Hello everyone. Love isn't all in the air today. We have what you crave: the good, the bad, and the completely crazy about martial arts. And there's heaps of each. For the main course, we return to one of my most favorite pastimes: the humble art of Systema.
As always, mailbag questions are [email protected]Do questions have to be about fights? Absolutely not. You can also ask about capybara mating habits. Ask questions. No one has anything to lose.
Systema is a martial art with no limits
As you know, I've been accused by commenters here of hating Kung Fu, and I need to clear up that misunderstanding. Love Kung Fu. It was the first of many martial arts that I fell deeply in love with and will always remain dear to my heart. However, it's not my fault that the majority of the internet's charlatans, con artists, fraudsters and delusional masters happen to come from that side of the martial arts world.
But if there's one martial art that looks goofier on any given day, it's Systema. That's simply a fact. No other martial art is based on absurd nonsense wrapped up in a kernel of truth like Systema. It's truly amazing to see Systema in action, because like any good nonsense, Systema usually starts with sound principles.
But I love seeing the clown shoes in action, I can't take my eyes off them. Each impractical technique is more daring and insane than the last. If there's one thing they're consistent at, it's that they always raise the stakes every time I see a compilation. To me, Systema is truly the king of weird and bad.
We start off, as always, with our friend Jerry from Fight Commentary Breakdowns. This collection should be seen in its entirety, but there is a dense section just dedicated to Systema.
Well, the title sounds bad but it can’t be… oh my goodness…
Ryabko is my old friend. Even in death he haunts me. I do not mean to disrespect the dead. I really do. This is not a cowardly way of looking for an escape route before criticizing this string of absurdities. It does not mean that you need to be careful about the actual content. Just look carefully.
Baby, what are we doing? There's no need to do this. My guys hit him with a pressure point combo. The Fist of the North Star crew should have sent this guy in. at least Five fruit baskets. He's so proud. Oh, good.
Next is another instructor. It might be the same instructor from this legendary gun removal promotional video. It's too blurry to be 100% sure. But my buddy will show you some quality Systema. Take a look:
This is a real power slap, a quick move to hit someone across the mouth. Check out this knife disarming combo.
Block the knife, knock it out of the attacker's hand, manipulate the wrist. Grab your partner and say 'thump,' then flick your thumb to KO them. Don't take this so seriously. There is so much partner submission and the most insulting thing is that they think the audience won't notice. I always say this: It's reckless and irresponsible to teach this. If you do this, you will get hurt. You will get hurt badly.
What is that? Do you think I'm exaggerating or being too pessimistic? Rationalize this:
Try that in the real world. If you win the Swiss Cheese of the Year Award, tell me how many holes you have to sew. This goes beyond ridiculous, it drops to just plain gross. That's why I mock Systema. You shouldn't be charging people for this. Try doing a crossword puzzle, it's a better use of your time.
Portuguese Stick Fighting
Have you ever heard of Portuguese stick fighting? Not only does it sound interesting, it's also pretty cool to see in action! Check out this other video courtesy of Jerry from Fight Commentary Breakdowns. It's a classic video that breaks down the basic principles and techniques:
The piece, like most of his work, starts off rather slowly, but from the middle onwards the fluidity, speed and flair are mesmerising.
Elegant Silat
Check out this demonstration from 2017, which covers many elements of Silat technique, from bare hands to demonstrations using various forms of weapons.
Karate knockout!
Karate Combat shows no signs of slowing down and delivered an amazing knockout in KC: 43. There's a lot to digest in this one, so enjoy!
More karate? Of course!
We're going back into the world of Kyokushin Karate and bringing you some classic knockouts. If you're an Andy Hug fan like me, you'll love the Axe Kick. If you're a fan of the Rolling Thunder Kick… you're in for some wild action. Definitely my favorite of the week.
Terminator Day
This week, we take another look back, taking a nostalgic stroll down memory lane and celebrating some of the innovators and mainstays of martial arts of the past. Denis Alexio, nicknamed “The Terminator,” was a gifted kickboxer with some seriously memorable highlights. He was a multi-disciplinary, multi-award winning fighter who delivered some incredible performances.
Unfortunately, he is currently incarcerated due to legal and financial issues, but that doesn't take away from his incredible career and incredible talent.
Happy Valentine's Day or something.
Look, look at this. Or don't look at it. I don't know. Something, something, romance.
That's it for this week, everyone. Be kind to those around you, be kind to yourself, and remember, even though you may think you can fight it, there are so many people out there just like you.
