Company: Threat Response Solutions (T.R.S.)
Tape Name: Russian Martial Art
- Systema
Tape Cost: $99 plus $4.50 shipping (For 3 tapes, only sold as set)
Length
of Tape/Time: Tape 1=2 hours , Tape 2 = 90 minutes , Tape 3 = 30 minutes
Number
of Moves/Techniques: Too many to count
Return Policy:
Experiences in dealing
with this company: Excellent
The Instructor: Vladimir Vasiliev
Company's Address:
6o6 E.Acequia Ave.,Visalia, CA 93292
Company's Phone Number: 1-800-899-8153
Web
Page: http://www.trsdirect.com
E-Mail:
Primary Grading Criteria:
1. Production/Tape
Quality: 10
2. Instructors demonstrated skill level: 10
3. Comprehension Score/Immediate
Understanding: 8
4. Degree to which this will make someone a better Martial Artist:
10
5. Score on delivery vs. hype: 8
6. Degree to which we'd recommend this
product: 10
7. Wasted Time (The higher the number, the less "fluff"/repetition):
10
8. Playback Score/Watching it over-and-over again: 10
9. Would I purchase
more of this company's products: 10
10. Overall grade based on cost vs. value:
10
Grand Total:
1. 80%-100% = 96 %
2.
Poor, Fair, Good, Excellent = Excellent
3. 0-5 stars = 4 Stars
Secondary Grading Criteria:
1. Beginners
benefit: Good,but will need some work to get into
2. Intermediate benefit: Excellent
3.
Advanced benefit: Excellent
4. Time to benefit: Hard work should produce superb
results (But then, when does this not apply?)
5. The need to buy additional tapes
to understand this one: None
Written Summary:
You've all seen them,
the full-page ads in Black Belt magazine promising you the ability to knock out several
attackers with a few, simple to learn techniques, if only you order this set of videos
featuring the world's deadliest and previously top secret instructor. Hurry though,
this information is so classified that the producer is expecting to be assassinated
by a CIA hit squad shortly. At which point the videos will obviously no longer be
available.
The problem for the person interested in top-class self defense
instruction is, that in spite of all the marketing hype, T.R.S. has consistently
and repeatedly produced top class videos, some of the best material available. The
Paul Vunak and Jim West tapes, which have already been reviewed by MAVR are good
examples of this. No, these tapes will not make you an instant expert without raising
a sweat. Newsflash : Such a system does not exist. Then again, the real martial artists
already know this and the suckers are still going to be looking for that next, great
Ninja Master, irrespective of what anyone says.
As to this specific set of
three tapes : This is one of the most interesting and unusual systems this reviewer
has seen in the last few years and he has seen plenty. Mr. Vasiliev is clearly a
master of this system and demonstrates and teaches it with fluidity and competence.
In describing something, it is often helpful to compare it to something the reader
already knows. What then is the Systema like ? The closest fit this reviewer could
think of is the movement principles of Tai Chi Chuan combined with a special forces
mentality and specific target selection. So that this does not sound like gibberish,
let's look at this bit by bit.
Tai Chi Chuan not in the sense of a slow motion
movement form, but rather in the sense of applying some of the principles of the
art, i.e. first and foremost relaxed movement. Mr. Vasiliev and his students do everything
with complete relaxation, the movements are natural and economical and one movement
flows into the next, without any gaps or breaks. The principle of "Folding"
is used extensively, if the opponent blocks you fold at the elbow or shoulder, move
around the obstacle and strike."Yielding" and "Absorbing" are
also utilized, the incoming force of the opponent's attack is minimised. What is
interesting, is that many Tai Chi practitioners cannot walk their talk (reviewer
has 14 years of tai chi with two chinese sifu and five trips to the far east behind
him, thus feels qualified to comment) their forms are beautiful but they couldn't
fight their way out of the proverbial wet paper bag. The Systema practitioners definitely
can and so can anyone who studies this approach seriously. Two additional points:
Size and strength do not matter in this system, by definition. Also: All you Tai
Chi guys and girls out there, if you want to learn self defense without getting all
tense and external, dump the deadly death touch videos in the nearest trash can,
where they belong and get stuck into this! Special forces mentality in the sense
that, in spite of the relaxed movement, the idea is clearly to completely annihilate
the opponent. Specific target selection simply in so far as this is a shotgun approach,
i.e. instead of firing off a single 45 Magnum bullet which would rip apart whatever
it hits, this method consists of multiple speed strikes to vital areas.
Tape
1 starts off with the basic conversational stance, then proceeds to deflecting blows
with one's shoulders, takedowns using elbows, counters to punches, open hand strikes,
elbow strikes, absorbing blows and some additional defenses against assorted strikes.
All movements are extremely natural but it will take serious and hard work to become
proficient. It would also be very worthwile and one day potentially life-saving.
Tape
2 starts off with 50 minutes of defending oneself against kicks. Again, the same
movement principles and combat concepts are used . This is followed by ten minutes
of takedowns using the feet and legs. The last half hour is devoted to kicks and
knee strikes. Some of the kicks are perhaps a little on the exotic side, such as
the "Podkrut", a leg-flip kick demonstrated against an attackers chest.
In the last few minutes it is all put together in the form of sparring, in the form
of unrehearsed responses to spontaneous attacks.
Tape 3, the so-called bonus
tape, shows the use of some interesting improvised weapons. Mr.Vasiliev uses a rolled
up magazine, a knuckleduster made up of a magazine and a few coins, a wallet, credit
card, belt and a jacket, yours or the opponent's.
To summarise : An excellent
series of tapes, showcasing an excellent system in a comprehensive and easily understood
way . Not something that can be picked up in a few days or weeks, but worthy of whatever
time one invests in it. This reviewer is looking forward to other tapes by Mr.Vasiliev
and other tapes by TRS.
E.P.
