It has been a week since the training in Crimea has ended. I came from far away to participate in the "Russian Style of Hand-to-Hand Combat." Sasha and Irina continue to make me feel as if I have never stepped from my doorstep in New York. "Spacibo." For those readers who have never been to Ukraine you can be assured that it is customary to greet guests with generosity and kindness.

There were many participants who also journeyed from Russia, parts of Ukraine as well as France to study the art of self-defense in real and somewhat difficult circumstances. It was quite exhilarating to rise up every morning from my tent and rub the sleep from my eyes under the early morning Crimean sunshine. Then off to my morning swim in the Black Sea. Morning class started around 6:00am and lasted for two hours or so.

My career has been in the field of law-enforcement. I spent twenty three some years patrolling the streets of New York and the hills of the Former Yugoslavia. My experience with martial arts has been limited and always approached from a practical standpoint. Although I enjoy learning foreign languages I have never had the time or the inclination to study "martial dances." Here we were all taught from the first day fundamental principles of movement as relates to the human body. Sasha explained that if one only studies martial techniques then, in effect, the purpose of real life self-defense is defeated as no one can prepare themselves for every possible attack. Each individual can move in an infinite number of ways as can one's opponent/s. It is impossible to memorize or to even learn every possible move or counter move. Crowding your mind with unnecessary facts will only slow you down when under attack. Most enlightening to me was the concept that if an individual learns basic principles of movement as relates to the human body then, in fact, one can develop a self-tailored method of defense.

For anyone who is adventurous and would like to enjoy this beautiful country I recommend that you consider next year's seminar. The seminar will only cost about the same as a one night's stay in a moderate Western hotel. For that you will be fed Ukrainian style everyday throughout the seminar and in the end you will have a very good broad knowledge of the "Russian Style".

Before coming to the Ukrainian Federation of the Russian Martial Art I asked myself if an "old dog" like me could learn any "new tricks." In the "Russian Style" it is a basic concept that a system of self-defense is useless if it is not effective for anyone at any age. The Principles do not change and can be applied to each individual. The proficiency of the practitioner is only dependent on his/her determination. I have found the daily exercises that I perform in the morning to be an added bonus as I can feel a significant improvement in my well-being and health already.