About Systema
SYSTEMA
Below are some questions, the answers to which will hopefully given you some background into this innovative and fascinating martial art.
(1) What is Systema and how did it develop?
Systema (or The System) is a Russian martial art whose origins go back to the 10th century. Records refer to it as early as 948 AD.
Over the centuries Russia’s borders were breached by many different invaders and battles were fought in widely differing climates and terrains against enemies with very different combat systems. To overcome the invaders Russians had to develop a fighting system which was flexible and could be easily adapted to different battle conditions. The techniques which eventually formed the basis of Systema were often preserved in Russian Orthodox monasteries. (Thus it developed dual aspects of both martial and spiritual traditions, similar in some ways to Ueshiba’s Aikido.)
When the Communists came to power following the October Revolution of 1917 many cultural treasures, including the Russian martial arts were banned and combat methods only taught to elite troops.
With the advent of the Cold War the teaching of the combat techniques of Systema were confined to Special Forces such as Spetsnaz (the Russian equivalent of the SAS.), the KGB and bodyguards protecting senior communist leaders.
Following Perestroika, knowledge of these techniques has gradually spread to the West, and although Systema training groups have spread through Europe and the USA, as a martial art it is, at this point in time, nowhere near as well known as the traditional Japanese, Chinese and Korean martial arts.
(An alternative view of the development of Systema is that it was the result of intensive research and development carried out by several generations of unarmed combat instructors at The Dinamo Training Institute in Moscow, who between 1920 and 1980, sent instructors to many eastern and western countries to study the most effective combat techniques which were then synthesized into what now forms the basis of Systema.)
(2) Are there different types of Systema?
Currently, the two branches of Systema that have found their way to the West are;
(1) Systema based on the teachings of Michail Ryabko and Vladimir Vasiliev.
Michail Ryabko began his training in Systema with an “uncle” who was a member of “Stalin’s Falcons” (his private bodyguard) at the age of five. He subsequently underwent military training, taking part in special operations at the age of fifteen. He currently works with counter terrorist and hostage rescue teams and is an advisor to The Ministry of Justice with the rank of General.
Vladimir Vasiliev served as a member of The Special Operations Unit and as an instructor in close quarter combat for Spetsnaz, the KGB and Swat teams. He emigrated to Canada in 1991 where he set up a school to teach Systema in Toronto. He has produced numerous videos/DVDs, and travels extensively giving seminars in Europe and the USA.
(2) Systema based on the teaching of Aleksey Kadochnikov.
This is a more military based Systema and concentrates more on biomechanical principles of leverage, etc. Kadochnikov teaches mainly in Russia but has also traveled abroad to conduct seminars often accompanied by his son.
(3) How does it differ from other martial arts?
If you had some previous knowledge of Japanese/Chinese martial arts and you were to watch someone like Michail or Vladimir demonstrating their skills in Systema, you would not immediately find it an easy task to say which martial art it most closely resembled. Techniques often seem idiosyncratic and have a novel, often unexpected feel to them. Sometimes they are so subtle that very little seems to have happened, yet the opponent is overcome.
Some have likened it to a form of “Russian Aikido”, in that attacks are never directly opposed head-on, but rather the Systema practitioner goes with the attack and leads the opponent. Also, breath control, as in some styles of Aikido, is an important component in the practice of Systema.
Others will see elements of Wing Chun, Ju-Jitsu or Ninjitsu in some of the techniques, again reflecting the diverse origins of this art.
Whilst there are no flashy techniques such as high kicks or large throws, Systema techniques often possess a surprising subtlety which makes it look as though very little has actually been done. However the system is also capable of generating powerful and unpredictable strikes, rotations, leverages, manipulations and misdirections.
(4) What are the main principles of Systema?
Systema is a combat system purely for self-defense and has no sporting applications.
Techniques are very innovative and versatile. Movement and tactics tend to be very natural and free, and are based on instinctive reactions. There are no strict rules or rigid structures and movement remains very fluid. Systema is specifically designed for fast learning.
It is less a collection of techniques and more a set of principles which each individual then uses in ways that are best suited to him in terms of his height, weight, strength, flexibility, natural aptitudes, etc.
Over reliance on “techniques” tends to limit the mind and body’s reactions and does not allow us to perceive the most efficient solution to a particular situation. In Systema sparring, there are no pre-arranged attacks and so this more closely resembles a real life situation.
Techniques do not define the art of Systema, and in fact techniques are not specifically taught per se. The principles of a technique may be demonstrated, but then each individual is expected to work out for themselves how to best make that technique work for them. This encourages creativity, adaptability and spontaneity. As a principle-based system it conforms to the individual instead of requiring the individual to conform to it, and thus does not force the individual into a “one-size fits all mentality”
Everyone’s expression of Systema is somewhat different. It is like being taught to paint and then expressing yourself in your paintings.
There are four main pillars of Systema;
(1) Breathing – is calm and rhythmic and controlled even when under
pressure. By avoiding holding the breath we learn to avoid;
- Rigidity of body and mind
- Slowing of reflexes
- Giving way to fear
- Becoming physically exhausted (breathing hastens the removal
of the metabolic products of muscle metabolism)
There are also specific breathing techniques used to heal and energize
the body.
(2) Relaxation – learning to fight whilst remaining relaxed has many
advantages;
- Mental and physical reactions are faster.
- Strikes taken to the body are more likely to allow diffusion of
the impact energy away from the site and allow less chance for
the blow to penetrate.
- Physical exhaustion is delayed.
- Escaping from falls when rolling on hard surfaces is less likely
to result in injury if the body remains relaxed.
Training emphasizes investigation, exploration and experimentation
over rote learning of patterns. This is done through a range of
exercises and drills. Systema teaches concepts rather than stances and
techniques. Because of this, what develops in each individual is more
akin to a set of automatic reactions.
(3) Keeping the “form” – keeping the body upright at all times to ensure correct structural alignment to allow the body to perform each technique correctly.
(4) Continuous movement.
(5) What does training involve?
In Systema there is no hierarchy, no belts, no grades, etc. There is no competitive element and individuals within groups try to help each other to reach their maximum potential. Hopefully we try to leave our egos at the door. Everyone works to his/her own level and whilst there is no compulsion to go beyond this, there is encouragement to try to push oneself gradually beyond one’s comfort zone.
Classes are characteristically very friendly and members tend to build up a strong camaraderie. Rather than bowing, students usually shake hands after performing a technique. At the end of a class, everyone sits in a circle and each student expresses his own views on how the class went. This provides a good opportunity for discussion and feedback.
Although specific techniques may be demonstrated, the majority of a class involves;
- building up strength and stamina via specific drills and breathing exercises.
- keeping the form.
- learning how to break the form of an opponent by identifying which of his muscle groups are tense and then manipulating them accordingly.
- learning how to roll in a relaxed fashion on both soft and hard surfaces.
- learning how to punch using the wave-form principle.
- learning how to absorb punches so as to remove the fear of being hit.
- There is a great deal more than can be easily listed here.
Examples of physical exercises include doing a single press-up slowly to a 20 sec count down and then a 20 sec count up. This is done to train the ability to relax under stress using rhythmic breathing and to strengthen the tendons rather than the muscles.
Other exercises include running or doing press-ups or sit-ups with the breath held either in inhalation or in exhalation. This trains the student to continue physical activity if his airway is cut off by an opponent and also increases his capacity to work anaerobically.
The scope of Systema training includes;
Hand-to-hand combat
Defense against weapons – knives, sticks, guns, etc.
Escapes from locks and holds
Fighting from the ground
Use of improvised weapons
Defense in confined situations
Surviving multiple attackers
Striking using the Wave Principle
Taking strikes so as to eliminate the fear of being hit.
And much, much more than can be listed here
(6) What are the benefits of learning Systema?
1. An increase in stamina and fitness levels.
2. Fast learning curve in relation to practical self defense.
3. Learning to move and fight in a relaxed manner.
4. Learning principles which each individual then adapts to best suit
his/her own physical and psychological characteristics.
5. Simplicity of techniques and economy of motion leads to
unpredictable, innovative and unexpected moves.
6. Learning to deal with attacks which are not pre-arranged and are
therefore more life-like.
7. Learning to control fear in the face of imminent violence.
8. Camaraderie of the group experience.
9. On a more philosophical level, Systema is also known in Russian as
“poznai sebia” which means “to understand or know yourself”. This
means not just our immediate strengths and weaknesses, but to see the
full extent of our limitations and to see how proud and weak we really
are, and then to give us the impetus to firstly admit to our
shortcomings and then the strength to work on overcoming them.
“Everything that happens to us, whether good or bad, has only one
ultimate purpose – to create the best possible conditions for each
person to understand himself.”
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