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First Official Russian Martial Art
School is the only one in Chicago that teaches "The System" employed
by elite Russian Special forces. Arkadiy Stepankovskiy, a 7-year
veteran of private security services, opened his school in June
2003, now teaching his students how to defend against street and
criminal violence.
THE SYSTEM academy, conveniently located in North Edgewater
at 6355 N. Broadway Street, on the second floor in Suite 19. This is
right on the corner of Broadway Street and Devon Avenue. Right
across from Loyola University of Chicago-Lakeshore campus. Students
are currently ranging in age from 12 to 65. Some attend daily, but
most exercise a few times a week.
The class consisted of men and women, short and tall, large
and small, handicapped, old and young. Stepankovskiy says, “You do
not need to be big and strong to study SYSTEMA. No previous
experience in Martial Arts is necessary, because I am teaching
students to reawake and take advantage of their natural
reflexes.”
INSTRUCTORS
Arkadiy Stepankovskiy - has arrived in
Chicago in 1995 from Uzbekistan, former Soviet Union. In the late 1980s he started
learning Hand-to-hand Combat under the supervision of military
paratroopers. That was very similar to SYSTEMA, but methods of
teaching were more based on techniques rather then principles. His
first instructor was an “Afghanistan War” veteran and because of his
extensive expertise and proficiency he was hired to work for KGB and
could not continue to teach Close Quarter Combat
anymore.
Until 1991, when Martial Art was finally legalized in USSR,
Arkadiy Stepankovskiy had to practice underground. During that period, for
political reasons, if you studied or taught karate you could be sued
and sent to jail. Later in the mid 1990s, Stepankovskiy started his
career as a personal protection specialist. For over seven years,
both in the Soviet Union and in America, as a result of working in
high-risk occupations, he had to handle risky and dangerous
situations caused by violent people. Those were people that count a
life and health of others as nothing. Those were people you should
avoid!!!
As an addition to his “real life” expertise, he also has been
studying and teaching different Martial Arts styles, including
Karate, Jujitsu, Boxing and Iaido. But when it comes to street
survival and professional use of force he chose SYSTEMA.
Stepankovskiy does not claim that SYSTEMA is the best single combat
style in the world, as well as he does not think himself as the
invincible man. It’s just that differences in between the SYSTEMA
and most of the sport oriented Martial Arts that in sport main
objective is to WIN THE FIGHT. Rather than in SYSTEMA it is the same
as in reality of street combat, where you have to SURVIVE.
Now a days he has already "retired" from doing personal
security and after officially certified by Vladimir Vasiliev and
Mikhail Ryabko, teaches SYSTEMA classes at school, runs seminars,
writes articles for newspapers, and work with different security
experts on problems of streets safety and professional force
use.
Mikhail Ryabko - Colonel of the Special Operations Unit with
the Russian Military and is the Chief Instructor of tactical
training for the Emergency Response Team of MVD. In addition Col.
Ryabko is Advisor to the Minister of Justice of Russia Trained since
the age of five by one of Stalin's personal bodyguards, Mikhail was
enlisted to the ranks of Spetsnaz at the age of 15. Currently, his
role is that of a tactical commander of hostage-rescue teams,
counter-terrorist operations, and armed criminal neutralization.
Mikhail resides in Moscow where he is Chief Instructor and host of
our annual Russian Martial Arts Camp Program in Moscow. He is also
the author of a textbook on Tactics of Spets
Operations.
Vladimir Vasiliev - Director and Chief Instructor of the
Toronto School of Russian Martial Art. Born in Russia, Vladimir
studied at Moscow Spetsinstitute and received intense training from
Mikhail Ryabko. Vladimir's work spans across 10 years of extensive
military service with the Special Operations Unit of SPETSNAZ,
including regular high-risk covert assignments and missions. He has
also served as trainer for paratroopers; swat teams, and elite
bodyguards.
SYSTEMA HISTORY.
SYSTEMA (Russian style of martial art
dates back to the 10th century) also known as “The System” is a
comprehensive system of defense and protection, which was recently
declassified, and made known to the public with the fall of the
Soviet regime. Throughout the cold war it grew and adapted to the
varied needs of the elite Soviet Special forces (Spetsnaz) of
Minister of Justice. For example, present days in Chechnya, SPECNAZ
of Minister of Justice responsible for the security and protection
of President, Government, and International
delegations.
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 different terrains, 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 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, specifically designed for fast learning.
When the Communists came to power in 1917, they suppressed
all national traditions. Those practicing the centuries-old style of
martial art were severely punished. However, the authorities quickly
realized the viability and potency of the Russian martial art and
thus reserved it for the elite units of Spetsnaz.
It is only since the late 1980s, with the fall of the
Communist era, that these martial traditions and styles started to
become available for civilians.
SYSTEMA
TRAINING
From my personal experiences - in
oriental combat sports there are mystery of ceremonies involves,
intrigues singularity of east clothes, colorful belts, exotic
commands and names, barefooted legs and filled fists, and rigidity
of discipline. There are also forms of the movements more reminding
ritual dance and behavior of animals, birds and insects. However as
Stepankovskiy pointed out, “All this is very effectively looked in a
sports gym, on circus arena, at cinema. Nevertheless it is difficult
to make all these work on ice or on a snow, in the car, or in a
cabin of the elevator.”
That is why all this exotic is not present in SYSTEMA. All
practices are carried out in normal daily clothes, without any
specific stands, forms, and or belts. There is also no ritual or
bowing. There are no
techniques in SYSTEMA, only your natural body movements based on
instant instinctive action at use of the most natural and simple
movements of a body.
I know that in most oriental Martial Arts students have
fighters look and their faces are tense or edgy. Laughter and jokes
are not appropriate. That is why it was very strange for me to see
that during SYSTEMA classes’ students were smiling and laughing.
Arkadiy Stepankovskiy says, “If you take life and training too
seriously all the time, you will be unable to react naturally to
truly serious situation appropriately. When people start smiling
they relax their body and mind. Therefore body reactions will be
instinctive and natural. Consequently, students got used to be relax
and natural under violent and stressful confrontation. Simplicity
and naturalness are the reason of high efficiency of SYSTEMA
training.”
Students will learn such skills as striking, kicking,
throwing, locking, weapon deployment and retention. All skills are
practiced from both standing and lying positions, as well as
everything in between. Tactics assume the need to overcome skilled
opponents and multiple assailants, use and defense with and against
knives, guns and sticks, same as improvised weapons like pen,
scissors, and even chairs.
However, THE SYSTEM is not just about self-defense. It has
unique exercises developed by the Soviet military for warm-up,
conditioning, flexibility enhancement, functional strength gain,
pain and fear control. Stepankovskiy also encourages his students to
practice the Russian health system of daily dousing with ice-cold
water, preferably outside, and fasting once a week. The dousing and
fasting strengthen the body's immune system. Stepankovskiy says,
“It's all part of learning The System. In order to survive fight and
defeat your aggressor, first you have to defeat yourself. You have
to be healthy, inside and outside. You have to a be good
man”
Arkadiy Stepankovskiy - Official Certified SYSTEMA
instructor, now invites anyone who wishes to know more, or train in
this unique and exceptional art. You can contact him on the
following phone number or at the following
address.
Arkadiy Stepankovskiy:
Telephone: (773) 203-7736
Address: THE SYSTEM - Russian Martial
Art
6355 N. Broadway Suite 19
Chicago, IL. 60660
Email:
astepankovskiy@system-chicago.com
Web Address:
www.system-chicago.com
article by: Edward
Williams |