Systema.....The
Russian Art of Hand to Hand Combat and Survival
Article
by
Aaron Ellis…
I have
been
involved in self defence, kickboxing, Muay Thai
and the martial arts for 15 years. My exploration into the realm of
Russian
strength training and Kettlebells led me to the fascinating and
effective
Russian martial art known as Systema; "the system" emphasizes
versatility and improvisation in combat while utilizing brutally
effective
fighting techniques. There are: No stances. No training forms. No
formalities.
No rituals. No belt levels. No colourful name.
It's
known only
as "the system,"
Russian
immigrant Vladimir Vasiliev, who used to instruct
Soviet Special Forces in the system, currently teaches the style to
students at
a school just outside
The
system
stresses a realistic approach to self-defence,
recognizing that real conflicts bear no resemblance to what occurs in
the
training environment or in sport based martial arts.
Techniques
are
based on the natural movement of the body
rather than a prearranged pattern of moves, such as a karate kata.
Students act
on instinct, rather than memory, when responding to an attack. The
system is perhaps best
described as a
close-range style that combines wrestling manoeuvres with practical
street-effective techniques.
One
of the
key strengths of Systema, a strength quickly noticed by anyone
observing a
class, is the diverse nature of the training. The diversity of the
training is
something that probably stems from the diverse requirements of the
special
operations professional. In one class, a student of the System may
practise
push drills, escape from grabs, work against knife attacks, rolling
movements
and takedowns.
The
System
thrives on spontaneity and flowing movement.
Despite the diverse range of training drills, there are some basic
principles
that are constantly stressed. Maintaining form and efficient spinal
alignment,
relaxation, constant movement and correct breathing habits. By
breathing
effectively, the practitioner learns to keep the body relaxed. The
Systema
practitioner likes to manoeuvre with a relaxed body as this allows for
more
possibilities or more strategies. A relaxed body is less likely to
sustain
injury than one that is tense. Even during a self defence situation,
the
intention is to keep the spine straight. By doing this, the
practitioner gains
efficient balance and his awareness levels are greatly increased. The
curved
forward animalist posture that may be seen in other arts is avoided in
Systema
for such a posture creates a very different mind set. In the System,
the
practitioner remains calm but focused as opposed to charging in with
wild
aggression and muscular zeal. The breathing skills are developed
consistently
throughout training so that, under pressure, the person can use them to
remain
calm and functional. The Systema practitioner operates using flowing
movement
to overcome an attacker; indeed movement is favoured over trying to
oppose the
force of the opponent’s punch or kick. At times the person
will simply flow
around an enemy’s punch or he may redirect the punch thus
using the attacker’s
aggression to his advantage. This is not a simple cause and effect
style where the
student learns a set technique to deal with set attacks. The defence
and attack
mutually connect with subtle angles and fluid motion.
The
freedom of
movement within the System gives the
practitioner a sense of endless possibilities. A gateway to
one’s potential,
perhaps.......? It also allows one to deal effectively with the
infinite number
of attacks and scenarios that can occur. Strikes, takedowns and joint
manipulation are all fair games and very much a part of the Systema
practitioner’s arsenal. No area of hand to hand combat is
favoured over the
others. Perhaps one could say that the desired technique is the one
that gets
the job done as quickly and effectively as possible. The takedowns are
based on
leverage; timing and balance not power lifter style strength. All
physical
action requires some element of strength but the System seems to avoid
making
combat too much of a strength game.
Now you
might
argue that if you have strength why not use
it? The answer here is simple: You don't always have strength on your
side. In
a military environment, you may be starving, injured and exhausted. You
may
have been marching for days, through snow or jungle, under harsh, cold
conditions such as this strength can be lost quickly. Even civilians
can find
themselves in a predicament where strength is not an option. For
example, you
may be feeling sick or injured on the day you are attacked. Strength
can leave
the body. Moreover, it is dangerous to get into a wrestling match when
your
opponent is stronger or more powerful. The observations of certain
Russian
Special Operations veterans suggests that strength and excessive
aggression can
make one tired very quickly. One can not afford to tire quickly when
there is
more than one attacker.
The art
may
favour movement but do not let this mislead you
into thinking it is devoid of conditioning work. All attributes have
their
place in combat and so the student should expect to do encounter plenty
of
interesting exercises. These exercises not only enhance physical
attributes
such as tendon strength, flexibility and endurance, they give
confidence and a
strong feeling of vitality to the diligent. The priority when doing
these
unique exercises is very much in the breathing but they will help
develop
mobility and functional power. In tangent with the physical exercises
are more
specific breathing exercises designed to relax the practitioner and
remove
stress. There are even health boosting exercises and practises but some
such
areas would be best learnt direct from one of the Senior Systema
teachers. All
the exercises in the System seem to link the physical and mental
together. The
art does not try to categorize or separate the different objectives.
The
emphasis on natural movement means that injuries are far less likely to
occur
and the breathing itself can help prevent much harm.
When it
comes
to the combative movement, the practitioner
can use various parts of the body as a weapon. The hands, elbows,
knees, and
feet are just some of the tools at hand. Even the hip or shoulder can
provide
damage to the attacker when required. The strikes of Systema flow from
one to
another and wreck havoc on the opponent’s sense of awareness
and his body
structure.
In
contrast to
some martial arts, the strikes and takedowns
can be delivered from any position and there is no pre strike
chambering or
positioning required. The beauty of this is that strikes can be
delivered even
in awkward situations such as when one is in a confined space or even
in a car.
The strikes can have unusual effects on an opponent; they project from
unusual
angles and they distort the attacker’s sense of timing and
balance. Of course,
while techniques and movement can be of great value, there is one
concept that
is really embraced: awareness. A typical Systema class will always
increase
one’s sense of awareness. Awareness can prevent one from even
entering a
dangerous situation or it can give one a chance to move away from the
danger.
So how
is
awareness developed in the System? Almost every
aspect of a Systema class is designed to strike home the awareness
concept.
Each exercise and drill develops some form of awareness. There are some
very
specific drills as well. Awareness of one’s capabilities,
awareness of one’s
attacker and awareness of the unexpected are just a few examples of
different
realms of awareness. They also remind students that the art deals on
the
physical and psychological aspects of survival. Indeed, survival is
favoured
over gung ho futility by the realist. This may even mean that one
simply rolls away
from an attack and escapes.
Entering
the
art of the System can be an exercise in
clearing the body of tension. Tension: that has infiltrated the body
through
one’s adventures, defeats and near misses. It helps clear the
mind of bad
training habits and dangerous mistakes.
If one wants to become more
aware of Systema’s
depths or simply... more
aware...the best advice would be to try to attend one of the seminars
or better
still head to
For further info visit: www.russianmartialart.com.
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