ROOTS OF RAF

INDO-EUROPEAN COMBAT TRADITION

Indo-European tradition of hand-to-hand fighting has the history of many thousands of years even according to the most modest appraisal. Ancient tribes and unions, that later became the basis of the European nations, come from one area. That is why we make the conclusion about the unity of European combat competition traditions, which comprise:

• Armed fighting and exercising (fencing, juggling)
• Unarmed fighting (strikes with hands and legs)
• Wrestling with weapons
• Unarmed wrestling
• Armed self-defense
• Unarmed self-defense
• Team armed fighting competitions (like team stick fights "row VS row", known as "stenka" in Russia)
• Team unarmed fighting competitions (like team fisticuffs "row VS row" - "stenka").

The original unity of the Indo-Europeans explains the fact that many technical actions from, let’s say, German medieval hand-to-hand fighting manuals closely resemble Savate, and some Greek and Roman Pankration blows and guards can be seen in live on the Russian streets.

In RAF we respect and study the materials on the historical forms of fighting of other European nations as they are generally compliant to the Russian fighting techniques. Learing about other European traditions enrich our understanding of the vast Russian fighting heritage.

In general we can say that martial arts appeared to be a truly integral part of the culture in the Indo-European societies. The practice of regular martial competitions, duels of the noble and fights of the rank-and-file, and, of course, wars, always followed and shaped the development of Indo-European civilizations. Let it contradict the political correct point of view on the world history, but Europe has never been an example of peacefulness and submission.

Indo-Europeans had always stressed on the applied effect from the fight training. Any technical action should be simple and efficient, and should not demand too much time to study. Only those actions are study worthy, which can be applied instantly and with a guaranteed success.

In a same way like the Russian language has become a direct descendant of the Indo-European pre-language, the Russian combat tradition has absorbed the most characterising stereotypes of the Indo-European combat culture. Moreover, it is Russia who has kept these traditions longer then any other European country. It is important to note, that mass fighting and wrestling competitions have always been an important part of any Russian folk holiday. The "stenkas" (group row fighting competitions) and bare-knuckle fisticuffs together with wrestling have been the only common sport for all Russian rank-and-file men up to the beginning of the 20th century.

Like the Church had been persecuting the folk fighting events for the ages, the communist power has strictly forbidden the ancient customs. The last folk mass fisticuffs in Russia was mentioned in the 1950-es. The reminiscence of the ancestors' habits is live in the Russian society up to now. For example, the Russian football fans practice huge "fair play" fights that gather more then 1 000 people.

That is why the ethnographic material on the ancient forms of fighting culture is the most accessible in Russia. We get a lot of knowledge not only from historical chronicles, but directly from the live bearers of the great tradition as well - from the elders.