| Interview with the President of the
Federation of Russian Martial Art Alexander Ivanovich Retuinskih |
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Alexander Ivanovich, tell us, what are the primary goals of the FRMA as
a public organization?
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 The main
goals of the Federation are, first of all, unifying cultural
traditions of the Russian nation in the field of martial arts, as
well as its separate schools’ various folklore and stylistic
variations, and the creation of a scientific division with the
purpose of systematic scientific research and further development of
our centuries-long combat traditions. There are forces trying to
separate us from our great culture, including its important and
essential part of combat skills. So the ultimate goal of our
organization is to create a nation-wide movement toward the
rejuvenation and expansion of Russian traditional competitions,
games, fighting contests, and popular mass festivals that have a
live connection with bright, cultural, historical traditions.
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Alexander Ivanovich, the next question is for you as a professional
in the field of hand-to-hand combat: What is the main
differentiating feature of the ROSS style?
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The main difference is in the teaching method. It has a number of
principles from which the whole system evolves. The goal is that we
explicitly set proportions of how much a specific aspect of training
should be done. Seventy-five percent of training time is allocated
to acquiring the ability to maintain both mental and muscular
relaxation during the fight. Fifteen percent of training time is
allocated to being able to concentrate and produce a massive surge
of energy when necessary--during a punch, a throw, or any other
technical action. The remaining ten percent is a master's level,
which involves the ability to fight in survival situations--that is
to continue and to win even when there is no energy left, in any
weather or tactical conditions, against multiple opponents.
Another important aspect of ROSS is employing a set of existing
natural defensive reactions we possess. Any leaving being is given
some defensive reactions and functions by God. For humans, the state
of defense is natural, and aggression is not.
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Alexander Ivanovich, we are an Orthodox Christian newspaper, and we are
trying to present events from this stand point. As we know, you are a
believer. Tell us how Orthodox Christianity affected the style?
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As a Russian, I was baptized in my childhood and attended church, but
conscious belief came to me through my search for the historical roots of
Russian combat tradition. Orthodox Christianity gave me the chance to
realize that all the deeds of the Russian nation were based on these beliefs
and inspired by them. It gave us the power to move on through all the
challenges and difficulties, of which there have been many--with even more
ahead. Spiritual internalization of the basics of Russian combat traditions
leads to the Catechesis of an Orthodox Christian Warrior by the Prelate
Philaret of Moscow. He etched the following warriors’ tenant: "Love your
enemies, crash the Fatherland's enemies, and despise God's enemies."
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Alexander Ivanovich, what is the spiritual basis of the ROSS Style?
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We have been separated from the belief in God for quite a while, and many
ROSS practitioners have not embraced God, yet. But they are Russian people,
and the style gives not only knowledge of combat techniques, but it also
forms a complete individual, teaching responsibility for the right to have
these skills. It also provides an understanding that it should serve the
protection of the Fatherland. This is why one of our clubs is named after
Saint Alexander Nevsky. A lot of trainees are active-duty soldiers.
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Alexander Ivanovich, what features of the national character are reflected
in Russian Martial Arts?
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Russian Martial Arts are an integral part of the nation’s culture.
Naturally, they reflect the most prominent features of the national
character – trustfulness, intelligence, simplicity, strength, and
creativity. The ability to preserve good nature, even in adverse conditions,
is a feature of strong men. By the way, our trustfulness is often
shamelessly exploited and manipulated, and our best traditional values are
being substituted by western surrogates and pseudo-culture.
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The ROSS Style is known worldwide, and people come from abroad for seminars
on RMA-ROSS. Alexander Ivanovich, in which ways does the ROSS Style form
respect for Russia and for the Russian people among foreign students?
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 I used to study
Judo and was eager to know as much as possible about the Founder of the
style, its history, and its great masters. Because it is a Japanese style, I
studied the history and fighting traditions of that country, developing
respect for its history and traditions. The same is true about our foreign
students. They re-discover Russia for themselves. By practicing ROSS, they
learn more about Russian people, and they get rid of horrifying stereotypes
embedded into them by Western propaganda. In a sense, they develop a Russian
perspective on many aspects of life because any fighting style offers a deep
layer of nations’ cultural traditions. Additionally, our people always based
their approaches on natural laws and harmony with nature. It was about
building life in accordance with God’s laws regarding each other and the
surrounding world.
I’ve been recently demonstrating ROSS at the World Head of Family Sokeship
Council (an International Grandmasters Event). I presented, of course, our
best, original and effective combat techniques. The Americans were surprised
a lot by the manner of the presentation. I did not have to tense up, to
scream, to rigidly concentrate, or to show up any “combat” mimicry. I was
just smiling with quiet and accurate movements. I told them that’s how we
all lived in Russia. A fight for us is work, and any work we do, as they say
in Russia, we do “with sense, thought, and pace.” It was a revelation for
them. This is why it makes sense to popularize the style abroad.
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Alexander Ivanovich, you are a Master of Sport in Sambo and Judo. How have
they affected style formation?
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Sambo and Judo gave me a start, made me think, and expanded my horizons.
Concurrently, I was studying bayonet fencing, fencing, and combat Sambo.
Studying Russian Style under Alexey Alexeyevich Kadochnikov was of great
importance to me. ROSS is an abbreviation for the “Russian Native System of
Self-Defense,” and today I would add “Modern.” Because, based on traditions,
systematizing our experience and evaluating our findings in practice, we are
developing our martial art. We’ve developed methodology, study programs,
competition system, student attestation, and principles of teaching it in
physical culture colleges.
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Alexander Ivanovich, what do you would wish to tell us for the conclusion of
our conversation?
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Training in traditional Russian sports and martial arts is mandatory for
growing as a highly developed individual, especially as a real man. Russian
Martial Art-ROSS is a system of views that help one to form that right
attitude toward the world, toward nature, and toward society. It’s intended
for a broad mass of people. Everyone has to ask himself questions like,
“What are we going to leave after ourselves?” “Who are our children going to
grow into?” “What will our Fatherland be like in the future?” Everyone has
to contribute to the preservation of national culture and traditions, to
teach their children to love our culture, and to participate in national
revival--especially in current times. These days, many concepts are being
hijacked. The very idea of Russian Martial Art as a system is being smudged.
It is misplaced with Russian hand-to-hand combat system, Cossack fighting
system, fisticuffs, etc. These are not systems; these are merely stylistic
directions. There cannot be hand-to-hand combat without a battle.
Hand-to-hand combat is a battle for life or death. Every fighter uses
specific stylistic techniques in which he trained – Sambo, karate, etc.
Hand-to-hand combat does not exist by itself. In Russia, there is a combat
military system designed by Alexey Kadochnikov, and it’s great for the
preparation of Special Forces operatives. There is the ROSS Training System,
comprised of eight stylistic directions, one of which is a hand-to-hand
combat as part of our survival school. Russian Martial Art teaches, first of
all, the state of the spirit. It is a gateway to a combat tradition via a
tribal memory imprinted on us, and it also gives us a wide spectrum of
knowledge of physics, biomechanics of the human body, survival skills,
physical culture, medicine, historical roots of our combat tradition, and a
path to grow as a creative individual. Most importantly, only a person
capable of love reaches the truth. One walking the path will achieve his
goals. So, forward, to victory!
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Dimitrii Morozov, October 15, 2005
From the newspaper «Spirit of the Christian».
Translated by Oleg Yakimovich |
