246-Sambo: What Kajukenbo Wants to Be (But Sambo Actually Pulled Off)

In this episode of Social Gelo with Angelo, I sit down with Claude Lawson — Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu black belt, Kajukenbo black belt, and long-time martial arts practitioner — to break down one of the most controversial debates in modern martial arts: 👉 Did Sambo become the system Kajukenbo always wanted to be? We dive into: The historical roots of Sambo and Kajukenbo Why both systems were designed for real fighting How competition shaped Sambo into a proven combat sport Why Kajukenbo’s tournament culture drifted into point fighting The MMA connection: Fedor, Khabib, Islam vs. Liddell, Glover, Pereira The role of The Pit and John Hackleman in modern Kaju lineage What Kajukenbo can learn from Sambo without losing its soul Cultural and logistical barriers to full-contact Kaju competition Why training methods matter more than style labels Whether “old school Kaju” still exists the way people claim it does This isn’t about starting beef — it’s about being honest about how martial arts evolve, what actually works under pressure, and how we can push systems like Kajukenbo into the future without watering down the art. Whether you're a Kaju brotha or a Sambo athlete, this conversation is going to challenge the way you think about “realistic” martial arts. 🔥 Social Gelo with Angelo — breaking down martial arts culture, combat realism, and the history behind the fighters. 📍 If you’re ever in Kasai City, Japan, come check out Level Up Gym. DM for training details. 👊 Subscribe for more martial arts deep dives, history talks, and interviews with fighters, coaches, and black belts.