Why Systema doesn’t have a belt system

It’s fair to say that most martial arts use a ranked belt system. In brief, the reason for this is that belts show hierarchy and structure. Typically, traditional martial arts are big on status and hierarchy so having these belts makes sense. One practical reason for this is that it allows people to see who is experienced and who is new.

Having said this, some martial arts don’t use belts or ranks. This is the case for Russian Systema which actually prides itself on not using belts or grades. Often, Systema practitioners will almost brag about having no belts, uniform, or ego. Whilst this is rare, other martial arts such as boxing and wrestling also follow this line of thought. Still, it’s quite rare looking at most martial arts in general. In this article, we shall look at why Systema doesn’t use belts when grading its students.

Why doesn’t Systema use belts?

Systema has never used belts and probably never will. One reason for this is possibly due to its links with the Russian military. Like other military martial arts such as Krav Maga and Sambo, the military rarely makes time for a belt system. Because of this, you’re more likely to see a Systema practitioner wearing a camo t-shirt, as opposed to a belt.

This explanation shows a military culture, but it may also be due to the modern nature of the martial art too. Although it didn’t have a name for a while outside of the USSR, many claim that Systema began in the 1930s. However, it wasn’t until the early 90s that it was exposed to the wider world.

In short, as martial arts become newer, they often ditch traditions and formalities. This may be one reason why Systema doesn’t use belts or promote people.

Systema was Russias secret for decades

It may sound like it’s out of a James Bond movie, but the Russian military trained Systema for years on the quiet. In fact, it wasn’t until the death of the USSR that Systema became known. This also explains why Systema has a level of mysticism attached to it that isn’t found with most other martial arts. Look at it this way, imagine if a bunch of Soviets were seen wearing kimonos and belts – it would clearly spread. So, the lack of uniform and belt may be to do with its secret origins.

Systema is about being fluid, belts are rigid

If ever you’ve trained Systema, you’ll notice there’s a big emphasis on being fluid. This starts with your breathing and ends with your bodily movements, where being stiff and rigid is bad for fighting. This ideology may have carried over into Systema’s take on belts. For instance, the martial arts belt system is very rigid as it places its practitioners into categories based on rank and so on. In other words, this is the complete opposite of what is taught in Systema. With this in mind, it’s no surprise that Systema’s belt grading system mirrors its overall philosophy.

Is this a good or a bad thing?

Why disregarding belts is bad

There are roughly two schools of thought when it comes to using belts in martial arts. The first is pro-belts as they bring a degree of order. This isn’t just an ego thing either for black belts, but actually has a real purpose too. Imagine a world without belts. Now, what’s to stop a white belt level person acting as an instructor and starting teaching? Sadly, some people are dishonest and will start teaching even when they’re not good enough to do so. Generally, a teacher should have years of experience under their belt before they think of teaching others.

This is one issue that is wrong with Systema. For sure, some teachers and gyms out there will be the real deal. However, there’s nothing stopping a charlatan from posing as a veteran to earn a fast buck. Of course, there are also issues such as experienced practitioners getting paired with newbies during sparring which may not be an efficient way for either of them to learn.

Why disregarding belts is good

One of the main benefits of not having belts is the freedom it offers students. Here, people will sign up purely to learn, rather than having the goal of a belt which can bring posers and people who train for the wrong reasons. In martial arts such as boxing and wrestling, this system has worked well for centuries and continues to do so. The only issue with this and Systema is that you can’t really spar with weapons (for obvious reasons), so fake instructors can effectively hide behind their pretend credentials. Still, usually those disciplines that don’t have belts tend to produce better students who train for the love of the art, as opposed to false motives.

Conclusion

Systema doesn’t use belts when teaching and possibly never will. As seen above, there are several potential reasons for this – but ultimately we’ll probably never quite know how or why this is. What is worth discussing is how belts can either be a good or a bad thing in martial arts which ultimately depends on your own personal preference.

One thing worth noting is that its lack of belts only adds to the mystique that Systema has helped build over the years. Love it or hate it, you can’t say that Systema isn’t unique and is certainly different when compared to other martial arts.

If you’d like to learn more about Systema then check out this book which goes into detail about how it works.