During Soviet times, ‘Spetsnaz’ units were exclusively subordinate to the GRU. Since the GRU itself was classified, few knew about the ‘Spetsnaz.’ There wasn't even a GRU emblem (unlike the KGB). Unofficially, a bat was considered the Spetsnaz symbol. In the post-Soviet era, the red carnation became the official GRU emblem, and the image of a bat in a circle became the official emblem of the GRU Spetsnaz. At the same time, it also appeared on the emblems of various sports schools founded in Russia in the 1990s by Spetsnaz officers. At the same time, all the numerous intelligence agencies into which the former KGB had disintegrated also acquired their own ‘Spetsnaz’ units and founded their own schools and sports clubs.

Some of their emblems were a bizarre combination of the traditional KGB emblem (with minor modifications, adopted by the FSB - a shield with a vertical sword) with the emblem of the GRU special forces (a bat).

Special forces hand-to-hand combat is not a combat sport in the true sense of the word. There is no formal form, no competition, and no rules.

And although most schools aimed at civilian athletes emphasise Systema as an art of self-defence, in reality, the primary goal is to destroy (kill, disable, or capture) an opponent. Hence the numerous types of weapons used in Systema, primarily knives.

In 1997, the Minsk publishing house Harvest published a book by Fyodor Zaretsky and Anatoly Taras, ‘Intelligence Training: The GRU Special Forces System.’

The chapter ‘Special Course in Hand-to-Hand Combat’ states:

‘...at present, mastery of combat techniques using bladed weapons, improvised means, throws, and chokes is most often necessary only for capturing or silently eliminating an opponent.’

The following describes methods for removing (destroying) sentries using silent weapons and a knife:

"When removing a sentry, knife strikes are delivered to the neck (throat), heart (under the left shoulder blade), kidneys, liver (right hypochondrium), or spleen (left hypochondrium). The opponent's neck can be struck with either a thrust or a chopping blow. A thrust is most effective when it strikes the base of the neck from the front, just below the Adam's apple (or from the side, above the collarbone). A chopping (cutting) blow is delivered to the throat from the front, just above the Adam's apple (which requires bending the sentry's head back) or from the side, severing the carotid artery. In all these cases, death occurs instantly... <...> A scout's knife fight is not fencing, the purpose of which is to demonstrate superiority over the opponent. On the contrary, knife work is intended to prevent the opponent from doing anything. Once begun, the fight ends almost immediately, since there is simply no time for more in a fleeting close fight. If the enemy fails to attack first (he's momentarily confused, hesitates, or is unarmed), the scout immediately delivers one or two fatal blows and switches to the next. If the enemy attacks first, the scout must first stab the attacking limb with his knife, and then kill or seriously wound the enemy with the next move.

On the website of Vadim Starov's ‘GRU Special Forces Combat System,’ one of the popular international schools, knife fighting is described as follows: ‘Knife fighting is the most practical and, perhaps, the most reliable form of self-defence. As a rule, the type of knife and the determination to use it slow down an aggressor better than any other means or words. <…> A basic knife fighting course will help you master simple yet effective techniques against one or more armed attackers, improve your coordination, and increase your speed of movement and striking. We'll explain how to use a knife for self-defence without breaking the law, how to effectively neutralize an opponent with minimal damage to both you and them, and how to provide first aid for knife wounds.’

Many such martial arts schools with military roots have emerged in Russia, but we are interested in those that have created international networks of their branches and offshoots.

***

1. Ryabko System

The founder of all schools of the System is Colonel Mikhail Ryabko.

His biography, circulated on numerous Sistema websites around the world, looks rather murky:

"Ryabko, Mikhail Vasilyevich. Born May 6, 1961, in Belarus. From 1983 to 1993, he worked in the security service of the USSR Ministry of Internal Affairs, training the minister's security detail. From 1989 to 1994, he studied at the Law Institute of the Ministry of Internal Affairs of Russia. He served in special forces for over 10 years, participating in combat operations and hostage rescues, and was an instructor at the special forces operational-technical training centre.

From 2002 to 2006, he served as an advisor to the Minister of Justice of the Russian Federation. From August 1, 2006 to the present, he has worked in the Prosecutor General's Office of the Russian Federation as a Colonel of Justice. He has been conducting classes on the System for over 30 years and has students all over the world.

Here is another version of the biography:

Ryabko, Mikhail Vasilyevich. Born May 6, 1961. Justice Advisor, 1st class, Ministry of Justice of the Russian Federation. Senior Justice Advisor, Prosecutor General's Office of the Russian Federation. Worked in the police in the Security Directorate of the Ministry of Internal Affairs, trained the minister's security; advisor to the Minister of Justice of the Russian Federation; deputy head of the Management Department of the Ministry of Justice of Russia, carried out personal assignments of the Minister of Justice of the Russian Federation; senior prosecutor of the Organisational and Inspection Department of the Prosecutor General's Office of the Russian Federation. Assistant to the Prosecutor General of the Russian Federation. Served in special forces for 10 years, participated in combat operations, the liberation of hostages, and was an instructor at the operational and technical training centre for a special forces unit. Combat veteran and labour veteran. Recipient of state awards from the President of the Russian Federation and the Minister of Internal Affairs. Awarded a personal inscribed weapon by the Minister of Justice, Yu. Ya. Chaika. Also holds awards from the Russian Orthodox Church and is a member of the board of trustees for the construction and restoration of churches and monasteries of the Russian Orthodox Church in Russia and abroad.

It's unclear from his biography which special forces units Ryabko served in or what rank he held. The GRU is not mentioned at all. The website of one of the German schools, Systema Spell (Ryabko System), states that Ryabko trained with Stalin's personal bodyguard from the age of five and has been associated with the special forces since the age of 15.

The emblem of the Ryabko System is an oval with the figure of an ancient warrior and the inscription ‘System. Martial Arts of Ancient Rus.’ Some emblems feature the abbreviation EDR (evoking direct associations with the name of the United Russia party).

The ‘historical roots’ of the system, as described on the portal of the same name, seem completely fanciful. It speaks of certain ancient Slavic martial arts, rooted in pre-Kievan Rus': ‘The fundamental foundation of the System is the historical Russian military and Orthodox traditions, the centuries-old experience of training defenders of the Fatherland from the times of Ancient Rus' to the present day. I would like to clarify from the outset that the term ’Russian‘ refers to a martial art that emerged long before Kievan Rus' united the Eastern Slavs—present-day Russians, Ukrainians, and Belarusians—into a single Russian nation.’

Originating as a means of necessary self-defence for a freedom-loving people, the art of hand-to-hand combat was perfected in princely fighting squads, and was tempered by the Battle on the Ice and the Battle of Kulikovo. After the Revolution, the art of Russian hand-to-hand combat was partly carried abroad by émigré officers and added to the arsenals of foreign intelligence agencies. Some was cultivated only within the family circle. Some fell into criminal circles during the purges. Some found their way into the service of the Soviet government in state security agencies and the police. Some was lost. The Soviet government attempted to ban or conceal anything that shared common roots or was in any way connected to the church, faith, or God. So, while we had our own roots in martial arts, we drew on information from abroad... Based on historical references and sources, the System remained in service in the Soviet Army, but everything was classified as ‘top secret.’

On the websites of Systema's foreign schools, its history appears even more romantic and absurd, with both the Scythians and the Cossacks mentioned as bearers of ancient martial arts knowledge. These fairy tales were clearly intended solely to disguise Systema's very direct connection to the GRU special forces and to imbue it with a pseudo-historical, romantic aura. At the same time, the aura of the GRU special forces, with its mysterious combat skills, serves as a lure for both adult sports enthusiasts (especially police officers, military personnel, and security service personnel experienced in other martial arts) and young people. In Germany, this works very effectively among second- and third-generation immigrants from the USSR, who have largely retained both a Russian mentality and pro-Soviet sympathies.

Thus, the System's schools serve as a lure for people who do not harbor hostility toward the Russian army in general, and the GRU special forces in particular, which opens up ample opportunities for intelligence officers to select recruits.

The Ryabko System, which existed secretly within the Ministry of Justice, was legalised as a public organisation in 2001-2002 and registered in 2003 under the name All-Russian Physical Culture and Sports Public Organisation ‘Martial Arts of Ancient Rus.’ The second person in the Ryabko System hierarchy is Vladimir Vasiliev (born 1960).

His biography on the website systemaryabko appears even more mysterious than Ryabko's:

‘Director and Chief Instructor at Systema Headquarters. Born in Russia, Vladimir received intensive combat training and is Mikhail Ryabko's top student. Vladimir was awarded the Order of Duty and Honor, among other awards. Vladimir moved to Canada and in 1993 founded the first Russian martial art school outside of Russia—Systema Headquarters. Since then, he has personally trained over 500 qualified instructors of the Russian Martial Art Systema, certified over 200 schools in 30 countries, and created numerous martial arts films that have received acclaim from many experts.’

The Swiss Systema School website has more information.

It is said that Vasiliev served in the special forces and was a parachutist. The website of the Systema school in Frankfurt am Main states that Vasiliev received training from special forces instructors, including M. Ryabko. During his military service, he was a special forces instructor. He trains paratroopers, special forces soldiers, and bodyguards. In addition to his school in Toronto, Vasiliev directs Systema seminars in America, Europe, and Asia.

There is no information about Vasiliev's date of birth, education, military rank, or the circumstances of his move to Canada. Most likely, Vasiliev was a GRU special forces officer and served alongside or under Ryabko in the GRU and/or the Ministry of Internal Affairs.

With the creation of the Vasiliev System school in Toronto in 1993, on the eve of the withdrawal of the last Soviet (now Russian) troops from Germany, the rapid spread of the System throughout the world began.

***

Vladimir Vasiliev's older brother, Valentin Vasiliev (born 1954), is also a former GRU officer. Since 1995, he has taught ‘Systema’ in Münster, Germany. He is also an employee (or director?) of the security firm RMA Systema Rheine, where two other Russian émigrés work—both former officers in the Russian army and police special forces—Eugen Papst (born 1976) and Maik Pasochin (born 1974).

Furthermore, an unsigned photograph of Valentin Vasiliev is found on the website of SYSTEMA WORLD SECURITY, a company in Hörstel. It can be assumed that Valentin Vasiliev is a key figure in the Systema network of schools and companies in Germany.

The Ryabko System website states that there are 42 System schools in North America, 51 in Europe, 3 in Africa, 13 in Asia, 6 in Australia, 15 in South America, 17 in Russia (189 in total, 44 in Germany).

The website of Vasiliev's headquarters in Toronto states that there are over 250 schools in total, six of which are in Germany. An online search, however, reveals over 50 schools and training groups in Germany. However, some of these are affiliates of others, and some are perceived as hostile by the Ryabko-Vasiliev system. These will be discussed below.

Ryabko's website has a dedicated page, ‘About Imposters,’ which lists the names of Andrei Karimov, Sergei Savenkov (Germany), and Andrei Ganevich (Ukraine), who tour Europe and ‘pose as System instructors.’ This makes it clear that the Ryabko-Vasiliev System only considers System instructors to be those who have received licenses directly from both founders of the System: ‘...we request that the aforementioned individuals either cease claiming to belong to the System in their events or confirm their skills and knowledge with our leading instructors.’

As stated on another website: ‘Only those instructors who have received a certificate from M.V. Ryabko or V.I. Vasiliev (Canada) certifying that they are instructors in the ancient Russian martial art Systema and are authorised to teach this martial art to others are authorised to conduct training in the M.V. Ryabko System. Any instructor who does not have such a certificate is prohibited from conducting classes in the Systema or using the name Mikhail Ryabko.’ At the same time, a number of Russian systems with other founders, discussed below, peacefully coexist with Ryabko's system, and their representatives participate in joint seminars around the world.

This approach demonstrates the scale of the operation to create a network of System schools. It appears that all instructors at System schools worldwide are personally licensed by Ryabko and Vasiliev's people, meaning they were trained either in Moscow or at foreign branches of the System, and also participated in seminars organised by the System's founders around the world. In the absence of competitions or any athletic titles, this effectively tied the entire network of schools to the System headquarters in Moscow and Toronto (and trusted System representatives in other countries). This allows the System's leaders to maintain control over the entire cadre of instructors worldwide and to arbitrarily recruit them.

If we consider that the network of schools of the Ryabko-Vasiliev System outside of Russia began to develop in the late 1990s (in Germany, the first centre of the System in Augsburg appeared in 1997), then we are now witnessing the results of the development of the network of schools of the System over 25 years – with the almost complete centralization of the entire network preserved and its closure at two headquarters – in Moscow and Toronto.

Today, Systema schools are located in virtually every European country. They are especially numerous in Germany, the Czech Republic, Austria, France, Italy, the Netherlands, Switzerland, the United Kingdom, and Poland.

There are one, two or three schools in Greece, Latvia, Luxembourg, Norway, Portugal, Romania, Serbia, Slovenia, Slovakia, Spain, Sweden, Latvia, Ireland, Belgium, Estonia, Hungary... One can imagine the organisational and financial efforts this required.

The Ryabko-Kuban System website provides a list of foreign martial arts schools of ancient Rus', the System, but it is clearly very incomplete.

In Germany, only two schools are listed – in Berlin and Bonn. Until 2013, Systema Ryabko was represented in Germany by Andreas Weitzel, who founded his academy, Systema Akademie Weitzel, in Augsburg. The relationship between the schools was then terminated. In 2014-2015, Systema Ryabko was represented by Systema Akademie Berlin, founded by Falko Zander in 2007.

***

Among the instructors certified by the Ryabko System in Russia is Sergei Vladimirovich Borshchov. He has directed the Russian School of Martial Arts (RSMA) in Obninsk since the 1990s. As one newspaper article put it: ‘This combat system has been adopted by both Russian law enforcement agencies and special forces, as well as foreign ones. However, it's not just special forces who train at the RMA; everyone interested, including students and schoolchildren, attends. Priests also attend classes to speak with the youth after training.’

We have not yet been able to find Borshchev's biography or any information about his school online. This likely indicates its classified status and affiliation with the GRU-FSB.

In 2003, Borshchev, along with Ryabko and five other founders, registered an organisation in Moscow called the Non-Commercial Partnership ‘School of Military-Patriotic Education of Children and Adolescents – the System of Martial Arts of Russia.’ Borshchev does not have his own schools abroad, but he actively represented Ryabko's System at seminars. In 2006, Borshchev visited Augsburg, Germany, and in 2008, Bern, Switzerland. The website of the Swiss Systema school (Systema Schule Zürich/Bern/Basel) states that between 2002 and 2011, two- to three-week Systema seminars with Borshchev were organised annually in the cities of Kerenzenberg, Zuchwil, Lausanne, Basel, Bern, and Zurich. In 2011, Borshchev visited Poland, and in 2012, he attended a seminar in Helsinki.

***

Tver is home to the school ‘Tverskaya School,’ run by Andrei Karavaitsev, one of Ryabko's students. Karavaitsev's system has no branches abroad, but its website provides a curious list of Systema schools in Russia and around the world. Apparently, the list only includes Ryabko Systema schools. The list contains the logos, names, and addresses of 10 Russian schools, 32 North American schools, 48 ​​European schools, one African school (South Africa), 11 Asian schools, five Australian schools, and eight South American schools.

The System's schools are located in the following European countries: Latvia, Italy (Bergamo, Naples, Padua, Pedara-Sicilia), Germany (Cologne, Berlin, Hamburg, Dachau), France (Paris), Ireland, Czech Republic (Prague, Pardubice), Portugal (Porto), Great Britain (Arbroath), Netherlands (Oss, The Hague), Switzerland (Muri), Romania (Bucharest), Hungary (Budapest), Austria (Vienna), Poland (Poznan), Ukraine (Dnipropetrovsk, Kyiv).

2. Vadim Starov's ‘Russian Style’ special forces system

Vadim Starov's Spetsnaz System demonstrates its most overt connections to the GRU and other intelligence agencies. The English-language page of his website is titled: RUSSIANSPETSNAZ.COM SPETSNAZ KGB-GRU. Starov's biography is that of a GRU officer who has only formally retired:

"Vadim Vitalyevich Starov was born in 1965 into a military family.

1983–1988 – Higher Military School of the Strategic Missile Forces (Riga). 1988–1990 – Service in the Strategic Missile Forces, Kozelsk. 1990–1993 – Republican Design and Technical Centre; Research Institute. 1994–2001 – Association of Veterans of Local Wars and Conflicts "Vympel", Moscow (hand-to-hand combat instructor, deputy head of the security service). 1997–2003 – International Public Organisation for Assistance to Veterans of Special Forces "Monolith" (Head of the Operations Department). 1999–2001 – Regional representative of the combat brotherhood "My Fatherland", Moscow, Tver. 2001–2005 – Director of the interregional public organisation "A.A. Kadochnikov Centre for Russian Hand-to-Hand Combat "Russian Style". 2002–2007 – Professional instructor in the Russian Army (military unit 22039) in hand-to-hand combat and combat training. 2003–2004 – Teacher of courses on safety and survival in extreme situations at the Air Defence Academy. 2004–2007 – Teacher of tactical and special training of the Ministry of Internal Affairs employees, security guards and bodyguards at the Tver branch of the University of the Ministry of Internal Affairs of Russia. 2005–2008 – Member of the Security Council of the Tver City Administration, member of the Council for patriotic education of citizens of the Tver Region. 2006–2009 – Instructor in combat training of the Special Forces of the Federal Drug Control Service of the Tver Region. 2009–2011 – Instructor in hand-to-hand combat and combat training in the special purpose police regiment of the city of

Dolgoprudny, Moscow Region. Since 2012, instructor and teacher at the GRU Special Forces Centre." In one instance, Starov's rank is listed as captain. There is one oddity in the above biography. There was no "Higher Military School of the Strategic Missile Forces" in Riga: "After Latvia's liberation from Nazi occupation, three military academies were opened in the republic: the Daugavpils Higher Aviation Radiotechnical School, the J. Alksnis Riga Higher Military Aviation School, and the Marshal of the Soviet Union S.S. Biryuzov Riga Higher Military-Political Red Banner School (RVVPKU)." The Biryuzov RVVPKU did indeed train engineering and technical personnel for the missile and space forces since 1977, along with political officers for the same forces. Two years later than Starov, another founder of his own hand-to-hand combat style, the "Soloviev System," graduated from this school – A.A. Soloviev, who will be discussed below.

Starov's biography is full of oddities. At first glance, it seems surprising that only in 2012, at the age of 47, did he become an instructor at the GRU Special Forces Centre. However, it was previously mentioned that from 2001 to 2005, he was ‘Director of the Interregional Public Organisation, the A.A. Kadochnikov Centre for Russian Hand-to-Hand Combat, 'Russian Style.'’ Kadochnikov, discussed below, worked (and still works) at the GRU training centre in Krasnodar. Apparently, Starov became a GRU officer while still in academy.

Another biography states that Starov ‘...since 2013, he has been a hand-to-hand combat instructor at the GRU Spetsnaz Centre and a lecturer in the tactical training and retraining courses for special operations forces (Solnechnogorsk Military Training Centre), military unit 92154.’ The Starov System's headquarters are in Tver and are called the ‘International Centre for Russian Hand-to-Hand Combat 'Russian Style' – 'SPETSNAZ Combat System.'’

Here is another version of Starov's biography:

Biography:

Born in 1965 in the family of a military serviceman, reserve officer. Education: higher military. 1983-1988 Cadet, studied at the Higher Military School of the Strategic Missile Forces, Riga. 1988-1990 Combat officer of the preparation and launch group of the Strategic Missile Forces, platoon leader of the preparation and launch group of military unit 12449, Kozelsk. 1990-1993 Senior Researcher, Military Research Institute, Tver. 1994-2001 Head of the Vympel airborne missile system group, Moscow.

1997-2003 Head of the Operations Department of the International Public Organisation for Assistance to Veterans of Special Forces ‘Monolith’, Moscow, Tver.

1999-2001 Deputy Head of the Security Service of the Afghan War Brotherhood ‘My Fatherland’, Moscow, Regional Representative, Tver.

2001-2005 Director of the International Public Organisation Centre of Russian Hand-to-Hand Combat A.A. Kadochnikov ‘Russian Style’, methodologist and developer of the Kadochnikov System (author of films and books on Russian hand-to-hand combat).

2001-2007 Instructor in hand-to-hand combat of the Federation of security and law enforcement agencies of Tver (Customs, FSB, UIN, Ministry of Internal Affairs). 2002-2008 Teacher, instructor of military unit 22039 in hand-to-hand combat and combat training.

2001-2003 Instructor in hand-to-hand combat, teacher of courses on safety and survival in extreme situations at the Zhukov Military Space Academy in Tver.

2002-2005 Lecturer in courses for training and retraining of security guards and bodyguards at the Tver branch of the University of the Ministry of Internal Affairs of Russia.

2002-2006 Member of the Security Council of the Administration of the city of Tver and the Tver region.

Since 2005, President of the International Centre of Russian Hand-to-Hand Combat ‘Russian Style’ - Special Forces Combat System.

2005-2008 Instructor in hand-to-hand combat and combat training of the Special Forces of the Committee of the Federal Drug Control Service (FSKN) Tver.

2008-2012 Instructor in hand-to-hand combat of the special purpose police regiment of Dolgoprudny.

2009-2011 Hand-to-hand combat instructor at the Guard ‘Garant M’ Security Bureau of the Association of Veterans of Law Enforcement Agencies, Moscow. Since 2013, he has been a hand-to-hand combat instructor at the GRU Special Operations Centre and a teacher of the tactical training and retraining courses for special operations forces (Solnechnogorsk Military Training Centre), military unit 92154.

The official name of the centre: Autonomous non-profit organisation of non-governmental professional education, the ‘Russian Style’ Centre. Address: Russian Federation, 170006, Tver, Dmitry Donskoy St., Building 35, Office 310. The founder of the centre is the Union of Veterans of the Special Services and Special Units (MoD, MVD, KGB, FSB, SVR, GRU).

Here is a description of Starov's System from his Russian-language website:

"The Russian Combat System special forces equipment is divided into two directions.

The combat system of military intelligence, the modern GRU Spetsnaz, develops techniques aimed at the total destruction of the enemy during real combat against superior forces in wartime conditions. The modern name for this approach is Russian hand-to-hand combat (Army hand-to-hand combat) or ‘GRU Spetsnaz technique.’

The second direction. The Spetsnaz system of the NKVD, KGB, and today the FSB primarily focuses on disarmament, detention, and escort techniques.

Nowadays this direction is traditionally called ‘police technique’ (combat sambo).

The main goal of the Russian Spetsnaz Combat System is to ensure that a person, armed or unarmed, is prepared to survive in any conditions while completing the assigned task."

Other emblems on the Starov System websites directly indicate ties to the FSB and GRU. The Starov System has a training centre in Moscow, its own network of international schools, and contacts.

The website systemaspetsnaz.com lists Starov System schools around the world. There are two in the United States. One is in Los Angeles, with instructor David Patrick. The other is in Granston, Rhode Island, with instructor Carl-Heinz Pierre. There is one school in Mexico City, and one in Greece. The license authorising instructors to officially represent the ‘Spetsnaz System’ in Greece and Cyprus is signed by Vadim Starov as ‘President of the International Centre of the Spetsnaz System.’ There is one school in Switzerland, with instructor Lebertus Drenth. The latter is particularly interesting. He was born in 1982 and was (and is) a police instructor. He began studying the System in 2011, met Starov in 2014, and since 2016 has been teaching the Starov System in Switzerland, at the international police school in the community of Hitzkirch, canton of Lucerne (Interkantonale Polizeischule IPH Hitzkirch).

There is another Starov school in Italy, in the city of Sestri Levante in Liguria.

Instructor: Andrea Bianchi, representing Condor Combat Academy ASD.

In addition, Vadim Starov conducts seminars on the Special Forces System in various countries.

One of Starov’s biographies states: ‘Since the opening of the Russian Style Centre in 2001, more than 300 different seminars have been held for civilians, security guards, and bodyguards in countries such as Latvia, Slovakia, England, Germany, France, Italy, the USA, and the Dominican Republic.’ In 2016, such a seminar was held in France, at a Krav Maga school. In 2016 – in Italy, in Genoa (International Krav Maga Organisation). In 2016 – in Greece. In 2014 – in the USA. In 2012 – in Ukraine. In 2012 – in the UK, in Birmingham. In July-August 2015, Starov conducted a summer course in Berlin at the Shotokan Club Schöneiche e.V. (Lindenallee 9, 15345 Altlandsberg). This club teaches the Systema Spetsnaz. The instructor is Roger Brusendorf. Advertisements were distributed through the Facebook page Systema ‘Kosmos’ Berlin. The contact person listed in the course advertisement was Jewgenij Rieger. The page appears to be Starov's Berlin office. The messages are partially in Russian. The page features one of Starov's emblems, the most innocent one.

The summer course included lessons with four groups of varying levels. The basic course cost €30 for two days, and the nine-day instructor course cost €750.

The last part is the most interesting. It's impossible to turn even a very experienced athlete into an instructor for a new sport in nine days. This method of quickly issuing licenses is more like laying the groundwork for recruitment.

In November 2015, Starov held a seminar near Berlin, in the town of Eberswalde. Information about it was also disseminated through Systema ‘Kosmos’ Berlin. The coordinator of the Eberswalde seminar was Wolfram Ruhtz, the sports director of the Eber-Kahn Karate Club in Eberswalde, who attended elementary school in Eberswalde from 1963 to 1969. A Wolfram Ruhtz, born in 1956, is listed as a STASI personnel officer. It is likely that they are the same person.

Krav Maga representative Carlos Behrends expressed gratitude to Starov for the seminar. His letter, published on systemaspetsnaz.com, was accompanied by the emblem of the Swiss SAMBO Combat bei SYSTEMA WOLF school.

Evgeny Rieger heads a strange parapsychological organisation in Berlin called Methodisches Zentrum "Drevo Roda" in Germany. It is a branch of the Moscow-based "Methodological Centre "Drevo Roda." The organisation's website is filled with charlatan texts.

This emblem is remarkably reminiscent of the emblems of the German motorcycle club ‘Russian-German Wolves,’ which is associated with the Russian pro-Putin organisation ‘Night Wolves,’ which also represents the Swiss System—Akademie SSC Wolf—in Germany. The latter, in turn, is a branch of the Moscow-based International Centre for Combat and Special Training ‘Wolf,’ which will be discussed below.

This Swiss Academy is of particular interest due to its unique international connections. Starov's system is not only the most overt of all the other SYSTEM schools in its ostentatious affiliation with the GRU Special Forces. Its English-language advertising reads like an outright recruitment pitch:

‘Who can join the Russian special forces and pass the ’Raspberry Beret‘ exam? To join the Russian special forces, you must be a Russian citizen. But to learn combat skills in the Russian special forces, all you need is a desire to learn and determination! We'll be happy to train you and help you master combat skills.’

***

3. International Association of the Kadochnikov System

The headquarters of the International Association of the Kadochnikov System is located in Krasnodar, Krasnaya St., 160, office 308.

The school's founder is Alexei Alexeevich Kadochnikov. He is considered the patriarch of Russian hand-to-hand combat.

The association's website describes the Kadochnikov system as follows: ‘The Kadochnikov system is fundamentally different from all existing martial arts and combat sports, simple and easy to learn. The Kadochnikov system allows one to train a physically unprepared person (the weak, the sick, the wounded, a woman, a child) to defend themselves in the event of an attack.’ This isn't even theoretically about sport.

This is confirmed by quotes from Kadochnikov’s book ‘Russian Hand-to-Hand Combat’:

"..one should distinguish between three main types of hand-to-hand combat: sport, military and police.

Sport combat is a type of hand-to-hand combat (Hand-to-Hand Combat – D.Kh.), strictly limited by sporting rules to prevent injuries. Military combat is a type of HH that has no restrictions or prohibitions, as it is carried out by order of the Minister of Defence to conduct combat operations to destroy the enemy.

The Republic of Belarus police occupies an intermediate position. It is limited by current legislation.<...> Russian hand-to-hand combat is an army, a military fight, aimed at the absolute and guaranteed defeat of an opponent in a combat situation. And for this reason, it cannot in any way be classified as a sporting duel, limited by rules and taking place on a sports platform. A real fight takes place not in the comfortable surroundings of a gym, but in any conditions: day and night, in the summer heat and winter cold, in the rain on slippery ground or shifting sand, in the forest, in a cramped elevator cabin, in the cabin of an airliner or a car." It follows that the Kadochnikov System is an unrestricted method of killing and self-defence used by professional intelligence saboteurs.

Kadochnikov's biography, as listed on the same website, seems odd: ‘Born July 20, 1935, in Odessa, to a career officer in the USSR Air Force. Lived in Krasnodar since 1939. Served in the USSR Armed Forces from 1958 to 1959. From 1959 to April 1983, he worked in various organisations and research institutes in Krasnodar. Graduated from the Krasnodar Polytechnic Institute in 1965. Since April 1983, he has worked as a lecturer in the mechanics department of the Krasnodar Higher Military Command and Engineering School of the Missile Forces. From May 1994 to the present, he has worked as a leading specialist psychologist at military unit 62986.’ One of Kadochnikov's biographies states that he ‘...since 1962 has been training specialists for the special forces of our state's security agencies and officer cadres in military schools in the city of Krasnodar and military units of the Krasnodar garrison. In 1965, he completed correspondence courses at the Krasnodar Polytechnic Institute. Since 1983, he worked as the head of the laboratory in the mechanics department...’ Military unit 62986 is the 462nd GRU training centre (military unit 62986, 350090, Krasnodar Krai, Krasnodar, Severnaya Street, 267), located on the grounds of the former Krasnodar Military Academy. The transition from a lecturer in the mechanics department to a ‘psychology specialist’ is difficult to explain at first glance. It must be assumed that Kadochnikov served in the GRU from the time of his military service and then spent his entire life training special forces.

The second person in Kadochnikov's system is his son, Arkady Alekseevich Kadochnikov. The biography provided on the website is brief:

‘Born March 31, 1971, in Krasnodar. In 1989, he entered the Krasnodar Higher Military Command Engineering School of the Strategic Missile Forces. Power engineer. After graduating in 1994, he served in military unit 62986. Retired lieutenant colonel.’ ‘Power engineer’ is a cover. Arkady Kadochnikov is a lieutenant colonel in the GRU and does the same as his father. Apparently, the retirement in this case is nominal.

The structure presented on the association's website appears quite complex.

The Kadochnikov System headquarters unites three branches: the International Kadochnikov System Association, the World Kadochnikov System Academy, and the Special Training Centre. The names of the first two organisations indicate the international nature of the Kadochnikov System's activities. The Kadochnikov System has no relation to the Ryabko System, nor to any other systems. In Germany, a representative of the Ryabko System even patented the term ‘Systema’ for the Ryabko System. The list of Kadochnikov System sections lists 16 in Russia (including three in Moscow); one in Ukraine (Kharkiv); one in France (Colmar); one in Germany (Cologne); one in Taiwan; and one in Serbia (Apatin). The instructor in Colmar is Evgeny Matkovsky. According to his biography, Matkovsky served in the GRU special forces in Afghanistan in the early 1980s and became acquainted with the Kadochnikov System when it was top secret. The French section has its own website and a distinctive emblem featuring a bat (GRU) and a frog (apparently the symbol of France). The instructor in Cologne is Andrei Rotau.

4. Russian martial art System of Talanov

The head of the Talanov System is Valentin Talanov. Its centres are in Tver and Moscow. Talanov's biography on the website is more than sparse. He was born in 1963 and lived in Tver. He began boxing in the fourth grade with the Dynamo club (Dynamo being the KGB sports club). At 18, he met Mikhail Ryabko at a training session and became his student (although Ryabko was only two years his senior). He graduated from the Kalinin Polytechnic Institute in Tver (his specialty is unknown) and subsequently focused exclusively on sports. His biography contains no clues that would explain the international popularity of the Talanov System. There is no mention of military service, let alone the GRU, other than the fact that he studied under Ryabko, who in the early 1980s ‘worked in the security service of the USSR Ministry of Internal Affairs, training the minister's security detail.’ Nevertheless, the Talanov System is second only to Ryabko's in terms of global reach. The Talanov System website lists schools (besides Russia) in France (three schools), Estonia, the UK, and Iceland. In Germany, there is one Talanov school in Pinneberg near Hamburg. There is a Sytema Hamburg/Pinneberg Facebook group.

On February 18-19, 2017, Talanov held a seminar in Pinneberg, at the karate club Koshiki Karate Pinneberg e.V. The organisers were Roman Shalumov and Simon Shalumov. Information about the seminar was distributed, among others, by the Wolf Tactics Combat Systema sports club in Klein Wesenberg, Schleswig-Holstein, where there is also a Systema school. The owner is Wolfgang Eismfeld. Furthermore, Systema Jena instructor Ingolf Weiß trained with Talanov in Moscow in 2010 and subsequently participated in seminars and training sessions.

A year earlier, in February 2016, Talanov held a seminar in Pinneberg. In February 2015, Talanov was in Augsburg, at the Weitzel Academy. In October 2016, Talanov was in France, and in 2013, in Helsinki. In 2014, relations between Talanov's and Ryabko-Vasiliev's schools were severed for unclear reasons.

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5. Nightingale System

The Russian hand-to-hand combat centre ‘A. A. Solovyov Style’ is located in Barnaul.

Director – Solovyov Alexander Anatolyevich. Here is his bio from the site "Style A. A. Solovyova»:

"I was born on April 24, 1964, in the Bryansk region, in the village of Seshcha (a closed military town), to a military family. My grandfather, father, and uncle were senior officers in the USSR Armed Forces of the Ministry of Defence. In 1975, I moved to the city of Kalinin (now Tver) due to my father's transfer.

• From 1981 to 1986 studied in Riga, at the Higher Military School (RVVPKU named after Marshal of the Soviet Union S.S. Biryuzov) in the command and engineering faculty. From 1986 to 1994 served in the Armed Forces of the Ministry of Defence in various command positions.

• From 1994 to 2000, service in the Altai Territory Department of Internal Affairs, in the Department for Combating Organised Crime, in a special rapid response unit, in senior command positions.

• From 2000 to 2008, he served in the Altai Customs (power support unit) in a special rapid response unit, holding the position of deputy head of the SOBR – colonel. Total length of service in special units of law enforcement agencies is 29 years. Awarded government awards. He began training in Russian hand-to-hand combat in childhood. He received his first lessons from his grandfather and father, officers in the Soviet Army, who had undergone specific training. He continued in more depth at a military school and in special units. Currently, he continues further development and study of RRB in many directions and styles. Apparently, Vadim Starov, head of the Starov Special Forces System (see above), also graduated from the same Marshal Biryuzov School.

The Soloviev System has a vast geographic reach. In addition to Russian branches in St. Petersburg, Moscow, Novosibirsk, and Perm, there are several international branches – in Bulgaria, Germany, Latvia, the United States, and two in Ukraine.

The representative of the ‘Soloviev System’ in Berlin since 2015 is Systema Akademie Berlin, headed by Falko Zander, who previously represented the Ryabko system.

Since 2016, Falko Zander has been the director of the Soloviev System in Europe.

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6. School of Russian combat Siberian loach

The interregional public organisation, the Siberian Loach School of Russian Combat, was founded in Novosibirsk by Dmitry Skogorev and Andrey Furman in 1988 (Novosibirsk, 7 Dostoevsky Street). Here is Skogorev's biography on the website of the German branch of the Siberian Loach: "Director of the Siberian Loach School of Russian Combat in Novosibirsk, Russia, higher pedagogical education. Author of several books on hand-to-hand combat. A manual for hand-to-hand combat instructors at the Siberian Loach School, a book (training manual) for operational combat units of the tax police (Novosibirsk, 1997), <...> Author of numerous seminar programmes on hand-to-hand combat. Officer-instructor of the special forces unit (SFZ) of the Directorate of the Federal Tax Police Service of Russia for Novosibirsk Oblast from 1995 to 2001. Began training in martial arts in 1980 – sambo at the Dynamo Sports Club. <...> 1985–1987 – service in the Soviet Army. Hand-to-hand combat.

Since 1988, work has been underway on simplifying and effectively using hand-to-hand combat techniques, drawing on the natural human characteristics and psychophysical state, psychological stability, and the cultural traditions of the Slavs. <...> Since 1991, D.V. Skogorev has been engaged in the systematization and structural analysis of Russian hand-to-hand combat. He has participated in numerous seminars on the latest non-traditional psychology.

From 1993 to 1994, he served as Director of the Siberian Centre for Russian Martial Arts. From 1993 to the present, he has led more than three dozen educational and practical seminars on Russian hand-to-hand combat, held in Russia and abroad. In 1997, 2001, 2002, and 2004, seminars were held in Paderborn, Germany.

Paderborn (Germany)».

Biography of Andrei Eduardovich Furman from the same website:

"Head of the 'Siberian Loach' Russian hand-to-hand combat school in Paderborn, Germany. Education: secondary specialised pedagogical. Began practicing martial arts in 1982—karate, together with D.V. Skogorev in the 'Burevestnik' society. 1984-1986—service in the Soviet Army. <...>In 1993, he left for permanent residence in Paderborn, Germany, where he continued teaching Russian hand-to-hand combat to those interested in mastering it. In 1996, he registered the 'Siberian Loach' public organisation in Germany. Since 1996, he has regularly organised demonstrations and field training for those practicing Russian hand-to-hand combat. From 1997 to 2008, he organised educational and practical seminars in Germany on Russian hand-to-hand combat of the "Siberian Loach" school, which were conducted by him personally or by D.V. Skogorev. <...> From 1999 to 2004, he attended seminars on Russian hand-to-hand combat "Systema".

I met and spoke with M. Ryabko (Moscow) and V. Vasiliev, who lives and works in Canada (Thornhill, Ontario). Currently, A.E. Furman actively promotes Russian martial arts and conducts regular scheduled classes. During his time teaching, he trained several promising instructors in Russian hand-to-hand combat, who were certified in 2001-2002. The school's history is described on the website of its Moscow office.

In Germany, the headquarters of the Siberian Loach school is located in the city of Paderborn at the address: Sibirische Winde e.V. (Sibirskij Wjun), Milanweg 35, 33100 Paderborn.

In 2016 (2009-?), a branch of Siberian Loach opened in Berlin (Lincolnstrasse 67, Berlin-Lichtenberg).

In 2012, a new branch opened in Leipzig. In May 2017, Skogorev held a seminar in Leipzig.

In 2016, a ‘summer camp’ (Sommer-Camp) was held in Leipzig. There is a branch of ‘Siberian Loach’ in Italy, with a whole group of instructors.

There is a school called ‘Siberian Loach’ in Sweden.

Since at least 2009, there has been a ‘Siberian Loach’ school in Liège, Belgium. The instructor and his assistants are Russian.

The website of the Novosibirsk centre of ‘Siberian Loach’ states that ‘the School has offices in Germany, Sweden, Italy, Belgium, France, Croatia, Slovakia, Israel, and Mexico. The School has business ties with hand-to-hand combat clubs in England and the USA.’ As with all other Systems, the ideology of ‘Siberian Loach’ complements martial arts skills with a heavy dose of mysticism and parapsychology, with a distinct religious and chauvinistic flavor. Emphasis is placed on ‘Russian spiritual and martial traditions’:

‘Russian martial arts are knowledge accumulated over centuries. Primary among them is an understanding and awareness of the divine laws of the universe. An understanding of the components of a person: Spirit, Soul, and Body. Awareness that Man and Nature are one. Man should not destroy, but create and sow good. Therefore, the main goal of training at the ’Siberian Loach‘ school of Russian martial arts is to reveal students' inner abilities and guide them along the path of creative self-development and self-improvement. Russian martial arts are based, above all, on self-defence and non-resistance to force. Russian martial arts are a universal system (way of life) that incorporates psychological skills and knowledge, developing a person's inner abilities and creative potential.’

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7. Siberian Cossack System

The Siberian Cossack System Training Centre is located in Novosibirsk. Its director is Andrei Karimov. His official biography states that he was "born in 1971. He is a practicing psychologist and Chairman of the Council of the Novosibirsk regional public organisation "Lad." He studied stick and fist fighting with various old Cossacks. From 1993 to 2002, he participated in A.A. Kadochnikov's "Russian Style" seminars. In 2009, he organised the "Siberian Cossack" RRB school together with Yuri Sheshukov and Denis Ryauzov. From 1995 to 2012, he led seminars in the following countries: Russia, Italy, Serbia, Malaysia, Hungary, Switzerland, Slovakia, and Australia. From 1995 to 2012, he organised and led seminars for special forces and police units in Russia. He has been awarded badges and certificates of the Russian and Serbian Ministries of Defence. The name of Denis Ryauzov, co-founder of the Siberian Cossack school, will appear below. Another biography states: "Graduated from the Novosibirsk Pedagogical University in 2004. Master of Physical Education and Sports. Educational psychologist. <...> In 2009, A. Karimov founded the international school of Russian martial art, the Siberian Cossack System. As of 2017, the school has branches and students in Russia, Italy, France, Hungary, Slovakia, Serbia, Croatia, Austria, Spain, Slovenia, the Czech Republic, Finland, Canada, Montenegro, the UK, the USA, Costa Rica, South Korea, Australia, Malaysia, Hong Kong, and China. From 2003 to 2017, he was the author, screenwriter, and director of more than 100 educational and popular films on martial arts, traditional culture, family, and developmental psychology." In both cases, the lack of information about military service or any mention of the GRU special forces is conspicuous. But the training sessions with Ryabko and Kadochnikov from 1993 to 2002 speak for themselves. They also explain the surprising phrase: "1995–2012 – organiser and leader of seminars for special forces and police units of Russia." Karimov's age would have placed him into military service at the turn of the 1990s, and most likely, it was with the GRU special forces or the KGB. And the teaching of stick and knife fighting to Cossacks born in the 1910s and 1920s is a romantic cover story.

First, the LAD Centre for Russian Culture was established in Novosibirsk, its activities being distinctly chauvinistic: ‘The essence of our work in Russia is to convey traditional Russian and Cossack culture to all segments of the titular nation. In other countries, we rely on people's understanding of the value of their own national traditions. The main focus of our work is to systematically uncover the patterns of culture, its educational aspects, and demonstrate their acceptability in our time.’

In 2009, the Siberian Cossack System was created within the centre specifically for dissemination outside of Russia. The Siberian Cossack System is represented in Austria by the WINGS Society (Verein) in Allensteig. The official international representative of the Karimov System is Yevgenia Lacki, head of WINGS, as confirmed by a certificate signed by Karimov in 2016. The Karimov System has branches throughout the world.

In London – Systema Academy LTD.

In Switzerland – Systema Siberian Cossack

В Чехии – Systema – sibirskij kazak.

In Slovakia – Systema Sibirsky Kazak Slovakia

In Montenegro, it's called Siberian Cossack Montenegro. In Italy, in Florence, it's called Systema Combat Arte Marziale Russa. In Hungary, it's called Systema Siberian Cossack Hungary. In Texas, USA, it's called Siberian Cossack Texas Systema. Karimov held a seminar in Australia in 2013. Meanwhile, the Karimov System's relationship with the Ryabko System has been severed. The Ryabko System website lists Andrei Karimov as an impostor.

The Karimov System has no direct representation in Germany. It does, as mentioned above, have one in Austria. In January 2017 (as well as in October 2016), Karimov held a seminar in Vienna. The organiser was Genia Lackey, Verein Wings.

There are no logical explanations for the sudden popularity of the Siberian Cossack System outside of Russia. Nor is the financial basis for its expansion into Europe obvious.

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8. Russian combat system NEVOD

An organisation called the ‘Russian Combat System NEVOD’ is located in Moscow and is primarily designed to train special forces personnel:

‘On average, a hand-to-hand combat training course for military personnel, police officers, special forces, and private security companies lasts 3-6 months. For those without prior training, a one-year course is provided, during which classes are scheduled twice a week for 2 hours.’ The System's website lists only one trainer: hand-to-hand combat instructor Mikhail Nikolaevich Stepyrev. His biography: ‘Born January 3, 1968, graduated from the Ryazan Airborne School, served in a counter-sabotage unit, and is currently a reserve officer. He has been studying various martial arts for 20 years. He holds a black belt in karate, is an instructor in survival and hand-to-hand combat, and specialises in rapid fire contact. He was trained by A.A. Kadochnikov and Prince Boris Vasilyevich Golitsyn.’ While studying at the Ryazan Military Academy, he became familiar with military hand-to-hand combat and karate, and also learned about the Russian style (the Krasnodar version of hand-to-hand combat – the style of A.A. Kadochnikov). From 1991 to the present, he has been actively involved in training and improving instructor and methodological skills in the Russian style.

He created a comprehensive combat system, the RBS, based on the martial traditions of various nations. Through experimentation, he selected combat combinations that quickly prepared a person for survival in both hand-to-hand combat and firefights. The Ryazan school, from which Stepyrev graduated, trains officers for the GRU Special Forces units. His military rank is unknown. Like the leaders of other international ‘systems,’ Stepyrev is listed as a reserve officer, which allows him to lead a formally civilian organisation and travel freely abroad. It is clear that Stepyrev's ‘Nevod’ centre is a training centre for the GRU and other special services. It has a characteristic and surprisingly candid name. The word ‘Nevod,’ combined with the activities of the GRU special forces, is directly associated with an intelligence network and the recruitment of agents.

Stepyrev's international activities have intensified since 2009. In March 2009, he competed in France, and in April 2011, also in France. Stepyrev's closest ties are with the Swiss school Systema School Bern/Zurich/Basel, based in Bern. His coaches are Priska Pfetzer and Reto Albertini. The school's website states that their Systema community was created to develop and further disseminate the martial art of Systema in Switzerland. The school's founding date is not mentioned on the website, but its earliest activities include seminars with Russian instructors in 2003, with Mikhail Ryabko in 2006, and twice in 2007.

In May 2011, the school held a biomechanics seminar in Finland, and in August 2011 and May 2013, in Germany. Mikhail Stepyrev was named among the school's instructors, along with Mikhail Ryabko and Sergei Borshchev.

In 2012, Stepyrev, at the invitation of the school, conducted seminars in Zuchwil (February) and Zurich (December), and in 2013 – in Bern (August). In September 2012, Systema School Berne/Zurich/Basle invited everyone interested to a week-long seminar with Stepyrev in Moscow. A year later, in September–October 2013, a second similar seminar was held.

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9. International Centre for Combat and Special Training ‘Wolf’

‘Wolf’ is one of the most interesting and active organisations representing the ‘System.’ The Volk MCBSP is located in Moscow, at 46 B. Pereyaslavskaya Street. It was likely opened in 2014. Since October 2013, the International Centre for Professional Training, a limited liability company, has been registered at this address. Chairman: Dmitry Nikolaevich Drachin (since 2016), founder: Denis Yuryevich Ryauzov (since 2014). The Volk MCBSP was ‘created on the basis of the Volk Security Structures Holding with the aim of improving the qualifications of employees working in the field of security and protection.’ It can be assumed that the centre was created as an international division of the holding. The holding itself is also extremely interesting. Its address: 110 Nizhnie Mnevniki Street, Moscow. It was apparently created in 2012 (since then, its president is G. Nikulov).

Judging by the holding's structure, it was founded by two organisations: the Night Wolves public organisation and the International Union of Paratroopers. The holding provides security and detective services. It has numerous departments and representative offices throughout Moscow, as well as in Novorossiysk, Volgograd, and Tver.

The holding's president is Gennady Nikulov, a former airborne serviceman with an extremely interesting biography. Among other things, he ‘participated in the events of the Russian Spring in Crimea since February 2014; has been deputy chairman of the Sevastopol City Security Commission since November 2014; and deputy chairman of the Sevastopol City Self-Defence Force since January 2015.’

Dmitry Drachin, vice president of the holding company and president of the Wolf Centre for Border Guards, is also a colourful figure. A KGB officer, he graduated from the Border Troops Department (KGB Department) of the Higher Military School in Kaliningrad (now the Kaliningrad Border Institute of the FSB), and served in the KGB border troops until 1993. Drachin is second on the list of instructors at the Wolf Centre for Border Guards. First place goes to Denis Ryauzov, a man of particular interest to us. On the Swiss website of the Wolf System, Ryauzov is listed as the centre's general director and chief instructor. It is Ryauzov, presumably, who is responsible for the Wolf Centre's international activities.

Here is his biography from the website of the Moscow centre ‘Wolf’:

"Denis Ryauzov. Reserve officer (Airborne Forces).

Instructor in specialised combat training for personal security personnel, rapid response teams, and cash-in-transit units. 15 years of instructor experience. Chief Instructor at Volk Security Holding (Moscow) and Chief Instructor at the SSC Security Academy (Switzerland). First-class instructor.

Completed training:

• Special training courses for rapid response teams – Vityaz Special Training Centre, Moscow; • Special training courses for personal security – Vityaz Special Training Centre, Moscow; • Special training courses for personal security – Martynyuk Special Training Centre, Rostov; • Courses and certification – Practical Shooting Federation, Moscow.

From 1999 to 2012, he conducted and organised seminars for personal security personnel, private individuals, special forces soldiers, non-departmental security, employees of the Department of Internal Affairs for Transport of the Irkutsk Region, and private security companies (Omsk, Novosibirsk, Novokuznetsk, Lipetsk, Tambov).

In 2010-2013, he conducted a seminar at the Military Academy in Belgrade (Serbia) for cadets and fighters of special forces, the presidential personal security unit ‘COBRA’, the anti-terrorist unit ‘PTE’, and was awarded an honorary diploma from the Ministry of Defence of the Republic of Serbia and an honorary badge of the ‘PTE’ unit.

In 2012, he held an international seminar in Novi Sad (Serbia) for representatives from various countries (Italy, Slovakia, England, Serbia, Hungary, etc.).

In various units, he led the following courses: - Knife fighting. - Hand-to-hand combat. - Tactical shooting. - Training of bodyguard groups. - Tactical special training for rapid response teams, cash collection, and escort.

Author of educational films and articles on martial arts and a 2nd category hand-to-hand combat instructor, expert for the magazine ‘World of Security.’

Author of publications in the magazines ‘World of Security,’ ‘Martial Arts of the Planet,’ and ‘Martial Arts.’ Author of a comprehensive training methodology for rapid response teams (RRTs) and cash collection services.

What is striking is that there is no mention of Ryauzov’s rank or where he studied.

The Wolf Centre's activities are focused on three areas:

"1. Improving qualifications and exchanging experience with law enforcement officers and active military personnel:

• special tactical training; • fire training; • knife fighting.

2. Training of employees of private security structures and security services in the following areas: tactical and special training of rapid response teams (RRTs), bodyguards, collection and escort services, and facility security services:

• fire training; • tactical training; • hand-to-hand combat; • psychology of conflict.

3. Conducting training with civilians:

• firearms training (legislation on the use of traumatic weapons, safety rules, tactics for use in self-defence); • self-defence (hand-to-hand combat, defence against knives and other attack objects); • the psychology of avoiding conflict, behavior in extreme situations." It is quite obvious that the activities of the Wolf System do not even formally have a sports component. It is engaged in training that is needed either for fighters of combat special forces or for saboteurs.

However, the centre conducts intensive international activities.

In addition to 12 branches in Russia (including Crimea, which was illegally annexed), the Wolf Centre has offices in seven countries: Hungary, Serbia, Italy (Turin), Switzerland, Greece, Taiwan, and Germany. The Wolf Centre's international activities (even before its official separation from the Wolf Holding) apparently began in 2010, when the first seminar was held in Serbia. The Swiss website states that Denis Ryauzov became the chief instructor of the Wolf System in Zurich in 2010. The intensity of international contacts subsequently increased.

2012 – seminar in Budapest.

2012 – seminar in Slovakia.

2013 – Denis Ryauzov held a seminar in Taiwan ‘for law enforcement agencies and civilian specialists.’ 2013 – a seminar in Serbia, Belgrade. ‘The seminar was organised on the territory of the Military Academy. The seminar was attended by representatives from Hungary, Slovakia, and Serbia. These were mainly academy cadets, special forces officers, and personal security officers.’ 2013 – a seminar in Serbia, Kač. 2013 – a seminar in Budapest. 2013 – a seminar in Switzerland, Zurich. ‘The official representative office in Switzerland was opened at the seminar.’ 2013 – a seminar in Serbia, Belgrade (jointly with the kickboxing sports centre ‘Krstash kick box club’). ‘The seminar was conducted by Denis Ryauzov, General Director of the MCBSP Volk. Employees and heads of private security agencies, veterans of special forces units attended this event.’ 2014 – Seminar in Taiwan. ‘Chief Instructor Denis Ryauzov conducted training sessions on tactical, firearms, and special training. The seminar also covered knife and hand-to-hand combat. Representatives of various martial arts, special forces personnel, and the Taiwanese police took part in the seminar.’ 2014 – Seminar in Italy and the opening of a representative office of the Wolf Special Training Centre in Turin. ‘The official representative of the Wolf Special Training Centre in Italy is Giovanni De Vecchis.’ 2016 – Seminar in Greece, on the island of Zakynthos, and the opening of a branch of the Wolf Centre in Greece. ‘We express our deep gratitude to our official representative and brother Eugenios Gintillos and to our instructor and brother Spiros Tzoras for the excellent organisation of the seminar.’ 2016 – International Special Training Camp in Budapest. ‘Representatives from Italy, Hungary, Serbia, and Switzerland attended the camp. The seminar was attended by members of law enforcement agencies, security services, and instructors from various martial arts disciplines. November 2016 – a seminar in Zurich, Switzerland. ’The seminar was attended by representatives from Germany, Switzerland, and Italy.‘ January 2017 – a seminar in Taiwan. February 2017 – the Volk Special Training Centre opened an official office in Nuremberg, Germany, and conducted a basic course in special weapons training. April 2017 – a seminar in Zurich (Dmitry Tsizer). Dmitry Viktorovich Tsizer is listed as an instructor at the Volk Special Training Centre, with very short and strange biographical information: ’2000–2008. Special officer group, Berlin, Germany.

The SSC Akademie Systema Wolf is located in Switzerland, in the canton of Zurich, at Althardstrasse 10, 8105 Regensdorf, Switzerland. The abbreviation SSC stands for Securiti Systema Centre, as it appears on the Academy's logo.

The SSC Board of Directors consists of four members:

Dimitri Zaiser, chief instructor, German citizenship, president, representative of the training commission.

Denis Ryauzov, chief instructor, Russian citizenship, president, representative of the training commission.

Lukas Frei, Swiss nationality, Vice President.

Manuel Frei, Swiss nationality, owner.

The name of Dmitry Zeiser has already attracted the attention of the Swiss and German press: "As the president of the organisation in Switzerland, 33-year-old German citizen Dmitry Zeiser, explained, the academy is part of the Night Wolves holding company, which practices martial arts. The centre, founded in Moscow, sends its instructors throughout Europe. Dmitry Zeiser makes no secret of his pro-Russian views, speaks enthusiastically of Putin, and considers the annexation of Crimea "normal," "because it has always been Russian." However, he categorically denies that the Académie Systema Security Centre is an official branch of the Russian biker club. The press has learned that some members of the Swiss organisation attended a training camp in Crimea in August 2014. As the website liveberlin.ru reported, "the head of RusslandDeutsche Wölfe, according to some sources, is a certain Dimitri Z., who has close ties to the Russian Night Wolves." At least, that's what the newspaper Stuttgarter Zeitung claims. Deutschlandfunk directly names the main "German-Russian wolf" – Dimitri Zaiser, a Russian reserve officer, former Bundeswehr soldier, and, apparently, a member of the Die Einheit party, which, according to its supporters, represents the interests of Russian-speaking citizens of Germany and is known for its rhetoric similar to that currently popular in right-wing circles. He is also, according to Deutschlandfunk, one of the founders of the German network of the Systema Russian martial arts school – the Systema Security Centre Akademie. The German press, in particular the tabloid Bild, has labeled the school's students "Putin's secret agents, saboteurs, and provocateurs." Apparently, Zaiser, the only member of the Moscow Wolf Centre's leadership who holds German citizenship, heads the Wolf System branches in Switzerland and Germany, as well as the "Russian-German Wolves" motorcycle club.

The German branch of the SSC Academy is located in Ludwigsburg. The Moscow website mentions a branch in Singen (Kampfsportschule in Singen, Baden-Württemberg, Germany), but its Facebook page is unavailable. The same Ludwigsburg address as Systema Wolf Germany is shared by the motorcycle club ‘Russlanddeutsche Wölfe e.V.’, registered in August 2015. In February 2017, a seminar was held in Nuremberg, coinciding with the opening of a new branch there. The topic was ‘Knife Fighting - Knife Defence.’ Address: Old School Gym, Centre für Fitness und Kampfsport Gross-Strehlitzer Strasse 2, 90471 Nürnberg. Contact: Eugen Rosinski. This seminar is announced as the first of a series planned for Nuremberg.

The fundamental difference between the Wolf System and other ‘system’ schools is that it does not even try to pretend to be a sports school open to all interested parties and sports enthusiasts.

The Swiss-German website Systema WOLF states:

Systema S.C. provides training worldwide for the following organisations and formations:

Wolf – Association of Security Firms (Russia)

Airborne Forces (Russia)

Military Academy in Belgrade – Special Units (Belgrade)

Anti-terrorist unit ‘Cobra’ (Serbia)

Anti-terrorist formation (Hungary)

Anti-terrorist formation (Taiwan)

Academy ‘System Security Centre’ (Switzerland).

The first and last lines on this list are occupied by the Wolf system itself, represented by its Russian headquarters and Swiss branch. The remaining organisations are government special forces units from various countries.

In principle, professional contacts between special forces from different countries to share their specific expertise could have a clear explanation. However, in this case, the training of Russian, Serbian, Hungarian, and Taiwanese special forces is being handled by a Russian public organisation, which also has branches in third countries. The Wolf System's activities in Europe are much more reminiscent of the intelligence and recruitment activities of Russian special services than professional interstate contacts between counterterrorism units.

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There are over 70 different styles of ‘Russian hand-to-hand combat’ in Russia today. Of these, there are approximately 30 different Systems. According to our estimates, only nine of these have representative offices abroad. These are the Ryabko-Vasiliev, Kadochnikov, Talanov, Starov, Solovyov, Siberian Loach, Siberian Cossack, Seine, and Wolf Systems.

What they have in common is that their founders were all officers of either the GRU or the KGB-FSB; that the martial arts themselves are not sport-based, but combat-oriented (they teach how to kill or immobilize an opponent); and that the rapid spread of these schools around the world has no apparent natural explanation. This process began in the late 1990s and has intensified in the last decade.

It seems highly likely that the spread of various systems across countries and continents is the result of a well-planned, large-scale intelligence operation and massive state funding. Today, hundreds of virtually official Russian intelligence training and sabotage centres operate around the world, with all the attendant consequences.