Fight Like a Soviet

Russian Systema Debuts at Studio Flowspace

SportsJacob Roberts — Published December 1, 2011

“We’re going to have some classes and workshop previews, a potluck and some music. The space is basically to bring people together in different disciplines and have fun,” said Middleton.

“I’m trying to create a community space where people who are interested in movement and music and breath and all of these aspects can see other aspects in other disciplines and perhaps experiment with other disciplines.”

Studio Flow Space also offers classes—taught by Middleton as well as other instructors—in yoga, Pilates, Qi Gong, acroyoga, and massage therapy.

Middleton says that even in his other classes he likes to sneak in aspects of Systema.

“When I first discovered Systema, I was really blown away by the movement and the creativity involved in it,” said Middleton. “I personally am interested in the different and overlapping aspects of different disciplines. It’s reflective of that A.D.D. aspect of my personality.”

Systema, which means ‘system’ in Russian, is a fighting system. It incorporates training in hand-to-hand combat, striking, grappling and weapon disarming. It’s often advertised as the fighting system used by the Russian Special Forces unit Spetsnaz, and is well known for its effectiveness in combat.

The history of Systema dates back to 10th century Russia, but its progression across the last millennium is uncertain at best.

According to Middleton, the fighting techniques were overhauled and updated to be more effective in modern combat during Russia’s Soviet era. But due to the secrecy of that time and myths propagated on the Internet since then, Middleton says it’s very difficult to say anything about the history of Systema with any certainty of truth.

Studio Flow Space is located at 429 Viger Ave., near Berri-UQAM Metro. Workshops start at 2:00 p.m. on Dec. 3, and the potluck and music start at 7:00 p.m.

Visit their website at flowspace.org