Global Kick

Survival and Faith

An interview with the Russian Systema master, Mikhail Ryabko

This interview took place in 2003, after Mikhail conducted a two day seminar in London, England. Mikhail was kind enough to share some of his hard gained wisdom and experience. He is a humble guide and a bastion of warrior virtue. His words provide sign posts and an intriguing glimpse of the road to Systema and beyond. I would also like to thank David Kirillov, who acted as a patient and energetic translator for this interview and numerous seminars. Indeed, The System is often best understood through sharing and compassion.

Aran: Welcome to England

Mikhail: Thank you

Aran: What is the objective in training people or how are you trying to help them?

Mikhail: That is quite specific. It’s a good question. I don’t really want to say anything with The System because people will just select what suits them…. But the knowledge that The System carries with it, is something different and that is an interesting point. But again the point is are we talking are about me as a person or the knowledge that I possess? The knowledge that I possess is quite interesting. It allows people to develop a certain way and become more human – to love people and to treat them as humans, as people. We have had enough aggression really. Just have a look at the martial arts magazines…people think that if they contort their face in such a scary fashion, they are great, they are fantastic fighters….see how people try to enforce their ideas or to sell their ideas…but I have seen many true professionals...people whose job was sometimes to end peoples lives, that was their job in war, but I never saw aggression or these faces. You understand..... and this is really the point I am trying to make – we should be people. We don’t need to study how the monkey moves really, or we don’t need to watch and study how the turtle runs…because we are people and we should study human movement…we are not dragons; we are humans and that is my point.

Aran: Ok thank you. Now The System contains so many profound influences and legacies entwined in its history. Is it fair to say that many different types of people have contributed to The System; such as the Cossacks, the knights, the priests and of course, Russia’s modern day military professionals?

Mikhail: …if you are willing to go that far, really we should go as far as King David, the warrior King, who was singing praises to God, and had God on his side in battle. Those traditions are thousands of years old. Approximately, this is where things stem from, perhaps even earlier.

Aran: Now just staying in the older times, it seems that there was a natural progression for many of the knights, to put down their swords and join the monk orders in the monasteries. Can you explain why this happened?

Mikhail: Of course, it is honourable to be in the military; to defend your country, your family, your children. It is good. But quite often these men ,when they were fighting, they didn’t have a family. They had nothing. They weren’t even warriors for money. Yes they were getting some sort of cash. They were supported…but they didn’t have anywhere else to go quite often and they probably weren’t quite suited to the family life either. They were always on the march, always on a mission somewhere. Of course, another way to look at this, is that to kill another person is also a sin and they had quite a few sins, probably. This is why for many of them, the reason they went and joined monasteries and religious orders is to prepare their soul for death - for final judgment.

Aran: Do you think the knights of old times, had an understanding of breathing techniques, like we are learning today? Obviously they were very capable in what they did physically, so do you think they were using breathing exercises?

Mikhail: Maybe: maybe not. Not necessarily so, but I believe it is incredibly likely that breathing principals were used by them. Perhaps the exercises were different, but the principles were unchanging, they were there. As long as you do not break the principles you can make up your own exercises.

Aran: Now, one of the things that I remember you saying in one of your training sessions is that the knights rarely fell of their horses because they kept their backs straight, when they were riding. This obviously relates to form. But would you say there is more to form than just keeping your back straight? Could you say that form relates to faith?

Mikhail: Faith of course has something to do with most things…it’s the natural thing… its good for health. Things that do not destroy your soul, your body, your family, your country – things that create – these are all good exercises to do…because God creates and the dark forces destroy and whoever supports which ever side – creates or destroys….

Aran: Finally, one of the very interesting comments or advice you gave in the Master Of Fighting documentary was when you explained that the way you are able to often perceive so much and understand people is because you ‘expect nothing from people’. Could you explain a bit more about this, please?

Mikhail: The answer is quite simple. You must accept people as they are….maybe you can help the person, maybe you can correct some mistakes. Its up to you. Its good to do this. But, if you don’t think that you can , then don’t get involved. Don’t entangle yourself in it. The most important thing is- to do no harm.

Aran: Mikhail, thank you for your time and wisdom.

Mikhail: My pleasure. Anymore questions then come and ask – if I know the answer I may even tell you….

Please note: This interview has been edited for web site convenience.