Systema (Russian: Система, "The System") is a Russian martial art. Russian ( transliteration:,) is the most geographically widespread language of Eurasia, the most widely spoken of the Slavic languages Russian martial arts (RMA describe various traditional and contemporary Martial arts with Russian roots It is designed to be highly adaptive and practical, training using drills and sparring instead of set kata. Sparring is a form of Training common to many Martial arts. Although the precise form varies it is essentially relatively 'free-form' fighting with enough rules For other uses see Kata (disambiguation. is a Japanese word describing detailed choreographed patterns of movements practiced either solo or It focuses mainly on controlling the six body levers (elbows, neck, knees, waist, ankles, and shoulders) through pressure point application, striking and weapon applications. Systema is often advertised as being a martial art employed by some Russian Spetsnaz units. Russian special purpose regiments or Spetsnaz, Specnaz (Войска спец иального наз начения ( спецназ [1]
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A brief history of Systema
There is no historical "real name" for these arts. In many cases, it's common to simply see "Russian martial arts" used, although that can lead to some confusion. In a sense, the name "Systema" (the system) can be thought of as a generic title comparable to "Kung Fu" ("one who is highly skilled" or "time" and "effort"). Kung fu and wushu are popular terms that have become synonymous with Chinese Martial arts.
At least in Mikhail Ryabko's Systema, "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. Mikhail Ryabko (born May 6, 1961) is a Colonel in the Russian Military, serves as a Special Advisor to the Minister of Justice of the There exists more than one Russian martial art called Systema see Systema for an overview Muscle (from Latin musculus, diminutive of mus "mouse" is contractile tissue of the body and is derived from the The nervous system is a Network of specialized cells that communicate information about an animal's surroundings and itself In living organisms a respiratory system functions to allow Gas exchange. Psychology (from Greek grc ψῡχή psȳkhē, "breath life soul" and grc -λογία -logia) is an Academic and The English word " spirit " comes from the Latin " spiritus " (breath
Because there have been and still are a number of different fighting styles common throughout the Russian military and special forces, like Alpha, GRU, Vympel, several other names and nicknames are commonly mistaken for Systema. For example, some troops and special forces personnel train in "boevoe sambo" (combat sambo), which is a separate art. Sambo (самбо—also called Sombo or Cambo and sometimes written in all-caps is a modern Martial art, combat sport and Self-defense Also, troops would refer to whatever was taught as "rukopashka" (Russian slang for "hand to hand"), or "machalka" or "boinia" (Russian slang for "fighting" and "beating"). Russian ( transliteration:,) is the most geographically widespread language of Eurasia, the most widely spoken of the Slavic languages The name "Combat Sambo Spetsnaz" was coined by the Soviet government to misdirect Systema's relation to Sambo, and there is little relation between the two styles. Russian special purpose regiments or Spetsnaz, Specnaz (Войска спец иального наз начения ( спецназ The Union of Soviet Socialist Republics (USSR was a constitutionally Socialist state that existed in Eurasia from 1922 to 1991
Joseph Stalin's personal bodyguards were practitioners of Systema. Joseph Stalin ( ნამდვილი გვარი ჯუღაშვილი|Iosif Vissarionovich Dzhugashvili; March 5 1953 was General Secretary of the Communist Party Ryabko's "uncle" was one of those bodyguards and was his first instructor in 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 facilities. Russian special purpose regiments or Spetsnaz, Specnaz (Войска спец иального наз начения ( спецназ GRU is the English transliteration of the Russian Acronym ГРУ, which stands for "Гла́вное Разве́дывательное There were and are a number of different combat arts trained throughout Russian special forces units other than Systema. It is due to the Soviet Union's strict ban on non-sanctioned traditions, and the sensitivity of special forces training, that it was not until after the cold war that Systema became known. The Union of Soviet Socialist Republics (USSR was a constitutionally Socialist state that existed in Eurasia from 1922 to 1991 In most countries special forces (SF is a generic term for highly-trained Military teams/units that conduct specialized operations such as Reconnaissance Systema's pre-Soviet Russian heritage is only recently being rediscovered.
Some practitioners claim that Systema's Russian martial arts heritage dates back to the 10th century and was practiced by the Bogatyr (Russian heroes/knights). For other meanings see Bogatyr (disambiguation. The bogatyr (богаты'рь from the Slavic bogat - rich or Russia (Россия Rossiya) or the Russian Federation ( Rossiyskaya Federatsiya) is a transcontinental Country extending Knight is the English term for a social position originating in the Middle Ages.
Another theory proposes that the various forms of modern Systema are evolutions of an intensive research and development project carried out by several generations of hand to hand combat instructors at the Dinamo training facility in Moscow between roughly 1920-1980. Dynamo Moscow (Dinamo Moscow Dinamo Moskva Russian: Динамо Москва) is a Russian football club based in Moscow. Moscow (Москва́ romanised: Moskvá, IPA: see also other names) is the Capital and the largest city of If so, that would place Systema in the same stream of military close-combat training as combat SAMBO and related styles such as SAMOZ, which was developed by V. Sambo (самбо—also called Sombo or Cambo and sometimes written in all-caps is a modern Martial art, combat sport and Self-defense A. Spiridonov. If this theory is correct, the stylistic influences on modern Systema would include 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 as these disciplines were incorporated into the Dinamo close-combat research and development project during the 20th Century. Sport Science is a discipline that studies the application of scientific principles and techniques with the aim of improving sporting performance Biomechanics is the application of mechanical principles on living organisms Sport psychology (or sports psychology) is the study of a people's behaviour in sport The twentieth century of the Common Era began on
It has been claimed that one or both of Ryabko and his student Vlad Vasiliev created the art based upon their experiences. Vladimir Vasiliev is the director and chief instructor of the Toronto School of Russian Martial Arts located in Thornhill Ontario, where he teaches Ryabko's Systema
It is likely that the roots of Systema are lost in ancient and family arts, changed by military and contemporary needs and rediscovered and adapted by each instructor and practitioner.
Contemporary Systema
Systema is counted alongside a number of pre-Soviet traditions which are being actively cultivated by the Russian government. A soviet (сове́т, "council" originally was a workers' local council in late Imperial Russia. In 2004, the Dinamo Sports Center played host to a demonstration and celebration of martial traditions. The Dinamo Sports Center is a gymnasium in St Petersburg, Russia.
It is still a relative unknown, but Systema or relatives to it are being taught by several practitioners inside and outside of Russia. Of particular interest is that different people from different backgrounds were taught subtle variations of Systema.
Furthermore, since practitioners train in their own preferred manner and with their individual understanding, their style expressed in their art is unique to them. This is most readily seen with senior students and other high-level artists.
Influenced by Systema
As some students train to become instructors in their own right, their understanding evolves and they ultimately teach a personal and more contemporary version of their understanding. There exist more than one Russian Martial art called Systema see Systema for an overview There exists more than one Russian martial art called Systema see Systema for an overview In some cases this personal understanding keeps the same name, and in some cases a new name is warranted.
Some practitioners take their understanding, their own preferences and their own arts to create a hybrid martial art. For the combat sport see Mixed martial arts. Hybrid martial arts (also known as hybrid fighting systems) refer to Martial arts Others use the experience for cross training, to supplement their own training programs. Cross-training (Also known as conditioning) refers to training in different ways to improve overall performance
Influenced by Ryabko's Systema
- Frank Monsalve's Hurricane
- Strategos International's courses
Influenced by Kadochnikov's Systema
- Matt Powell's PraMek
- Retuinskih's System ROSS
- Scott Sonnon's RMAX
Pop Culture References
William Gibson mentions Systema in his 2003 novel Pattern Recognition and its 2007 sequel Spook Country. Matthew Powell (born 8 May 1978 in Abergavenny Wales) is a welsh Rugby union footballer who plays for Worcester Warriors Retuinskih System ROSS (РОСС short for Росси́йская Оте́чественная Систе́ма Самозащи́ты English transliteration Scott Sonnon is a Fitness coach, Yoga guru and Wellness speaker known for training Ultimate Fighting Championship Mixed martial arts William Ford Gibson (born March 17 1948 is an American - Canadian writer who has been called the "noir prophet" of the Cyberpunk subgenre Year 2003 ( MMIII) was a Common year starting on Wednesday of the Gregorian calendar. Pattern Recognition is a novel by Science fiction writer William Gibson published in 2003 Year 2007 ( MMVII) was a Common year starting on Monday of the Gregorian calendar in the 21st century. Spook Country is a 2007 Novel by William Gibson. Gibson announced the book on October 6, 2006 on his blog where fragments of In Pattern Recognition, the bodyguards of a wealthy Russian are said to be practitioners of Systema, a martial art that was, to date ". . . restricted to KGB, bodyguards and the special forces. KGB ( Transliteration of "КГБ" is the Russian abbreviation of Committee for State Security ( Komityet Gosudarstvennoy Bezopasnosty . . " and said to be derived from Cossack dancing. The Cossacks (Каза́ки́ Kazaki; Козаки́ Kozaki; Kozacy are a group of martial people living in the southern Steppe regions of Eastern One of Spook Country's main characters is trained in Systema from his childhood onward and uses it to defend himself as well as ostensibly for other purposes related to self control and confidence. Spook Country is a 2007 Novel by William Gibson. Gibson announced the book on October 6, 2006 on his blog where fragments of
References
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