http://www.martialnews.co.uk/story8.html

+++SECOND MAY EDITION+++

Russian All-Round Fighting Championships Moscow 24/25th March 2012

The story starts with me and son flying to Moscow. We were met with such warmth and taken to the family home we were to stay in. Once there we meet with old friend and President of the Federation Maxim Shutanov. After a meal we bedded down thinking of the two days ahead of us.

The championships include eight full contact events these include and in this order  bayonet, knife and stick fighting followed by wrestling, kick, fist fighting leaving the two hardest events hand to hand combat and storm fighting (7x20secon rounds)

We woke early and arrived at the sports centre for 11am. There were some 45 to 50 fighters from across Russia. Looking round I could see these men were for sure the best fighters at the peak of training and fitness.

DARRIN Richardson: Maxim can you please give the readers an understanding of the history behind RAF
Maxim Shatunov: The history of RAF starts in 1997 when have first published the series of the five books on the Russian authentic martial arts. These book have been re-published seven times from 1997 till 2002. Publishing the results of my research has allowed me and my friend Denis Rojkov to open our own school of the Russian martial arts. I have been training in wrestling, fist and kick fighting and hand-to-hand fighting, while stick and knife fighting was the specialisation of Denis. At the beginning we were having around 20 students and were training only outdoors. But gradually our followers in other parts of Russia began to appear, which resulted in numerous personal trainings, master classes, seminars and competitions in many other cities. It was a difficult but successful stage of the growth of the system which is now called the Russian All-Round Fighting. I have used the term RAF for the first time in 2003 in my new book dedicated to the history of the Russian folk wrestling.

VID HERE

DR: Very interesting, how about your personal journey in training to the point you are today?
MS: My personal history in martial arts is rather typical. I represent a dynasty, well, rather two dynasties. From my mother's side, my ancestors were fist fighters, from the father's side – wrestlers. My grand-grandfather from the mother's side was a prizefighter. Both of my grandfathers were outstanding fighters and wrestlers, competing on the sports grounds and streets as well. My father has been training in Greco-Roman and free wrestling from his childhood. Due to his sports training my father served in a special sports division in the army. He has continued his regular army service in a military college where he continued training and competing. Serving as an army officer, my father started his training in Sambo where he gained great results. Moreover, he was an enthusiast of boxing and army hand-to-hand fighting.
It would be strange if, being raised in a family with such fighting traditions, I would not became a fighter myself. My father was my first trainer, who started teaching me boxing from the age of nine. Boxing was the thing I wanted most that time as it allowed me fighting efficiently on the streets. I was living in the ghetto-like suburb, the people who lived in the same conditions would understand what I mean. Gradually I have started training in the Soviet army hand-to-hand fighting. This style, besides of the hand strikes, included kicks, holds, throws and disarmaments. I used to practice the technique shown by father with my friends, and used this technique in practice many times.
In the late school years I was excited about Karate and Judo, mixing these styles with sport and combat Sambo. In 1989 I got inspired by the authentic Russian fighting styles, and gradually quit training in any other styles then the Russian.
In 1994 after the long training course and examination I became a certified instructor in one of the sports full-contact systems of the Russian martial arts. I used to compete regularly, in bare fist fighting tournaments as well. In all competitions I was taking prizes.
I continue competing nowadays, in the 2010 RAF National Championship I have taken the first place in the Veterans category. I am doing my best to retain good sports condition. 

DR: In the west Russian martial art is still not common, and there is a mystic about the training, what separates RAF from other eastern styles?
MS: Yes, the mystic is often used in promoting martial arts, not only Eastern, but some Russian as well. I was surprised to learn that some Russian martial arts win recognition in the West due to ungrounded myths about the Russian Spetsnaz and strong statements of the masters of some 'secret' systems, whose sports achievements are sometimes unknown.
Most of the modern commercialised Russian martial arts exploit the image of the deadly spetsnaz or an ancient traditions heir. At the same time it is not possible to get any explanations concerning the source of their knowledge. If you ask about their manuals – they say they are secret. If you quote the military charters – they say there are some additional secret instructions. If you ask the name of his trainer – well, his name is secret too. Everything concerning Spetsnaz is secret – what a comfortable position!
When you start talking about the Russian folk fighting styles, the situation is similar. Who have trained you? The grandfather, certainly, who has passed all his secrets and died. There are even more exciting stories. Someone has accidentally have met a master of some ancient martial art of living in a remote Russian village, where he learned some secret combat skills. Before leaving the teacher, the student has given an oath not to reveal who and what has taught him…
There is another series of legends about the so-called non-contact exposure to the enemy, and other 'wonders of magic'. Needless to say how true these stories are…
There are lots of written evidences giving a good picture of Russian fighting heritage, which can be a solid proof for the truthful representation of the RMA. Most of these sources have never been translated into English. This situation creates fertile ground for abuse of trust of people who do not know the Russian language. When we publish a book on RAF in English with quotations from written sources, the situation will be changed for the better.
RAF is an all-round sports full-contact system with no mysteries and secrets. Each part of RAF can be confirmed by the written sources and a rich training and competitive practice. The main difference between RAF and Eastern and other 'secret' martial arts is the rich full-contact competition practice.

DR: I meet some very capable women fighters from RAF at the recent international congress in Ukraine, is women in the system encouraged?
MS: Yes. I am sure that women can be engaged in our system, with some reservations. In order to protect the health of our female athletes we use much more protective equipment for women than for men. Women compete in seven RAF disciplines only, as the Storm Fighting – the most aggressive and hard RAF discipline - is only for men. I admit the sometimes in the future this restriction could be reviewed.

DR: would you agree that RAF works as a system for sport and the real world on the streets?
MS: Yes, as I mentioned before many our students are being attracted by the opportunity to learn simple and reliable drills that can be used on the street or even in a military combat. Many RAF athletes and especially Masters of Sports are serving in the police, army, prison officer, special forces or work as bodyguards. RAF techniques are being regularly tested in quite different situations.

DR: Are there any mma fighters who study RAF? and how have they fared in the cage?
MS: There are RAF fighters who periodically compete according to the rules of sports and combat Sambo, Pankration and other popular versions of MMA in Russia. Almost always our fighters take prizes or become winners. Certainly, only experienced RAF fighters try themselves in other systems. Our fighters haven't competed with the professionals yet. Do not forget that our system is being developed for less then 10 years. I hope, over time, that our athletes will perform successfully in the cage against the professionals too. If we become known within the professional MMA community, I am sure that our system will attract some MMA fighters who would be interesting to go beyond their traditional technique.

DR:  Who inspires you to keep training at the rate you do, and who still influences you?
MS: The progress of my students, success of our coaches and athletes in our system inspire me a lot. Does someone influence me? No. Rather, I believe that it is my duty to influence people within and around RAF. Therefore, I must show my followers a positive example being a model of faithfulness to the duty. My duty is to keep demonstrating the highest level of training and personal combat capabilities. Impeccable reputation of the leader of the system is a cornerstone in the image of RAF.

DR: What does the future hold for RAF across the world?
MS: I am a realist. I understand that such a complex and multifaceted system like RAF will be winning hearts and minds gradually. RAF will require more time than any other systems of unarmed combat to spread. At the same time I know that RAF is unique and that no other RMA systems offer such an original interpretation of the Russian martial arts. It is our strong point, which is going to play an important role in the dissemination of RAF around the world.
DR: Thanks so much for your time Maxim.
MS: Thank you Darrin...

Russian All-Round Fighting is taught in the UK, we will be hosting seminars in October with the RAF President Maxim Shatunov. Available in the UK are instructor qualifications they are recognised in Russia along with fighter training. Next year’s Russian championships I hope to be able to take a full team and follow in my sons footsteps.

For more information please email