Alexander Barakov
St. Petersburg, Russia - Founder

Grand Master Alexander Barakov is a martial artist with over 40 years of combined military and civilian experience. In addition to his Russian granted title “Master of Sport in Sambo”, Alexander is a Master in Olympic Weightlifting with ten years experience. Additionally, he holds black belts in Goju-Ryu Karate and Tae Kwon Do. During his many years in the United States, Alexander Barakov selflessly gave of himself to his students, national and international, and forged a core group dedicated to the practice of Combat Sambo. Prior to his return home to Russia in 2003, Alexander expressed his desire to establish an association for the promotion of Combat Sambo. The American Sambo Association™ is the realization of his dream and is dedicated to him. Alexander now resides and teaches at his Combat Sambo club in St. Petersberg, Russia. He is the St. Petersburg head coach for the FKE, FKEBarakov.wmv, or All Russian Federation of Fighting. In addition to running his club and working with the FKE on national and international events, Alexander is actively involved with training anti-terrorist units in hand-to-hand combat.

Stephen R. Koepfer
New York City, United States - President and Co-Founder

Prior to receiving his Combat Sambo training under Alexander Barakov, Stephen spent much of his life practicing martial arts. Shotokan was his first introduction to martial arts at the age of eight (1976). Since that time, Stephen has also been awarded a black belt in Tae Kwon Do (1993) and spent five years training and competing in San Shou (1994 – 1998), culminating with a finish as a finalist in the 1997 United World Championships. In addition to San Shou, Stephen has gathered experience and wins in other martial arts forums including Tae Kwon Do, Kung-Fu, mixed martial arts, and grappling. After 1997, Stephen took a turn towards coaching; serving as corner man and cut man for many amateur fighters. In 1999 Stephen met Alexander Barakov and began training in Combat Sambo, which he continues to teach today at his ASA flagship club, New York Combat Sambo. Stephen has had the pleasure of training under Igor Kurinnoy in Moscow, Russia. In addition, Stephen regularly offers national and international seminars, and has coached his NYCS team to wins in national and international Sport & Freestyle Sambo, Submission Grappling, Combat Sambo, and Mixed Martial Arts. Stephen is a regular contributor to Ultimate Grappling Magazine and associate producer of Inside Martial Arts/Fight Fix. Some of Stephen’s other honors include the 2007 Pioneers of American Sambo Award and Recognition by Cambridge Who’s Who for executives and professionals. Aside from his martial arts training, Stephen is a NY State Licensed Massage Therapist, Fellow of the American Association for Integrative Medicine, and holds a Master's Degree in Creative Arts Therapy from Hofstra University.

Aaron Fields
Seattle, Washington, United States - Vice President / Western U.S., ASA Election Chair

Aaron Fields makes his living as a firefighter. He is an independent scholar specializing in Mongolian history and has made several visits to live and train in Mongolia. Aaron holds a teachers grade in Ju-Jutsu, dan grade in Judo, has considerable experience in Sambo and Mongolian folk wrestling, and has coached high school wrestling. In addition, he is known for his tongue-in-cheek sense of humor and his exceptionally nice legs. Aaron is the chief instructor at Seattle JuJutsu Club and Sea Town Sambo Club.

Serge Gerlach
San Francisco, California, United States - Athlete's Representative

Serge Gerlach has a long history in martial arts with training in san shou, submission wrestling, BJJ, and Combat Sambo under Alexander Barakov. Most recently Serge has trained in Moscow with Igor Kurinnoy. He won the heavyweight bronze medal at the 1997 Gene LeBell World Grappler's Challenge in Toronto, Canada; a gold medal (2004) and silver medal (2006) at the United Gracie Tournament in San Francisco; a bronze medal at the 2005 Unity Classic Sambo Tournament; and a silver medal at the 2005 and 2007 North American Freestyle Sambo Championships. Serge holds an assistant instructor rank from New York Combat Sambo and teaches Combat Sambo classes throughout the San Francisco Bay area. To contact Serge please e-mail: sergegerlach@yahoo.com.

Gregg Humphreys
Bettendorf, Iowa, United States - Vice President Midwest, Travel Training Coordinator

Gregg Humphreys is a long time Judoka and Sambist. He has travelled to Russia for Sambo training bi-annually since 1987 and is considered one of the most skilled American Sambo coaches. He currently is the Judo and Sambo coach at Miletich Fighting Systems in Bettendorf, Iowa. Additionally, Gregg is the North American representative for Igor Kurinnoy’s Sambo for Professionals.

Masashi Yoshizawa
Tokyo, Japan

Masashi is the Co-Director for the Japan Sambo Federation and has an impressive competitive and coaching history including a gold medal in the 2000 Pan Am Games and second place in the 1st Annual All-Japan Combat Wrestling Tournament. Aside from his membership in the prestigious team SK Absolute, Masashi has been a member of the Japanese National Team during competitions in the All-Asia Sambo Championships, the All-Asia Kurash Championships (Uzbekistan’s martial art), and was the team Captain at the 2005 World Master's Sambo Championships in Prague, Czechoslovakia.

Peter "Zas" Zaslow
New York City, United States

Peter “Zaz” Zaslow has a long history in the sport of boxing – as both a competitor and coach. In the amateur ranks, Zaz has been a member of the 1988 and 1992 US Olympic Boxing Coaching Team, co-coach of the Empire State Boxing Team, and a youth boxing coach for New York City’s Police Athletic League. Likewise, Peter has also had the honor of working with such pro fighters as Kevin Kelly, Oscar De La Hoya, and Riddick Bowe. Zaz holds the dubious honor of having been boxing coach at Sing Sing State Prison in New York. He was a 2000 boxing coach of the year nominee. In the world of Mixed Martial Arts, in addition to NY Combat Sambo, Zaz had worked as a boxing trainer for Debi Purcell as well as the IFL Condors. Like many experienced fighters, Zaz has not limited his training to simply boxing. Throughout his career he has supplemented his boxing with martial art training including Shotokan Karate.

Nick Fulciniti
New York City, United States

Sensei Fulciniti is currently 4th degree black belt in both Judo and Jujitsu. Nick began his studies in the martial arts under Sensei Leonard DeLuca in 1983 and continued his studies under Sensei John Paccione from white belt to his present rank of fourth degree black belt. Nick is a dedicated practitioner and highly competent instructor who remains instrumental and active at Staten Island Judo, Jujitsu, and Karate Dojo. His commitment to excellence includes an open philosophy regarding the importance of cross-training.

Eugene Shewchuk
Montreal, Canada

Eugene is well versed in Sambo and many other martial art styles. He has lived and trained around the world including Japan and Taiwan. Eugene is past president of the National Sambo Association of Canada, founder of the Canadian Combat Sambo Federation, and a past Canadian delegate to FIAS. Eugene’s competitive experience includes the 2000-2005 FIAS Sambo World Championships. Mr. Shewchuk is the head coach at Club Kozak in Montreal, Canada.

Vladislav Koulikov
Florida, New York, United States

Vladislav Koulikov, head coach of Ultimate Sambo, has been training in SAMBO since 1984, having received his training at Sambo 70 under the instruction of S.V. Vorotyagin, USSR & World Champion. Instructor Koulikov, was the 1989 Moscow Regional Sambo Champion and both a Gold and Silver Medallist in USSR National Sambo Championships. He holds a Black Belt in Judo & Ni Hon Kenpo Karate and currently continues practice in JuJuTsu.

Stefan Milenkovich
Illinois, United States

Stefan, a world-renowned violinist and faculty member at the prestigious Julliard School, achieved his “Master of Combat Sambo” rank under Alexander Barakov after many years of intense training. He continues to practice Combat Sambo and teaches privately in New York City. Sambo was not Stefan’s first introduction to martial arts. Prior to his training with Alexander, Stefan spent many years training in western-style kickboxing. For information about private lessons with Stefan, contact stefanmilenkovich@hotmail.com.

Ray Franklin
New York City, United States

Ray is a long-time martial artist who trained and received his instructor rank in Combat Sambo under Alexander Barakov. Prior to his study of Combat Sambo, Ray trained extensively in various martial systems. An EMT for the New York City Fire Department, Ray regularly serves as the medical official at American Sambo Association tournaments and events. Ray is currently an instructor at New York Combat Sambo.