President of the American Sambo Association, awarded his Master of Sports in Russia(Combat Sambo) this february.Stephen's first introduction to martial arts was Shotokan 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. Stephen has also gathered competition experience in Tae Kwon Do, Kung-Fu, mixed martial arts, sambo, and grappling. In 1997 Stephen began coaching; serving as corner man and cut man for many amateur fighters. In 1999 he began training Combat Sambo training under Alexander Barakov, which he continues to teach today at his club, New York Combat Sambo. Stephen has had the pleasure of training with Igor Yakimov, Oleg Taktarov, and Igor Kurinnoy at Borec and Sambo 70 in Moscow. Additionally, Stephen has taught at the FKE training facility and Military Academy of the Ministry of Internal Affairs in St. Petersburg. Stephen regularly offers national and international seminars; has coached his team to wins Sport, Freestyle, and Combat Sambo; Submission Grappling; and Mixed Martial Arts. In 2008, Stephen was a US Team Coach for the 2008 FIAS World Sambo Championships. Stephen has written for Bodyguard Magazine, Ultimate Grappling Magazine and the Journal of Asian Martial Arts. He has served as an assistant producer for “Inside Martial Arts” and technical advisor for the “Human Weapon” (History Channel) and “Dhani Tackles the Globe” (Travel Channel).

Kris Iatskevich

Kris has studied different fighting arts for the last thirthy years.  He started Catch Wrestling in 1996, under the guidance of Eddy Wiecz (Édouard) Carpentier. Now he is the Lead Instructor for the Scientificwrestling.com certification program, and the president of  Catch Wrestling Canada Association.
Sambo instructor and Canadian rep for FIAS Sambo, he started his training at seven, with his dad Alexander Iatskevich a renowned Russian Judo and Sambo champion in his days.
Kris also has a Black Belt in Judo and SAW(submission arts wrestling). Owner and Head coach of the Québec Toe Hold Club in Jonquière, his Team Iatskevich can be seen at various amateur and pro tournaments across Québec. Currently working on volume three of his 3dvd series Competition Catch as Catch Can.