NY Combat Sambo
The real thing,
on the mat.
Real sambo in the heart of Midtown Manhattan — small classes, serious coaching, and room for everyone from day-one beginners to seasoned competitors.
Small classes.
Serious training.
New York Combat Sambo has trained fighters, professionals, and complete beginners in the heart of Midtown Manhattan since 2003. Classes are capped at 14, so you're actually coached — not lost in a crowd — and everyone from day one to the competition circuit works the same room.
New students are welcome during our open enrollment periods. Whether you're here to compete, cross-train for another sport, or just learn something genuinely different, you'll get real attention from coaches who've done it at the highest level.
What you'll train.
Sambo
The Soviet-born grappling art — throws, takedowns, and ground control. The foundation everything else is built on.
Combat Sambo
The complete system: strikes, throws, and submissions together. Our specialty and the club's competitive core.
No-Kurtka (No-Gi) Sambo
Wrestling without a jacket — built to cross over into contemporary grappling.
Striking
Stand-up striking to sharpen your hands and feet and round out your combat sambo game.
Stephen Koepfer “Sambo Steve”
Founder and head coach Stephen Koepfer holds a Master of Sport of Russia in Combat Sambo, with black belts in Judo, Tae Kwon Do and a purple belt in BJJ. He's coached U.S. national and world teams in both Sambo and Combat Wrestling, trained many local and regional champions, trained at Moscow's legendary Sambo 70, and instructed military, security and law-enforcement units — so the sambo he teaches is the kind that holds up under real pressure.
He's also a SAG-AFTRA stunt performer whose screen credits include Hunters, The Blacklist, Caught Stealing and John Wick 2 & 3.
“Sambo Steve takes exotic and esoteric techniques and makes them digestible for students of all levels. He explains not only the ‘what’ but the ‘why.’ I give him my highest recommendation.”
Brian McLaughlin — BJJ black belt, pro MMA fighter & TUF cast member, owner of Precision Martial Arts
The team in action.
See it in action.
New students join each January, June & September. Contact us to learn about tuition options and our training schedule.
Ask about try-outsNY Combat Sambo
Train with us
New York, NY 10018
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Breakfall Studios
Train for
the screen.
Breakfall Studios is where New York's stunt performers and actors sharpen the fight, falling, and tactical skills that hold up on camera — coached by working professionals.
Skills that hold up
on camera.
Since 2015, Breakfall Studios has run regularly scheduled fighting, falling, tactical, and action workshops for New York's stunt performers and actors — from those breaking into the industry to working pros keeping sharp.
Every session is led by performers with real set experience, so what you drill on our mats is what actually works in front of a camera.
Film Fights
with Friends
Stephen and Paul's podcast on stunts, fight design, and life in the action business — plus the Film Fights with Friends Film Festival, celebrating action filmmaking from around the world.
Submit your action filmFilm Fights with Friends Film Festival on FilmFreeway ↗How performers & productions use the studio.
Workshops & Private Lessons
Brush up your fight skills or get your cast & crew trained up — private lessons and group workshops for fighting for film, safe falling, tactical firearms, risk assessments and more.
Studio Rental & Location Use
An intimate matted space with mats, pads, trainer & prop weapons, low-fall scaffolding, basic rigging, green screen and more — for rehearsals, auditions and previz shoots. Past clients include Paramount, CBS, Starz, 87Eleven Action Design, Adobe and more.
Casting
Looking for a performer with a particular look or skill? As one of NYC's most-attended open training locations for stunt performers and action actors, we may know someone who fits — reach out and we'll help.
Production
We offer action design services, production safety consultation and more. Need a gym location for your production? We've provided location services for productions of many budget levels.
Working pros.
Stephen Koepfer
Stunt Performer · CoachSAG-AFTRA stunt performer, producer, filmmaker and safety consultant. On-screen credits include Hunters, Caught Stealing, John Wick 2 & 3, Ray Donovan, The Blacklist and The Punisher. Steve has served on SAG-AFTRA's stunt safety committee and ESTA's Technical Standards Program National Work Group, and is a member of the Event Safety Alliance and the Television Academy Stunt Peer Group.
IMDb ↗
Paul Varacchi
Stunt Performer · CoachSAG-AFTRA Stunt Performer, Producer, Filmmaker with on-screen credits including Bull, The Blacklist, Gotham, The Punisher, Daredevil and The Walking Dead: World Beyond. Additionally, Paul has extensive on set health and safety experience working with Marvel and Disney Studios.
IMDb ↗
What performers say.
“I can't tell you how much I LOVE training at Breakfall. Stephen and Paul break down every step of a reaction, leg lock, or takedown so I can give a great performance — and stay safe after multiple falls. One of the best places to train, without judgment.”
Alyma Dorsey — SAG-AFTRA Stunt Performer“I think Breakfall Studios would be a great place to fight-train in Manhattan, especially as a stunt performer making their way — you could build your real-life self-defense & fighting skill sets and hone your on-camera fighting ability. Great job!”
James Armstrong — SAG-AFTRA Stunt Coordinator“I couldn't feel more fortunate to train at Breakfall Studios. Stephen and Paul are highly qualified martial artists, passionate about what they do, incredibly supportive and generous in all they share — it's helped me become a better stunt performer. I've already used several techniques they taught me at work. I love what they're doing for the stunt community!”
Evelyn Osorio Vaccaro — SAG-AFTRA Stunt Performer“As a stunt performer, we're all expected to be Jacks of all trades. What I lacked was a dojo to train the basics — rolls, falls, fights, reactions — with other like-minded performers, without feeling judged. The training is great: warm-ups, basics, new skills, then we film a short instructional at the end. I'm grateful for what Breakfall provides and the non-judgmental tutelage. Thank you Stephen and Paul!”
Becca GT — SAG-AFTRA Stunt Performer & CoordinatorWorking on something?
Reach out about workshops, private coaching, studio rental, casting, or action design for a production.
Contact the studioBreakfall Studios
Contact the studio
New York, NY 10018
📍 Open in Google Maps →