REAL Martial Arts Training for Combat
A look at Systema, Russian Martial Arts
Spirit Warriors Martial Arts, Santa Fe, New Mexico
www.martialartssantafe.com
I attended a workshop with Martin Wheeler this past weekend. Martin teaches Systema, Russian Martial Arts. He has an extensive martial arts background and is an excellent instructor. Except for still being bruised and sore I had a fun and very educational experience.
On my drive home with my friend Ken, who also attended, we started talking about the difference between most martial arts training in technique based styles and what we had just experienced. To put in a little context here, I have been studying martial arts for over 25 years. I have run the course from traditional, culturally based arts to more advanced, modern combat sciences. Ken has studied Shotokan for 7 years.
I came up with the analogy of Systema working on the core operating system, while most martial arts are working on a technique based programming level. Just like in a computer, the operating system has to be in place, strong and able to handle anything you throw at it. If the operating system fails, nothing else works. Technique based styles function at a much simpler level just like computer programs. You can add one for kicking, punching, grappling etc. However if there is no grounded and comprehensive operating system that unifies the whole, it is just a bunch of separate disconnected programs.
Systema's core operating system works on basic principles, not individual techniques or a series of moves put together to respond to a certain stimulus. It is much more comprehensive in it's approach. Four of these principles, that I understand, are relaxation, movement, structure and proper breathing. Drills are designed to emphasize some or all of these areas of development.
Relaxation. I like to think of this more as no unnecessary tension. People often confuse relaxation with the wet noodle type of relaxation that is also counter productive to good martial arts. Relaxation means responding to something with exactly the correct amount of tension needed to move the body, avoid an attack and neutralize the threat with the least amount of energy needed. Unnecessary tension creates openings for attack, slows down movement, requires more energy to do the same amount of work and is completely unnecessary. A relaxed body moves faster and more fluidly, responds to more subtle cues and avoids injury when it gets hit. It is similar to the drunk driver who does not get hurt in a crash because he does not tense up, but just moves around with the impact. Noticing tension in your opponent also creates openings and opportunities for attack. Reading a persons tension, lack of mobility and targets is what makes a Systema practitioner so precise and deadly. No action is wasted and it is not based on preset attacks and defenses that will never occur in the real world, it is based on reading what your opponent is actually doing and taking advantage of that opening right now. As you advance in your practice and are relaxed and fluid in your own body you can also create the tension and targets you want in your opponent by manipulating them and gaining control over them with little effort. One of the biggest creators of tension is fear. There are many ways to dissipate fear. This however is an extensive discussion that can not be properly addressed in this article. We will do so in a future article that will be devoted entirely to fear and how to use it to your advantage.
Movement is vital and absolutely necessary. Allowing the body to move naturally and without restriction is the best way to avoid being hit and to hit without giving away your intention and using surprise and stealth to your advantage. If your opponent can't see whats coming he can't respond to it. The only way to do this is to be relaxed. When you move there is a level of relaxation that makes it hard for others to perceive what is really happening. Movements are smooth, non-aggressive and difficult to read. Your attack has already landed before it is observed, therefore your opponent has no opportunity to respond. There are no fighting postures or stances. There is no telegraphing your intentions. Action is taken with such finesse that your opponent does not even know what happened. Fluid, natural, unrestricted motion is a trademark of Systema. Others often make the mistake of thinking Systema is weak and has no power. That is until they get hit by a Systema practitioner and didn't even see it coming, or get frustrated in not being to hit back because of the illusive, relaxed movement of their Systema opponent.
Structure is another core principal. Structure does not mean over exaggerated stances or unnecessary holding of positions. Structure means proper alignment of the body is relation to what is happening. Keeping the head up and spine straight are very important. Moving the body as a whole from the core is vital to create power and avoid being hit with consequence. Let me explain that last statement. Being hit is not of concern. If you are relaxed and in motion with proper breathing being hit is only a mild irritation, if that. Being hit when you are tense, out of alignment or immobile can be another thing. That is why it is so important to understand these principals and to perfect them. Structure keeps the body strong and allows for fluid motion and power generation from various positions. In Systema you learn to strike from almost anywhere, to catch your opponent by surprise and do the unexpected. It is not necessary to be in a particular stance, facing your opponent at a particular angel in order to cause damage. In fact it is preferred to avoid all of these preconceived ideas and to move with instinct and do what is natural for you.
Breath, the first thing we do in this life is breathe in, the last is breathe out. Breath is life. We all breathe. There is however proper breathing and just breathing. There are entire books written on proper breathing techniques for combat. Systema has it's own version as well. Breathing helps to create all of the previous principals. It can also destroy them. One of the first and most important things a practitioner learns in Systema is how to breathe. There are literally hundreds of exercises focused on breath work and how to use your breath to create relaxation, strength and endurance. How to use breath to reduce fear, expel tension and heal the body. I believe breathing is the most important of all the principals we have talked about here. That is why I saved it for last. I want you to remember how important it is and to learn more about it. Breathing is taught to soldiers, law enforcement officers, martial artists, it helps to contain stress and keep adrenaline responses under control. It helps to heal the body and allow it to continue when injured. Proper breathing is vital to relaxation and movement. I think one of the best places to start is with the book written by Vladimir Vasiliev entitled "Let Every Breath". It is comprehensive in it's description and shows you hundreds of exercised to do to perfect your own breathing. You can also find lots of videos on Youtube with breath teachings as well.
I hope this very limited information about Systema has created a curiosity in you. I have been studying Systema for about three years and the teachings have changed the way I do almost everything in my life. Systema is not just an effective martial art, or combat system. It's principles are true in all aspects of life.
Spirit Warriors Martial Arts
Raven Hicks
Santa Fe, New Mexico
