Systema - The Martial Arts of Russia

Posted by Thomas Shaw on October 24th, 2019

Martial arts. Just the name brings all sorts of near mystical thoughts to our minds. Thoughts concerning the fantastic Korean art of tae kwon do, the Japanese art of jujutsu and the Chinese art of kung fu. Get more info about James Eglin



All these arts of karate have really humble beginnings. Each and every one came from a time when the local authorities have been tyrannical and outlawed the commoners from obtaining weapons. The farmers, on the other hand, insisted on having solutions to protect themselves, no matter weaponry. Hence, the such arts had been born.



Russia is no exception. Russia has a lengthy history of internal conflict and invasion. It really is a huge 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 identical.



From these encounters, the Russian warriors developed into the variety of fighter that reacted on instinct. They had to face the enemy as an individual and adapt to what ever the enemy threw at them. The Russian martial arts had to become as versatile because the guys who practiced it.



Russia is so big that, inside the starting, a regular army was not achievable. There have been also many tiny villages and towns scattered across the land, at the same time as too many lords and territories, that produced this kind of organization practically not possible.



During occasions of war, guys have been recruited in the towns and villages to fight and, when the battle was over, they went home. In the course of peacetime, these guys would continue to train on their very own. This Russian martial arts had been tailor-made to fit the popular man.



Systema has no prearranged kumite (choreographed two man fighting) just like the martial arts of the Far East. Russian martial arts are fluid -- the purpose having the ability to fight with no consciousness.



Like the several types of Eastern arts of karate, Russian ones began with one "ideal" and evolved into lots of unique styles of that kind across Russia, every one geared towards that locale's particular requirements. The fundamental principals remained consistent and provided the prevalent thread from the Russian martial arts.



In time, the loose teachings solidified. The many towns and villages would show off their abilities with friendly competitions amongst themselves. It wasn't till 1917 -- when the Communists had taken power -- that all traditions, which includes Russian art of karate, had been banned.



The system went underground, instead of face severe persecution for outwardly continuing to practice. As within the Far East, some monasteries survived and were left alone by the government as well as the monks would continue to keep the "old ways" alive. Fathers would also teach their sons, handing down the traditions from generation to generation, hoping that it would survive.



When the new Soviet government had to focus on arming their soldiers, they sent agents to find the very best fighting systems inside the world. They did not have to search also far, the answer was proper beneath their nose. From that point on, the Russian army started instruction in an age-old approach pulled right from the roots of their very own heritage.



The arts of karate have continued to grow in recognition in current years, along with the Russian martial art systema is no distinctive. Though it's largely used by the Russian Specific Operation Units, the form spread for the Western world when numerous soldiers left Russia after the Cold War ended.