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| Yuri Sheshukov |
Yuri Sheshukov is an instructor from the Siberian Cossack Systema school of Russian Martial Art. I recently met him and trained under him in St. Petersburg during a 21 day seminar. Sheshukov gave instruction on knife fighting, pole/stick fighting, the Cossack Shaska, the Nagaika (Cossack whip), lower acrobatics, rolls, armed/unarmed takedowns for Military or Police, and for lack of better wording on my part, “drown-proofing” or working with fears in a water environment. In spite of the long hours and constant training, during three separate meetings, we were able to sit down and converse through a translator. The following are my notes that I took during these talks and I present them here to shed light on a very gifted instructor. Any shortcomings in the following interview are entirely mine. -Jesse Carrillo
JC: Where did you grow up?
YS: I lived in Kazakhstan until the age of 5 in a village near the city of Ust-Kamenogorsk. My parents then moved to Yakutia in the Sakha region. In Sakha, I attended school and had sport interests in power lifting, Sambo, cycling, camping and cross-country running.
JC: Tell me about your Cossack heritage.
YS: Growing up I knew that my grandfathers, great-grandfathers, and their fathers were involved in many Russian military conflicts in our history. The villages and areas where I was born were at important crossroads throughout history and were known as “Siberian” regions. All of the villages were historically Cossack villages that defended Russia from different threats. The central parts of Kazakhstan is steppe country and historically these areas were conflict zones with enemy tribes that were called “jungars”, examples of these marauders were peoples like the Afghans and Chinese. When Russia was expanding its territory in the 19th century, Forts were built and garrison towns and settlers would be brought in. Alma-ata (“father of apples”), the capital of Kazakhastan was a fortress town formerly known as Verniy (“Loyal” or “Faithful”).
At this time my ancestry can be traced to Cossack areas and even to Russian immigrants in Poland. During these periods of Russian expansion, the Russian government needed skilled and loyal Russians to move to these areas of recent expansion like Kazakhstan, and thus my ancestors came to be in Ust-kamenogorsk.
JC: What years did you serve in the Military and what branch?
YS: After high school I entered a Military Academy in 1991 where I graduated with a degree in Civil Engineering in 1995. I was commissioned as a Lieutenant and began to serve in the VDV or Airborne branch. As an Airborne officer I was assigned to a reconnaissance unit. As my career progressed I served on a Brigade staff after company command. Our forces were trained and prepared for Airborne warfare similar to the Airmobile concept in the U.S.A. For example, taking over enemy Nuclear bases. Russia has large borders and this is primarily why there are many Airborne units. Our specialties were airborne drops in the rear areas of the enemy so as to surprise them.
JC: When did you begin to train in Systema?
YS: I began training Systema while in the Military Academy. I initially was interested in other types of martial arts like Filipino knife styles. As a Military officer one is responsible for the readiness of their men, and I then moved on to arts that I believed would assist Airborne soldiers in completing their mission. In the Army, I met an officer who would instruct me in the Kadochnikov system and ROSS which I then would pass on to the troops. When my Army service finished in 2000, I decided to not re-enlist and to begin a civilian life. During this time, a friend told me that I had good martial arts skills and that I should become an instructor and begin training groups. I then began training groups with what I had learned in the Army. I became a serious student of the martial arts and began to explore different types of martial arts and the cultures from which they came from so as to gain better understanding. I conducted training on my own for seven years until 2009 when I met Andrey Karimov. I then began collaborating with him.
JC: When did you begin working with the Shasqua (Cossack saber)?
YS: In Novossibirsk there is a Children's sports school for saber and fencing that is well known in Russia. Since the 8th grade I had been fencing and I began working with the Shasqua in 2009. I can say that between the ages of 15-17 my focus was on sports weight lifting, then between the ages of 17-21 my focus was on modern military weapons (Military Academy). Since that time and prior to 2009 my focus was on knives and stick fighting along with the unarmed combatives.
JC: Are there different schools of thought concerning the use of the Shasqua?
YS: Technically there is only one style but there are many small variations when it comes to speed and techniques. The Shasqua saber has been around in Russia since the 12thcentury. Approximately 300 years ago the idea of the saber made its way to Europe and its use there has been heavily documented. This documentation did not occur in Russia because the Shasqua and its use was deeply rooted for so long that the need to document was not an issue.
JC: What qualities other than learning the particular Shasqua “swordplay” does working with the Shasqua instill?
YS: The Shasqua shapes one as a “tool”, and this “tool” is correct. No matter what you are doing, you will be capable of completing those tasks. The Shasqua instills discipline in that working with sharp weapons, you must be aware of the consequences. The Shasqua teaches one about “brakes” and when to implement them. The ability to focus is also reinforced.
JC: Who are the trainers that influenced you?
YS: A.A. Kadichnokov for one. Also, my trainer in the military was of the R.O.S.S. system. In the military there is down time and along with actual training, I would also spend it watching videos of these combatives so as to enable me to be proficient. The task of an officer is to teach his soldiers. I analyzed the training videos and would take the lessons apart so as to enable me to pass them on to my soldiers. I read A.A. Kadochnikov's books and I dug really deep into the subject so as to be able to teach VDV Airborne soldiers.
JC: Along with what I have seen during this Russian martial art seminar what other type of training do you offer?
YS: I work Systema concepts with children, specifically in 3 categories within the age groups of 4-17 years old.They are very young children's groups, children's groups and teenage groups. I train bodyguards, both new comers to the field (a three week course) and refresher training for active persons in the field.
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| Sheshukov works with children of all ages. |
(JC to the reader, I took the liberty of adding some of YS's other types of work so as not to leave anything out. This was taken from a vita he provided:
- Workshops for parents on child education in the framework of Russian culture
- Participation in military-patriotic gatherings "Siberian outpost” (Man camps)
- Production of training films and other materials
- Performing as Cossack ensemble "Siberian Cossack” that includes Cossack dancing, singing and playing instruments like the Balalaika.)
JC: Where do you see yourself as an instructor in the next five years?
YS: I am interested in traveling. I am completing work on a training book and I would like to put out more training DVDs but some concepts and principles need to be shown/instructed first hand. I plan on getting my current DVDs translated to Italian and English to get the information out. Books I am working on include an instructor development guide, Knife combatives and unarmed combat. I am looking into self publishing or possibly going through a publishing house.
JC: How can persons interested in your training contact you?
YS: I can be contacted directly at yurisheshukov@mail.ru or through Andrey Karimov's U.S. representative, Olivia Overturf at milosmami@yahoo.com or on the Cowboys and Cossacks FB page. My FB page is:https://www.facebook.com/yurisheshukov?fref=ts
JC: Is there anything you would like to share before we go back to training?
YS: Yes, of course. Everything we call Systema is high, deep and wide. It will expand and grow wider and deeper because it contains basic cultural elements. Martial arts teach children proper upbringing to become human beings and this is achieved mentally, culturally and philosophically. This is why it is easier to reach skills and evolve to your full potential within Systema because it is a multi-faceted system which evolves the personality. In our ancient, Russian Cossack traditions of song, games, music and dancing, the men participating was common. Nowadays, a person can enter Systema from any “side” – the military side, through singing, the dancing aspect or through playing with children. The person who participates in the System will find new knowledge to replace their fears.
(Yuri also plays the balalaika! Along with dancing, singing, and being a great historian, he is truly a gifted instructor and will have more to come soon. **Olivia**)
