Melbourne Systema Development Syllabus Russian Fist Fighting

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Mar 11 I Vol: 3 I No: 2
IN THIS ISSUE
:: Melbourne Systema
Development
Syllabus
:: Russian Fist
Fighting Seminar
Part II
Melbourne Systema Development Syllabus
I am happy to say that Melbourne Systema Development Syllabus
has been finalised and will be introduced in class over the next
few months. The goal of the development syllabus is to help
guide you in the progression of your training. It lays out the fundamental concepts found in systema and gives you an expected
time frame to measure your continued development.
:: Russian Combat
Manual
Russian Fist Fighting Seminar Part II
Our next in-house seminar will on Russian Fist Fighting. This
seminar will build on the work of last year's seminar and will
cover such areas as:
• Wave development to deliver and receive strikes
• Effective counter punching techniques
• Dealing with mass attacks
• Tool and target development
Please note in the interests of hygiene and safety all participants
will be required to bring their own protective mma style gloves.
Seminar details
Date:
Time:
Location:
Cost:
Sunday 10th April 2011
10am – 4pm
18 Catherine St Coburg North
$30 (Melbourne Systema members)
$50 (Non members)
Russian Combat Manual
I was searching on the internet and came across a pdf copy of
the Russian Combat Manual written by Vladimir Vasiliev. This
book pre-dates the old guidebook which some of you may have
read. So over the next few issues I thought I might share some
excerpts from it with you all.
Introduction
In the Russian System of Martial Art the main goal of a fighter is
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to render the opponent harmless with the least losses for himself
and for the opponent.
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You are learning to, work efficiently in any situation that requires
defense or prevention of aggression. This way you bring the
good into the world. Learning The System you acquire greater
power as a fighter but also as a person. That means you should
truly value the health and especiallythe life of others.
Both in combat and in life you should treat people with much
awareness and understanding.Where necessary act with firmness
but never in a callous or careless way.
Principles of The System
Physical
Psychological
• Continuity
• Do not be aggressive
• From support
• Use everything for victory
• Coupling of forces
• Live in harmony
• Circles &spirals
• It is not a weapon that
• Work based on situation
works, but the person
• Any body part strikes
• Think, Think, Think
• No compulsory tactics
• There are no Rules of how
• Non-completeness of
movements
• Breathing
• Changing position
• Apply strong onto weak
• Wave
• Impulsiveness
to work
• Fear and anger have their
place and are necessary
• Fear should not disappear
completely
• To slip away without
breaking contact is the goal
• Working around or cutting
the force
of combat
• No matter what you
• Points of pain
demonstrate do not be
• From any position any strike
afraid to seem funny or
• Economy of movements
awkward
• Pendulum
• Independence of movements
• Folding of movements
• Everything has to be done
with awareness & relaxation
• Perform the work with the
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least possible effort
The History of Russian Combat
No stances, no kata, no uniform, no formalities, rituals, or belts.
The training consists of the real thing. Any student right away
begins to learn how to defend against a knife stab to his stomach, or a punch to his head, or a painful choke. The techniques
are simple and deadly, practical and effective, based on a few
unique and powerful principles.
This is known as the system - a Russian Martial Art that goes
back over a thousand years, but has been kept under wraps
throughout the communist era and taught only to some units of
the Special Forces.
So how did this style originate? Every nation from the five continents has its own material traditions. They were formed for centuries under the influence of many factors: geographic location
and climate, religion, culture and customs, the people's mentality
and physical body structure, and historic events.
As for Russia, a tremendous .variety of geographic and climatic
conditions exists throughout this huge country. The religion and
culture have been remarkably rich and diverse. The people have
always been strong physically and brave, seeking freedom rather
than definite structure. Historically, a rare year would pass by
with the Russians not involved in battles. The invaders came from
the North, South, East and West. They attacked with their distinct styles of combat, unique weaponry, and different mentality.
The battles happened on different terrains, during freezing winters and sweltering summers alike, with the Russians often
greatly outnumbered by their enemies.
As a result of all these factors, the Russian warriors acquired a
style that combined strong spirit with creative, intelligent and
versatile tactics, practical and deadly, that worked against any
type of enemy, in any circumstances. This style was natural and
free. It had no strict rules, particular structure, or limitations
(except for moral ones).
Moreover, most warriors were never soldiers by trade. The The
people could not afford the luxury of supporting professional
warriors. Once a battle was over, they returned to their fields and
shops. Thus, the martial style was extrapolated from the regular
labour and everyday activities, an inherent
part of life rather than
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a devised art form. The Russian nation had unique ways of preparing warriors without interrupting the countryman's labour.
Martial games, exercises, sparring matches and mental contests
were held on regular bases, especially during holidays and fairs.
Fist fights and wrestling, stick and knife fights were individual
and between groups (up to 10,000 participants in St Petersburg
for example).
Boys often started their training at the age of two. First using toy
weapons and by the age of four learning to ride a horse. At ten,
a boy was expected to master the main tactics of using wooden
weapons and at twelve, to master unarmed techniques. At eighteen, the young men were strictly tested for all of these skills as
well as swimming and breathing under water through a hollow
cane. They had to know about ambushes, and pass a survival
test - when left alone far from any shelter, with no food or
weapons.
The Russian fighters were very highly rated throughout history.
Many rulers of the world such as the Greeks, Romans, Arabs and
Avars tried to employ them. The Russians were known to be
courageous, devoted and very well prepared physically.
Unfortunately, these great martial skills and traditions developed
for centuries were almost lost under the Communist regime.
Following the revolution of 1917, everything traditionally Russian
was discouraged by the authorities - promoting the old culture
could be severely punished. Thus, this authentic fighting style
was reserved for the Elite units of the Special Forces. There it was
further perfected and continuously used in covert military operations and by bodyguards of the highest level. The combat techniques, defence tactics, philosophies, knowledge and survival
practices were incorporated into The System utilizing all three
levels of human abilities: The physical, psychological and psychic.
As for the Soviet people, in order to 4istract the masses and give
them a substitute (a common trend for that time), a decision was
made to create Sambo - a different kind of martial art based on
the traditional oriental styles.. While the old Russian System
continued to live in the secret academies and among some
people who quietly maintained their training and passed it from
generation to generation within their families.
It often happens that people of completely peaceful professions
are compelled to take care of their own safety. Unlike sports that
exist for aesthetic reasons, excitement and physical fitness, the
goal of hand to hand combat is survival in goal of hand to hand
combat is survival in extreme situations. Real conflicts do not
take place in the comfort of a gym, but during a day or night, in
the heat or cold, in the rain, on slippery
ground or boggy sand,
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in clothing that may be absolutely inappropriate for fighting, in a
forest or park, in a narrow elevator, inside a car, etc... The confrontation may be with one opponent, or many, it can occur at
close or farther distances. The fighter may be tired, sick or
wounded, usually having to fight without any physical or psychological warm up. It is important not to give all you have got in a
struggle as in a sports contest, but to preserve some strength
and survive after your victory in order to take care of the
wounds, help somebody else, get out of a trap, or wait for help.
The students of the Russian System learn all these situations. For
instance, since a fight can break out from an unpredictable position, the students study defence from a "conversational stance"
- i.e. any position they happen to be in at the time. This not only
includes sitting, standing and lying down, but also common
positions of the arms and legs often uncomfortable for starting a
fight.
Fixed stances and threatening poses contradict the principle of
instant readiness for a fight and disrupt the continuity of movement. Thus, they are not practical and there are none in the
system
The techniques are based on the natural movements of a person,
his reactions to unpredictable circumstances. Most of these reactions come from the inborn defensive instincts. In a street fight
two situations are ever the same, thus it is impossible to prepare
yourself and memorise all variations of techniques. This way, a
lot more practical and effective is to become consciously aware
of your natural moves, to understand them, to use them as
basics for further work and to
"teach your body to think". The students do not prearrange how
they will strike and do not repeat the same attacks and soon it
becomes unimportant for them what kind of attack to defend
from.
In just three-four months of training, a student becomes ready
for self defence. There is so much to the training beyond the
physical work. There is psychological preparation, knowledge of
nature and of defence against animals, tactics of bodyguarding
and body language, understanding the psychic attacks and
working with bio energy, as well as learning new philosophical
views and using the Russian System of health and rejuvenation.
This way the martial art becomes not just a part of life but its'
natural expression.
In just three-four months of training, a student becomes ready
for self defence. There is so much to the training beyond the
physical work. There is psychological preparation, knowledge of
nature and of defence against animals, tactics of bodyguarding
and body language, [email protected]
the psychic attacks and
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working with bio energy, as well as learning new philosophical
views and using the Russian System of health and rejuvenation.
This way the martial art becomes not just a part of life but its'
natural expression.
However, practical application of the marital art is only the sad
and inevitable outcome of our civilization. Its main value is still
the same - moral and spiritual growth of a man. Modern interest
in sparing among women may be another negative deviation of
our society. Women should exercise and train but for' self
defence only. Confrontation of women even as a game or sport
is inappropriate and dangerous for their bioenergy.
In our aggressive society without a good martial art training, a
man unwillingly moves to the class of victims. Aggressive behaviour cannot be eliminated with violent measures. An aggressor,
(and while he exists there are victims), can be overcome only by
an individual who is strong spiritually.
What is aggression? From the point of view of psychotherapy it
is a stable neurosis - a persistent need to put down or hurt somebody. Underlying this need there is a fear of the aggressor's
humiliation.
The Russian System tries to free the student of fear to become a
victim and protects from even greater terror of becoming an
aggressor. In the art of combat there is only one material for us
to work with - ourselves, the whole dissection from the bottom
up – the flesh and the soul.
To understand yourself, to realize what your abilities are and
what your role in life is that should be the beginning. As for the
martial art it is only one side of fighting. Such a powerful
weapon can only be revealed to a person with good psyche and
with honest intentions. That is why before giving somebody our
"invincible weapon" it is necessary to know whether he deserves
it.