At NYCS, we have a voluntary process in which students may embark on a journey to acquire a NYCS Instructor Certificate. Different from a coaching position at NYCS (which is specifically sport training oriented), this certificate involves a long process in which a student spends a minimum of seven years training the Combat Sambo system (sport and non-sport) taught at NYCS. Through a series of 4 bi-annual assessments, the student is reviewed on technical and practical knowledge and skill. If a student is to be awarded a NYCS Instructor Certificate, he/she must also demonstrate competitive wins during their training. This training is not required at NYCS and any Certificate we award is only as credible as our club’s name. It holds no official weight within the Sambo community at large. The process is voluntary and only students with higher aspirations of opening clubs or teaching generally begin the process. We do not accept distance learning students for this process. All candidates must be active NYCS students.

The following students have been successfully assessed:

4th Level Assessment
(first exam: less than 2 years)
- Alicia Diaz – 4/18/2004

3rd Level Assessment
(second exam: 2-4 years)
- Masahiko Honma – 11/20/2005
- Alejandro Chang Tang – 11/20/2005
- Reilly Bodycomb – 8/30/2008

2nd Level Assessment
(third exam: 4-6 years)
- No current 2nd Level Students

1st Level Assessment
(Final Exam: 7+ years, must be taken at least 2 years after 3rd Level Assessment)
- David Grodsky – 4/18/2004 (primarily trained under Alexander Barakov, Certificate granted by S. Koepfer)
- Serge Gerlach – 12/8/2008 (began training under Alexander Barakov, completed training under S. Koepfer)