Systema: Principles of the Russian System
James Williams on what makes the Russian martial art distinct, and why principles matter more than technique.
By James Williams. Originally posted on systemofstrategy.com, 27 June 2010.
If someone had told me a few years ago that out of a western Christian tradition would come a martial art as deep, sophisticated and evolved as the best of the oriental arts I would not have believed them. Yet there is such an art coming out of the ancient Russian culture with deep roots in the Russian Orthodox monasteries.
At its root in the present day is an exceptional man, Mikhail Ryabko. Trained by one of Stalin’s Falcons from the age of five and beginning his operational career in the Russian Spetsnaz (Special Forces) at the age of 15, Mikhail Ryabko was not only given the secrets of this ancient art, he was put in the position of repeatedly applying both the art and its principles in life and death combat on, what for much of his early life, was a day-to-day basis. This System, taught by Mikhail Ryabko, is not a shadow of what once was, it is a living practical art that even now is being applied by warriors in combat.
This is an extract. The full essay is on James Williams’ own site.
Read the full essay at System of Strategy
Extract published with attribution. The full article is at System of Strategy.