Does systema really work?

Question

I've watched a video of Systema on youtube, I'm wondering, is it all a magic act or does it actually work? They seem to just hit someone, not even hard, and they fall to the floor like a corpse, it's quite amazing really.

This is the video http://youtube.com/watch?v=O7_dzu4TQDs&feature=RecentlyWatched&page=1&t=t&f=b

Watch at 0:45 seconds in untill 0:53 seconds in, that is one move that particularly caught my attention.

Answer 1

For real "buck diesel" self defense look up

defendo

SCARS

kung fu san s****.>
CQB

McMap

no mysticism needed

Answer 2

Yes Systema does work. It is taught to Russia's special forces.

What you are witnessing are just demonstrations, mate.

When you train, you have the option of going as hard or as soft on your sparring partner(s) as you want. The harder you go, the harder they'll go.

The demonstrations where a bunch of guys fall down all of the sudden are just to demonstrate the fact that they have been hit in a critical spot or simply their balance has been shifted dramatically through psychophysics (or, simply, they have been put into a position in which they would be dead, so they fall down).

If you want to know more (and in greater detail) let me know.

Answer 3

I do know of legitimate users of systema, but even those users agree that it is really easy to get sucked into the mysticism and no-touch KO stories and hyper-choreographed demonstrations.

Most of the younger and more impressionable followers tend to suffer from the same delusions of Chi-blasters, Ninjitsu (taijutsu) students, spiritual Aikidioists, and George Dillman Kyusho-Jitsu Practitioners.

Long story short, unless you're a student of RMAs and just want systema under your belt, or if you're just really gullible, avoid systema.

Answer 4

Have you ever heard of acting?! And that's what Systema is: ACTING!