When Armenian athlete Norik Mkrtchyan stepped onto the mat at Moscow's International Sambo Center in early November 2025, he faced an uphill battle. The I International Army Hand-to-Hand Combat Tournament, known as the "Victory Cup," brought together nearly 100-200 athletes from 21 countries—all competing in a Russian-developed combat system, on Russian soil, at an event explicitly tied to military tradition and national pride.

By November 9, Mkrtchyan had defeated competitors from Mali, Belarus, two athletes from Kyrgyzstan, and Russian athlete Imanshamil Gusenov in the finals to claim the gold medal in the -70 kg weight class. His victory carried extra weight: he was the only non-Russian athlete to win gold at the entire tournament.

What Makes This Victory Significant?

Russia dominated the tournament's medal count, taking home six gold, one silver, and three bronze medals for first place overall. Kyrgyzstan placed second, Kazakhstan third. That Mkrtchyan—coached by Arsen Stepanyants—secured the lone non-Russian gold at an event steeped in Russian military symbolism makes this accomplishment particularly noteworthy.

The tournament was organized with support from the International Federation of Army Hand-to-Hand Combat and dedicated to the 80th anniversary of WWII victory. Russian Deputy Minister of Defense Yunus-Bek Yevkurov, Russian Minister of Sport Mikhail Degtyaryov, and President of the International Federation of ARB Sholban Kara-ool opened the event, underscoring its political and ceremonial significance.

For Armenian sports, this represents not just athletic excellence but a symbolic statement—one athlete excelling in another nation's system on their home turf at an anniversary event carrying heavy nationalistic overtones.

Mkrtchyan's victory also qualifies him for the "Master of Sport of International Class" designation in the Russian sports ranking system, a prestigious recognition that speaks to the caliber of competition he faced.

What Is Army Hand-to-Hand Combat (ARB)?

If you've never heard of ARB (Armeyskiy Rukopashny Boy), think of it as military-flavored MMA with protective gear and a Soviet pedigree.

Origins and Development

Army Hand-to-Hand Combat originated in the late 1970s within the Soviet Airborne Forces (VDV). The system was systematized around 1979 as a military-applied combat method for soldiers, blending techniques from multiple disciplines:

Boxing for punching mechanics and footwork
Sambo for throws and submissions
Judo and wrestling for takedowns and ground control
Eastern striking arts for kicking techniques

Like Combat Sambo, which was developed by the Soviet Red Army to enhance hand-to-hand combat skills, ARB emerged from military necessity. While Sambo (an acronym for "Samozashchita Bez Oruzhiya," meaning "self-defense without weapons") became internationally recognized and included in events like the World Wrestling Championships, ARB maintained its distinctly military character.

What started as practical battlefield training eventually formalized into a competitive sport, though it retained its aggressive, military-application emphasis.

How ARB Works: Rules and Techniques

ARB competitions take place on an 8×8 or 10×10 meter tatami mat with bouts lasting three minutes of clean time (the clock stops during breaks). Athletes wear distinctive protective equipment:

White kimono (gi-style uniform)
Helmet with steel cage or mesh covering the face
Gloves
Groin guard
Body protector
Shin guards
Wrestling shoes

The fighting combines striking, throwing, and submission techniques with a points-based scoring system:

1 Point:

Punch to the body
Kick to the leg
Low-amplitude takedown

2 Points:

Punch to the head
Kick to the body
Throw with elevation

3 Points:

Kick to the head
High-amplitude throw
Dominant knockdown

Fighters can win early through knockout, two knockdowns, submission, disqualification, or injury stoppage. On the ground, joint locks targeting the elbow and shoulder are legal, creating submission opportunities similar to Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu—though chokes remain prohibited.

What's Prohibited

Despite its military origins, ARB maintains safety standards through specific prohibitions:

Eye gouging, groin strikes, strikes to back of head/spine/throat
Stomps on downed opponents
Chokes of any kind
Neck, spine, wrist, or foot locks
Joint locks while standing (ground only)
Grabbing the helmet or face cage

This creates a unique tactical puzzle: competitors must blend boxing-style striking with judo-style throws and ground-fighting submissions, all while wearing restrictive protective gear that limits visibility and movement.

Why Combat Sports Practitioners Should Pay Attention

For those of us in the grappling world—whether Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu, judo, wrestling, or MMA—ARB offers an interesting case study in how different rulesets shape tactical approaches.

The prohibition on chokes but allowance of joint locks creates a submission game distinct from BJJ. The emphasis on throws with points for amplitude rewards explosive takedowns similar to judo's ippon system. The standing striking combined with ground fighting resembles modern MMA, but the protective gear and specific point structure create unique strategies.

Combat sports continue evolving globally, with martial arts like Sambo increasingly influencing MMA as fighters recognize the value of well-rounded grappling systems. ARB represents another branch of this evolutionary tree—less internationally visible than Sambo, but built on similar foundational principles of military practicality meeting competitive sport.

The Broader Context: Military Combat Sports

The Victory Cup tournament exemplifies how military-developed combat systems serve dual purposes: practical soldier training and international sporting competition that doubles as soft-power projection.

Russia has consistently used combat sports like Sambo as both military training tools and cultural exports. The integration of Sambo into Russian military training remains strong today, with an estimated 4.5 million practitioners across 120 countries under the International Federation of Amateur Sambo (FIAS).

ARB occupies a similar space—military origins, competitive sport structure, and tournaments that blend athletic competition with nationalistic symbolism. The Victory Cup's timing (around the WWII victory anniversary), location (Moscow's premier sambo center in Luzhniki), and opening ceremony (featuring high-ranking defense and sport officials) all reinforce this dual nature.

That an Armenian athlete claimed the sole non-Russian gold at such an event adds layers of geopolitical subtext to an already impressive athletic achievement.

Lessons for Grapplers and Strikers Alike

Mkrtchyan's victory offers reminders relevant to any combat athlete:

Technical versatility matters. ARB demands competence across multiple ranges—long-range kicks, boxing-range punches, clinch throws, and ground submissions. No single dimension suffices.

Pressure performance defines champions. Competing in another nation's system, on their soil, at an event saturated with nationalistic significance requires mental toughness beyond pure technical skill.

Cross-training insights transfer. Many BJJ practitioners train boxing or Muay Thai; judoka learn wrestling; MMA fighters study everything. Understanding how different systems approach similar problems—controlling an opponent, finishing fights, scoring points—enriches your own practice.

At Journey Academy, we emphasize this kind of comprehensive grappling development. While our primary focus remains Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu, we recognize that understanding various grappling and combat approaches strengthens your overall game. Whether you're interested in competition or simply developing practical self-defense skills, studying how different systems solve similar tactical problems provides valuable perspective.

The Future of International Combat Sports

As combat sports continue globalizing, tournaments like the Victory Cup—despite their military associations and political overtones—showcase elite athletes who might otherwise remain unknown outside their regions. Mkrtchyan's performance introduces international audiences to both the athlete and the sport, potentially increasing interest in ARB outside post-Soviet spaces.

For American combat sports enthusiasts, events like this provide windows into training methodologies and competitive systems that parallel but differ from our more familiar MMA, BJJ, or wrestling landscapes. The continued evolution of combat sports worldwide means techniques, training methods, and strategic approaches from any system can inform and improve your own practice.

Ready to Develop Your Own Combat Skills?

Whether you're inspired by international competition stories like Mkrtchyan's or simply want to develop practical self-defense skills in a supportive environment, Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu offers a proven path. Our at Journey Academy provide structured training that builds both technical competence and mental toughness—the same qualities required to succeed at any level of combat sports.

You don't need military training or international tournament aspirations to benefit from serious grappling instruction. You just need the willingness to start.

Interested in building real grappling skills? with Madison's premier Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu program. Professional instruction, supportive training partners, and a structured progression system designed for adult beginners and experienced grapplers alike.

Journey Academy specializes in Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu for adults and children in Madison, Wisconsin. Our professional instructors create a welcoming environment where students develop practical self-defense skills, physical fitness, and the mental toughness required to excel on and off the mat.