity and junior varsity programs I Players will be donating goods, including clothing, furniture and sporting equipment. Refreshments will also be available to the public. All proceeds will benefit the Hilltop football program.

The Lancers open the 1991 season Sept. 13 at Grossmont High. For more information, contact Jorge Munoz at 428-4293. Photo by Phillip Brents Chula Vista resident Jerry Matsumoto (right) demonstrates standing grip technique to student Eddie Beltran. Budweiser Cup to take place on Mission Bay Sept.

13-15 12th Annual Orange Crate Derby to be held Sept. 21-22 watch the race from the shores of Vacation Isle, Fiesta Island, and Crown Point which makes this race one of California's largest attended sporting events. Admission is free for children 12 and under when accompanied by an adult. Three-day adult admission is $10.00. One-day Crown Point Only admission is $5.00.

Competing this year for the $150,000 "Budweiser Cup on Mission Bay" purse are the MISS BUDWEISER driven by Scott Pierce, the WINSTON EAGLE driven by Mark Tate, the AMERICAN SPIRIT driven by Mark a -rr-w Evans, the EDGE SUPERIOR PERFORMANCE driven by Larry Lauterbach, the VALVO-LINEMISS MADISON driven by Mike Hanson, and at least three other boats to be determined. On June 9, the WINSTON EAGLE kicked off the 1991 Unlimited Hydroplane series by winning- the American Power Boat Association Gold Cup in Detroit. Unlimited hydroplane racing has been held on San Diego's Mission Bay for the past 27 years. With new attractions and events, this year's race promises to be one of the most exciting no ii a If any series is tied at one win apiece, a 30-minute minigame will be played immediately after the second leg and, if tied, overtime and, if necessary, penalty kicks will be employed to determine a winner. Maryland, the team that pulled away from the Blackhawks and Foxes to win the Western Conference title, finished its regular The 12th annual Orange Grata Dorby is scheduled for September 21-22 this year.

As in recent years, the event is limited to the first one hundred cars entered. Each car may have as many as four drivers, with no more than one driver from each age group (6-7), (8-9), (10-11), (1243). Last year's event provided fun and prizes for 178 drivers in 91 races. This year each entrant receives a T-shirt and trophy. Sponsorship for the 1991 races is being provided by McMiUin Communities, the Phair Corporation, the Bonita Lions Club, and the Bonita Orange Crate Derby Committee.

Entry forms and car building instructions will be available at McMillitt Reality (4210 Bonita Rd.) starting August 12. The schedule of events is as follows: September "How to Build Your Racer at Sunnyside School in Bonita beginning at 10:00 a.iru September 15 "Mandatory Safety Inspections" at side School in Bonita beginning at 9:00 a.m. September 21 Tre-race Practice and Draw Official Wheels" at Rancho Ik Rey Parkway in Chula Vista NEWKACE COURSE) tetf nnirg at 10:30 a.m. September 22 RACE DAY! Rancho Dr.l Esy Parkway, Check in time 8:00 a.m. For more information contact Jim Williams at up ior Araupiayons wnn maicn weekends in unlimited history.

In addition to the unlimited hydroplane race, activities include SST Outboard Tunnel Hull races, speed ski racing, acrobatic air shows, Thundertub races, model hydroplane races, a canine frisbee exhibition, race Simula-" tors, games for fans, and a jet ski exhibition. Thunderboats on Display An exhibit on the history of un-limited hydroplane racing (Thunderboats) will be on display at the Hall of Champions Sports Museum through September. A. agamsi ruxes season with road wins at Ft. Lauderdale (1-0) and Miami (3-1) to bow out with a seven-game winning streak.

The Bays set several league records this summer, including most wins (19), best overall record (19-2), most points (158), best home record (11-0), longest single-season win streak (10 games) and most goals scored (54). IT! 7 30 AM TO 1 00 PM OPEN SAT. I 00 AM TO NOON 42 MM 11 I 474-MS1 I By Michelle Challis Spurt Editor The roar of thunder and the speed. of lightning of unlimited hydroplane racing returns to San Diego, September 13 to 15 for the 1991 Budweiser Cup on Mission Bay. Unlimited hydroplanes, better known as "thunderboats" are the world's fastest boats.

They reach speeds in excess of 210 miles per hour. San Diego, with a world record speed set in 990, is considered the premier race site in the eight city circuit. More than 150,000 fans from the southwest are expected to li i liiacKnavvKS tune The San Francisco Bay Black-hawks, bound for a semifinal showdown with the American Conference-champion Ft. Lauderdale Strikers, will close out the 1991 American Professional Soccer League regular season Saturday, Aug. 31, when they play host to the Colorado Foxes in a 7:35 p.m.

match at Spartan Stadium in San Jose. The Western Conference contest was originally slated for Aug. 25 but was rescheduled after San Francisco Bav arranged to have its final regular season home game and its home playoff matches moved from Newark Memorial High School (seating capacity 4,500) to larger Spartan Stadium (seating capacity The Blackhawks recently announced they will make the San Jose State facility their home for the-1992 APSL season. While San Francisco Bay (164, 120 points) seeks to gain momentum heading into the best-of-3 Ft Lauderdale series, Colorado (13-7, 107) aims to close out its season with a second straight win over the Blackhawks. The Foxes gained their first win over San 1.1 lit.

rancisco uay tn tne ciuds two-year history Aug. 18 at Newark, a 2-1 overtime decision. The victory was Colorado's fourth straight The APSL playoffs, featuring the defending APSL champion Maryland Bays (19-2, 158), the 1990 Western Conference champion Blackhawks, Strikers (15-6, 117) and the Albany Capitals (10-11, 92), will kick off Sept 6 when the the Capitals host the Bays. Ft. Lauderdale travels to Spartan Stadium to tackle San Francisco Bay in a 7:35 p.m.

tilt Saturday, Sept. 7. Both semifinal' series conclude with matches in Maryland and Florida Sept. 14. Thcsemifinal winners will play for the APSL Championship, also a home-and-home series.

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