Book review for: Russian style of hand-to-hand combat by Alexander
Retuinskih

This book is the first of a series meant to educate in the way of ROSS
and as such has an overview of the history and principles of this
system and an introductory part that explains and gives examples as
for techniques.

1 Stances: natural stance being loose and stable with no tension in
the body and ability to move without restraint (as if walking on ice)
2 Rolling and falling: mechanism and an explanation of the ideas of
natural loose movement.
3 Defense mechanism: relying on natural reaction, defense against
strikes by means of body rotation on the axis and weaving around the
strike while maintaining contact with it.
4 defense from stick with examples and release and counters to grabs
and the use of full body movement with the vector of the attacker.
5 Methods of attack: pain compliance idea, the principle of side side
hypotenuse, triangle theory, working on three directions/levels, stick
disarming, knife disarming, pistol disarming, strikes for weapon
disarming, special mechanics holding down an opponent,
striking mechanics, ape step, trinity strike.
6 Epilogue: a sum of the techniques used to sample the ideas and a
path to complete the initial requirements for ROSS instructor
certification.

The book has a few illustrations pages that show techniques and do so
well. There is no mention of floating center of gravity and the entire
course is an exercise of the explained principles. As a new student of
Systema I was able to understand the material and appreciate the
freedom it allows. It is not Systema but a partial predecessor in my
humble opinion.

If you have any further question mail me and I will do my best to answer.

Sharon.