Combat Systema Knife Training Drill-"The Russian Scratch Stick"

A brief excerpt from a Systema Seminar by Kevin Secours held at Sensei Sali Azem's Lakes Region Systema Academy in Laconia, New Hampshire highlighting the use of The Russian Scratch Stick in knife sensitivity training.

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[no1andycraig]

i am not at all by any means a martial artist or street knife fighter. but, i think washable markers might make a better substitute for scratch stick.

[systemacanada]

@no1andycraig Markers are a fine tool for showing you where you are getting cut, but once you are aware of your vulnerability, it's better to progress to more realistic training knives. Scratch sticks serve a completely different function--there serve to inhance kinetic awareness, not cognitive awareness. They are for the phase in training where you recognize the reality of the knife and wish to kick start your instinctive movement. They are for eroding slavish adherence to cognitive patterns.

[yadclue]

where did you get this "magic stick" and why do you call it Russian? I've seen nothing of this kind in Russia.

[systemacanada]

It's a tool is used in the Russian martial art of Systema, hence, Russian. There's nothing magical about it. It's just a simple way to awaken arm sensitivity with minimal risk of injury and minimal cost.

[averit]

In Poland we just cut a piece of rubber. It's flexible, can't make a fatal injury but if you cut properly it will leave a mark. You're right that's the best way to learn. Pain is the best teacher. Cheers.

[H2H907]

@sigmacombatsystems

Yeah, I wish they could get the price down on shock knives, since they are such an amazing tool. I can tell you there's no need to spring for the expensive one with multiple settings, the $200 model works just fine. If you train with several people, maybe get everyone to pitch in a bit and get a couple. I like your lo-tech approach as well, just not the aforementioned "needle sharing" : /

[sigmacombatsystems]

@H2H907 Shock knives are too expensive. Though I see your point. Maybe one stick per person. I make the stick and it is always used on me for example. I've tried something similar with a lit cigarette, very flimsy but effective. I'm experimenting with firework punks now, but still having problems with the flimsiness.

[mdbba]

Excellent idea, stimulus=response- training motor skills at a very deep level. I really like the flow work at the end, thanks for sharing.

[mdbba]

Excellent- stymulus=response, lovely display of movement at the end. If you use a marker all it will show is where you got caught, as opposed to ingraining a response; I can really see the value of this as a training tool, thanks.

[H2H907]

The germaphobe in me sees too much potential for sharing hepatitis, HIV and other assorted cooties. More expensive, but I really like the shock knife.

[no1andycraig]

@systemacanada thank you. i understand

[rudocurtir]

As Kano Jigoro said once: "This is my ideal budo".

I practice Iwama Aikido and I'm very happy with it, but I would like to train Systema. It seems so natural and simple it may look easy but that's the point I think. Teach your body to do what you want with minimal effort. Hopefully Systema will spread or maybe one day I'll be able to travel to a seminar :)

I laugh at people who say "Oh noez, thiz iz not teh re4l de4l!!!" and all that bullshido crap.