18/09/2026
With this video and a few upcoming ones, I aim to explain a methodology for neutralizing rapid strikes—and, more broadly, for demystifying the factor of attack speed altogether.
Speed is one of the most overrated factors in physical confrontations. Mikhail has always emphasized that speed plays virtually no role in learning or applying Systema in a real-life
scenario. In our weekly training sessions, I wanted to show the participants why this is the case and help them gain confidence and composure when dealing with fast strikes.
As you might guess, the first step toward this is using the correct footwork at the right moment.
As a reminder:
To land a strike, the attacker must be within the "red zone"—the range where they can score a hit without moving their feet toward the target, because the distance is already sufficient.
The defender's initial task is to determine this red zone as precisely as possible through training, so they know exactly when the attacker enters it. I have written various articles on this subject and frequently mentioned it at seminars.
The first exercise for approaching this topic involves an attacker who moves in and begins their strike as soon as they are within striking range.
This exercise is not about "blocking" the strike or anything similar; it focuses solely on the defender's correct footwork the moment the attacker is about to enter the red zone. Since the attacker holds the initiative at that moment and I do not know how the strike will be executed (left, right, straight, hook, etc.), it is advisable—as shown in the video—to make the initial move at a 45-degree angle, stepping backward and to the side. This ensures that both straight and circular attacks miss their target. Please bear in mind that this is an exercise; in a real-life situation, your hands would naturally be involved as well. However, for this drill, it is very helpful to rely solely on your footwork. A quick note on speed: if you feel—as explained in the video—that your footwork isn't quite right, slow down the speed of the attack until everything is correct. Only then should you gradually progress to full-speed attacks.
In the next video, we will look at what happens when the attacker attempts a second strike— for example, as part of a combination...
Reference for Red Zone : https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=n4jaL2sc_pM&t=98s
