Systema ("The System") is a highly adaptive and practical Russian martial art that was employed and developed by certain elite units of the Russian special forces (Spetsnaz) during the Cold War. Its roots can be traced back to the medieval Russian knights and the Russian Coptic monastic traditions.
A unique characteristic of Systema is that it has no set forms (kata) or even a fixed syllabus of techniques. In stead, Systema presents a training method through which practitioners develop their own style and mental/physical capabilities. The internal principals of breath, posture, movement and relaxation are incorporated into various training drills and free sparring exercises. Systema is highly creative and quickly brings one face to face with one’s limitations.
Systema can be used to prepare a practitioner for any mode of combat: ground fighting, grappling, defence against weapons, using any weapon, improvised weapons, fighting in confined spaces, under water, multiple attackers, arrest techniques, fighting when injured or otherwise restricted, and resisting hi-jacking or urban attack. Any conflict situation can be simulated in Systema training.
Systema can be practised as one’s only martial art, but it is also very popular among accomplished martial artists whishing to diversify their capabilities.
History
Russia is a massive land with a rich martial tradition. Russia’s borders were often invaded and the Russian knights, soldiers and common people had to develop versatile fighting skills that could deal with attacks from various surrounding warring cultures. Many traditional fighting styles developed inside Russia, but they were largely outlawed and sanctioned by the 20th century Soviet Government. All Russian arts became the property of the Soviet government and many were employed by the army and special forces, loosely categorized under the name ‘Combat Sambo’.
The art of Systema was compiled and developed by knights who used to take refuge in the Russian Coptic monasteries. Through the ages the art was preserved and taught in the monasteries.
Joseph Stalin's personal bodyguards are said to have been practitioners of Systema. After Stalin's death, Systema became the style of fighting employed by some Special Military Operations Units for high risk missions in Spetsnaz, GRU and other government organizations. There were and are a number of different combat arts trained throughout Russian special forces units other than Systema.
Systema did not develop in a bubble; in order to adapt it was always influenced by the most advanced martial arts that its practitioners had access to. Intensive martial arts research and development was carried out by several generations of hand to hand combat instructors at the Dinamo training facility in Moscow roughly between 1920 and 1980. Delegates were sent to China and Japan to study the martial traditions of those countries. The knowledge from this research was used to create military close-combat styles like combat SAMBO and related styles such as SAMOZ, which was developed by V.A. Spiridonov. Modern Systema was influenced by numerous national martial arts styles, military close-combat systems and indigenous Russian combat styles as well as aspects of sports science, biomechanics and sports psychology
General Ryabko
Modern Systema
Today there are two main styles of Systema: The Ryabko system and the Kadotchnikov system: Ryabko Systema
Ryabko's Systema is headed by Mikhail Ryabko who operates the Systema headquarters in Russia, and continues to train students and military personnel, and also acts as an advisor. Ryabko is a Colonel in the Russian military, and has extensive military and special forces training. His study of martial arts started at the age of 5 with his uncle, who was one of Joseph Stalin’s private bodyguards.
Ryabko Systema is also called Poznai Sebia, “discover yourself”. "The System" is a reference to the various systems of the body (Muscle, Nervous system, respiratory system, etc) as well as elements of Psychology and the Spirit.
Vladimir Vasiliev
Vladimir Vasiliev is Ryabko's senior student. He was a special forces operative for many years, but he emigrated to Canada and presently heads the official Russian Martial Art Systema Headquarters in Toronto.
Kadochnikov Systema
Developed by A.A. Kodachnikov since 1962, this system is based on the application of the physical sciences, such as laws of mechanics/biomechanics/physics/psychology, as well as the study of ancient Russian Sambo styles and various WW II Soviet hand to hand combat methods. Kadochnikov was a mechanical engineer and applied a very systematic , scientific approach to his martial research.
