5/19/2018 Russian Martial Art.

Systema by Vladimir Vasiliev

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Throughout the history of this huge country, Russia had to repel invaders from the north, south, east, and west. All attackers
brought their distinct styles of combat and weaponry. The battles took place on di erent terrain, during freezing winters and
sweltering summer heat alike, with the Russians often greatly outnumbered by the enemy forces. As a result of these factors,
the Russian warriors acquired a style that combined strong spirit with extremely innovative and versatile tactics that were at
the same time practical, deadly, and e ective against any type of enemy under any circumstances. The style was natural and
free while having no strict rules, rigid structure or limitations (except for moral ones). All tactics were based on instinctive
reactions, individual strengths and characteristics, speci cally designed for fast learning.

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5/19/2018
When the Communists came to power in 1917, theyRussian Martial Art.
suppressed all Systema
nationalbytraditions.
Vladimir Vasiliev
Those practicing the old style of
ghting could be severely punished. At the same time, the authorities quickly realized how viable and devastating the original
combat system was and reserved it just for a few Special Operations Units.

In our schools (schoollocator.php) and through the instructional materials (instructional lms.php), you will learn this
fascinating style and see for yourself why Russian Systema is said to open a new page in the world of martial arts.

In Systema, the synergy of three components creates a TRUE WARRIOR - Combat Skill, Strong Spirit and Healthy Body.

The body has to be free of tension, lled with endurance, exibility, e ortless movement and explosive potential.
The spirit or psychological state has to be calm, free of anger, irritation, fear, self-pity, delusion and pride.
The combat skill includes movements that are powerful and precise, instant and economical, spontaneous, subtle and diverse,
the signature of a true professional.

There is a reason why Russian Martial Art is called SYSTEMA. It is a complete set of concepts and training components that
enhance one’s life. In this case, acquiring the martial art skill is a way to improve the function of all seven physiological
systems of the body and all three levels of human abilities the physical, the psychological and the spiritual.

The key principle of the Russian Systema is non-destruction. The goal is to make sure that your training and your attitudes do
no damage to the body or the psyche of you or your partners. Systema is designed to create, build and strengthen your body,
your psyche, your family and your country.

Systema has another name “poznai sebia” or “Know Yourself”. What does it really mean to Understand Yourself? It is not just
to know what your strengths and weaknesses are, that is good but fairly super cial. Training in Russian Martial Art is one of
the sure ways to see the full extent of our limitations - to see how proud and weak we really are. Systema allows us to gain the
true strength of spirit that comes from humility and clarity in seeing the purpose of our life.

As the roots of the Russian Systema are in the Russian Orthodox Christian faith, the belief is that everything that happens to
us, good or bad, has only one ultimate purpose. That is to create the best possible conditions for each person to understand
himself. Proper training in the Russian Systema carries the same objective - to put every participant into the best possible
setting for him to realize as much about himself as he is able to handle at any given moment.

One of Mikhail Ryabko’s words to the beginners is “Be a good person and everything else will come to you.” In a simple, yet
comprehensive way Systema helps you choose and follow the right path.

Related readings in English:

Title Author Approx. Available At

Price

The Spiritual Life and How to be St. Theophan the Approx. Holy Trinity Russian Orthodox Church Bookstore
Attuned to It Recluse $20 US 25 Henry St.,

Archpriest Seraphim Approx. Toronto, ON

The Law of God
Slobodskoy $50 US Canada
Phone: 416-979-2990
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5/19/2018 Russian Martial
Approx.Art. Systema by Vladimir Vasiliev
My Life in Christ St. John of Kronstadt
$35 US Holy Trinity Monastery Bookstore
Order by Mail or Fax only
Mail to: P.O. Box 36,
Jordanville, NY
13361 - USA
Fax to: 315-858-0505

With Pain and Love for

St. Nectarios Press
Contemporary Man Approx.
Elder Paisios 10300 Ashworth Ave. N.
$45 US
Seattle, WA 98133-9410
Spiritual Awakening
Telephone: (206) 522-4471
Fax: (206) 523-0550
In U.S. and Canada:
1-800-643-4233
http://stnectariospress.com/
(http://www.holytrinity.ws/eng/index.htm)

Approx.
Family Life Elder Paisios
$45 US
You may get these and many other Orthodox books at the Holy Trinity Russian Orthodox Church (http://www.standrew-
books.com/)

The Heart of the Church: (http://www.hesychasm.ru/en/index.htm) There is an imperishable treasure deep inside the human
soul - God’s gift of endless joy of the eternal life. This gift is hidden in the heart - the center of our spiritual life (This link is
highly recommended by Mikhail Ryabko and Vladimir Vasiliev).

ORTHODOX CHRISTIANITY AND FIGHTING

Many people who are seriously studying Systema and are trying to understand its spiritual basis, at one point face this
question: If Christian Orthodoxy is love and peace, how can it be the foundation of a martial art? Balancing non-violence and
acting in self-defense is an issue that every human being has to resolve for himself. So let’s take a look at it.

Compare an athlete ghting in the ring and a warrior defending his homeland. Both are prepared to hurt another human
being, but what a huge di erence in justifying their actions! The goal of a ring ghter is to show that he is superior to the other
ghters, to prove that he is the best. While the goal of the warrior is to save his family, his friends and his country from death
and misery. The warrior clearly has a noble goal, at that moment he is close to God. While the main motivation of the ring
ghter is PRIDE, the warrior is driven by LOVE, love for his family, friends and country.

Thus, training to be a true warrior is not only justi ed, but is necessary. How else can we save the innocent people from evil?
We have all seen the events in Beslan. How else can children held hostage by the terrorists be saved? Professionals such as
soldiers and police o cers are trained, armed and prepared for the task of saving lives. They put their own lives on the line
with humility and honor.
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5/19/2018
Orthodox Christianity teaches us that Russian
ghting becomes Martial
a sin only Art. Systema
when by Vladimir
there is prideVasiliev
and aggression in it, or if it contains
hatred, revenge or callousness, when the causes are greed, vanity, envy, desperation and other such vices. Otherwise, if it is
ghting for defense, for rescue - it is a sin not to ght and let your loved ones get hurt or killed or have your country
destroyed.

There are numerous examples of righteous warriors since the creation of the world. The rst Warrior known to mankind is
Archangel Mikhail - God gave him the sword - the power to ght evil; and with that sword He had banished the fallen angels
(not killed but banished) from God’s Kingdom, all those who no longer served God, but only served their own pride. It had to
be done, so that evil does not take over.

We see the Prophets in the Old Testament - such as Gideon or Samson - they were blessed by God to ght the evil. All the way
to our times, when during World War II, many nations had to go up against the evil.

The Word of God in the bible tells us that there is no bigger sacri ce than to give up your life for others. Thus, anyone who
prepares to be a true warrior, who undergoes training and takes a weapon in his hand, accepts this possibility of sacri cing his
life in the name of love for other people; in essence, he prepares to become a martyr.

The ultimate quality that Systema develops in its practitioners is humility. Training in Systema lets the person see his own
egotism and other weaknesses and gives him ammunition to overcome them. A humble person devotes his life to ghting the
evil in his heart and constantly asks God to help him with that. In reward for his hard work and resulting humility, God gives
him this amazing gift of peace, joy and absence of resentment no matter what happens.

If humility becomes our character, there is no more room for pride, aggression, vanity, greed and envy. Our spirit will always
be with God and you will ght only when it is absolutely necessary, only for a noble cause, always causing the least possible
damage to the opponents, in a calm, rm, fearless and professional way. We have to do it, otherwise evil will take over.

The story of Iliya Moorometz (main.php?page=article_info&articles_id=43&osCsid=e91834169d61c23d895f4e62e7071114)

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