Systema is a Russian martial art . It is not a sport. There are no forbidden techniques; everything is allowed. It does not have a competition system or a belt ranking system like karate , jiu-jitsu , judo , or aikido .
There are general principles that the practitioner of Systema learns to use in responding to an attack.
The core of Systema can be summarized in the following four concepts:
- Breathing is important for proper oxygen supply, but can also be used for a kiai during atemi. Good breathing is especially essential in stressful situations to stay calm.
- Movement is the first form of self-defense; avoiding a kick is better than taking it. The motto is to be as mobile as possible. If possible, run away as fast as you can.
- Structure is the third pillar. This refers to a person's posture; the defense is aimed at disrupting it. A blow to the chin will unbalance someone much faster than a series of kicks/punches. Breaking a finger can also immediately end a fight.
- Relaxation is the fourth pillar; many techniques performed on you become much less effective if you receive them passively. Drunk people do this automatically due to the influence of alcohol; the trick is to be able to do this in a sober state as well.
Principle of Systema
The fourth pillar (relaxation) doesn't mean Systema is inefficient; its credo is: receive softly, strike hard. Many techniques from karate , jiu-jitsu , judo and aikido. can be used in Systema, as long as they are applied in the Systema way.
No one dictates how a technique should be performed. It is up to the practitioner to find the best way.
The training sessions may seem "soft" because a lot of practice is done in slow motion, but in practice, it's just at full speed.
Depending on your level, you can gradually increase the speed to full speed. Many techniques are so efficient that they are better performed slowly anyway.
There are no forbidden techniques . Women can easily train at the same level as men (even though they have a disadvantage in terms of physical strength), because the emphasis is more on sensitivity and effective techniques.
Mentality
Systema is also partly a mental exercise : precisely because there are no limitations, one must discover for oneself how far one will go in a defense, and that is a confrontation with oneself.
The fact that you can get injured also requires preparation. You must take into account that you will never remain 100% fit during a fight; your techniques must be adapted accordingly.
For example, a knife fight is more likely to involve being unexpectedly stabbed than someone threatening to stab you. Other situations could include being very tired or being threatened by multiple people.
Slow motion
It can be confusing that in videos on the internet you almost only see slow motion Systema and people who fall to the ground relatively easily. This has a very practical reason: if performed with full power, there is a high chance that you will leave the training hour injured.
But in a controlled environment, you can be hit hard on each other's bodies, have chokes performed, and have clamps put on to get you used to the stress that this entails.
Free sparring is also an essential part of Systema, whether standing or in a ground fight. Low kicks, a knee to the head, high kicks – as long as you can execute them with control, it's fine.
Hitting in the face, on the ears, pressing on the eye sockets, or bending fingers – nothing is forbidden. Free sparring is therefore only possible if you are able to protect the other person's body and your own from serious injury.
Beginners
Systema is suitable for both beginners and advanced practitioners to learn effective self-defense . This is, of course, claimed by every martial art, but Systema is characterized by the development of a personal style.
The focus is on general principles, and no specific techniques are taught; practitioners develop their own techniques. Therefore, there is no training for exams or kata. Beginners quickly feel comfortable among those who have been training for a longer time, due to the absence of a clear hierarchy.
In terms of fitness: if you ensure a good base level of fitness (in whatever way), you build on this by doing a lot of ground fighting, etc.
No arrogance.
The attitude towards the environment is also different from that of some other martial arts. For example, a black belt has status, and the practitioner also gets an 'ego-boost' as he progresses.
In Systema, the goal is to give the opponent the impression that you are inferior, and then to end it completely unexpectedly. The motto is to remain inconspicuous; let the attacker believe they are winning.
So you're not standing there in a karate stance, but rather as if you don't quite understand what's going on and aren't really interested. If he realizes you can defend yourself, he'll be on his guard (or even pull out a knife).
Instructors
The best-known Systema instructors are Mikhail Ryabko in Russia and his successor Vladimir Vasiliev in Toronto, Canada. In Western Europe, a portion of the Systema instructors are represented by the European Systema Association, led by Andreas Weitzel (Augsburg, Germany).
Much knowledge is currently still disseminated by attending seminars that are given all over the world.
