Systema: The Martial Arts of Russia
In spite of what the movies may suggest, martial arts are not limited to the Chinese martial art, the Korean martial art and the Japanese martial art. There’s a plethora of martial arts styles from all around the world. They all came up the same way, too: local authorities outlaw the lower class from owning weapons and the people find a way to protect themselves regardless. Martial arts history tells us that people began refining the martial art styles back then, until the forms were refined into what we have today. This is how the Russian martial art was developed.
Russia is no exception. Russia has a long history of internal conflict and invasion. It is a massive country with borders that span over 11 time zones. The Russians came to expect the unexpected when in battle and no two enemies would fight the same. From these encounters, the Russian warriors developed into the type of fighter that reacted on instinct. They had to face the enemy as an individual and adapt to whatever the enemy threw at them. The Russian martial arts had to be as versatile as the men who practiced it.
Russia is so huge that, in the beginning, a standard army was not possible. There were too many tiny villages and towns scattered across the land, as well as too many lords and territories, that made this type of organization nearly impossible. During times of war, men were recruited from the towns and villages to fight and, when the battle was over, they went home. During peacetime, these men would continue to train on their own. This Russian martial arts were tailor-made to fit the common man.
Systema has no prearranged kumite (choreographed two man fighting) like the martial arts of the Far East. Russian martial arts are fluid — the goal being able to fight without consciousness. Like the many forms of Eastern martial arts, Russian martial arts started with one “ideal” and evolved into many different styles of that form across Russia, each one geared towards that locale’s specific needs. The basic principals remained consistent and provided the common thread of the Russian martial arts.
In time, the loose teachings came together into the Russian martial art systema. Towns and villages would show off their skill, having friendly competitions for pride and honor. Sadly, in 1917, the Communist party had taken over Russia. Just like the evil lords of old, they outlawed weapons and traditions. The martial art styles were forced underground. Fathers would teach their sons, grandfathers would teach grandsons, and the martial art training lived on.
When the new Soviet government had to focus on arming their soldiers, they sent agents to find the best fighting systems in the world. They didn’t have to search too far, the answer was right under their nose. From that point on, the Russian army began instruction in an age-old technique pulled right from the roots of their own heritage.
The martial arts have continued to grow in popularity in recent years, and the Russian martial art systema is no different. While it’s mostly used by the Russian Special Operation Units, the form spread to the Western world when several soldiers left Russia after the Cold War ended.
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Tagged with: Chinese martial art • combative arts • Japanese martial art • Korean martial art • martial art styles • martial art training • Martial arts history • prearranged kumite • Russian martial art
Filed under: Martial Arts
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