In 1929, a Russian officer named Vasilii. Oshchepkov began teaching an evolved form of Judo to the Red Army. He had studied Kodokan Judo, and gained the rank of Master, but felt that it was an incomplete system. He added physical exercises to help strengthen his students. The techniques were drastically altered as well. He removed techniques he felt were weak and replaced them with new, more efficient techniques. Oshchepkov used various forms of international wrestling as his source of new techniques. Strikes from American and European boxing were added as well.
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Systema ( Russian : Система, "The System") is a Russian martial art . It is designed to be highly adaptive and practical, training using drills and sparring instead of set kata . It focuses mainly on the six body levers (elbows, neck, knees, waist, ankles, and shoulders), while also teaching pressure point application and takedowns. Systema is often advertised as being a martial art employed by some Russian Spetsnaz units.