The Kadochnikov System: the Look from Inside

Part II

As I’ve mentioned above the core of the Russian hand-to-hand combat as a part of the Systema is a doctrine of control – you should control the situation and the opponent. I think only aikido along with the Kadochnilov Systema follows this principle in its work. I should admit that the ways to achieve it are different in these systems. To gain control over the enemy the Kadochnikov Systema uses an ingenious technique of getting free from holds and the technique of controlling your own weight. At the same time the Systema teaches to use “soft” blocks with twisting movements that produces the twisting effect and whipping strikes that allow go round the blocks using the contact points as pivots. All these moments allow to work more efficiently. The directions of the strikes are not random; they fit in the whole process affecting weak and painful points.

You may say that such an ingenious Systema claim to be used in the army and is a bit excessive for civil people. But you should admit that when carrying out a combat task you may happen to be in such conditions and state that you are unable to raise your hand let alone kick with the leg. The experience of past wars proved this fact many times.

I think the second postulate of the Kadochnikov Systema is obvious now – the work should be done not at any cost but at the cost of minimum efforts and loss of time.

There is also third postulate – the combat starts at once and aims at the defeat of the enemy. There is no boxing and it is provided by a number of preventive measures. I can only add that work with weapons and work against weapons are integral constituents of the Systema. It naturally fits in the process of the work.

The process of training also differs from the generally accepted. Trainings run at calm, quiet rate without tension (it is important to be relaxed), using only third part of your strength. The main criteria of the properly executed element is feeling no obvious resistance of the partner during the work. The element should be done smoothly.

Unlike others systems of martial arts the Kadochnikov Systema uses not a separate “hold” or group of “holds” practiced for second-nature but the work of a body tuned to the motions of the opponent. You don’t break his defence with powerful strikes but naturally intertwine with his movements kind of helping and carrying them to the point of absurdity. You don’t try to hit before he does (assume the opponent is faster than you); you make him follow your motions. Very often there is no need for you to hit – due to his inertia the opponent gets injured against the striking parts of your body and objects at hand that you carefully stuck out just in time.

Actually sportsmen intuitively learn all these things in the process of tournaments. Here they are used as a basis of the entire process of studying. The peculiarities and distinctions of the Kadochnikov Systema don’t confine themselves to those mentioned but this is another extensive topic.

Of course whole Kadochnikov Systema is not admass but its separate parts can be adapted for carrying out local tasks. The imported systems have qualified trainers and international acknowledgement. Though I believe that provided serious and competent work the Systema worked out by Aleksey Alekseyevich Kadochnikov can and should rank high among other martial arts. Fast and dynamic development requires the support of authoritative organizations and interested institutes.

Many people heard about the Russian martial art and the Russian hand-to-hand combat but they don’t know what it has to do with “the School of Survival” and in what way its traditions can be of use to civilians. They don’t know but sure they want to know.

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