Alexander Mikhailovich Kisten is a unique person who is known in many countries of the world. The knife "Kisten" is named after him. He is currently the main Russian expert in knife and hand-to-hand combat.
Closed personality
Alexander Mikhailovich Kisten is a very private person. He does not communicate with the press, does not give interviews. Not every person can get to his training. Usually, these are employees of special units, such as "Vityaz", "Alpha", special forces and the like.
Alexander Mikhailovich was born in Yoshkar-Ola. But his biography can be traced by scanty information in the media only from the period of his studies at the Ryazan Airborne School. This school was one of two educational institutions in the USSR that trained special forces.
He graduated from the Faculty of Foreign Languages. Having received his diploma, in 1985 he was sent to Afghanistan. Served there for two years (1985-1987). Returning from Afghanistan, Alexander was sent to the special forces brigade of the Republic of Belarus. The place where he served was called Maryina Gorka. Then he enters the service in Alpha. Serves as a demolition miner. At the time, Alpha staff was small. He worked as a freelance instructor in hand-to-hand combat: he checked new employees who came to the Belarusian Alpha.
Martial arts
Before becoming an instructor in hand-to-hand combat, Alexander Mikhailovich went a long and difficult way. He started with a classic wrestling. Now this type of wrestling is called Greco-Roman. It was before entering the military school. At the school, Kisten began to study karate. But there came a time when this martial art was banned in the Soviet Union. And then Alexander and his like-minded people began to practice hand-to-hand combat. At that time, it was quite difficult to do this. There was not even a protective equipment for wrestling. They had to do it themselves. In parallel with the wrestling, he began to practice taekwondo.
Teaching knife fighting
In 1995, Alexander Mikhailovich leaves Alpha. As vice-president of the Federation of Russian Martial Arts, on one of his business trips to the United States, he meets a British Marine instructor who was excellent with a knife. Inspired by his skill, he decided to organize such a direction in his homeland. Before him, no one was involved in this in the subdivisions. By the way, to this day, in the Army there is no systemic preparation of close combat, which Kisten teaches.
Philippine system
Knife fights are developed in the Philippines. Their teachers are considered the most powerful in the world. The Filipino military, in addition to firearms, is also equipped with a knife and a short sword. The knife fighting system of this country became the basis from which Alexander Mikhailovich began. Constantly improving, he brought his own into it.
Alexander Mikhailovich Kisten is a fan of his work. He has a phrase: "You cannot cover yourself with your muscles against a knife." He believes that the ability to wield knives is needed not only for defense or attack. A knife is the best tool for developing speed and reaction. The brush works with two knives, which is doubly difficult. A fight with two knives makes a person think differently, since during the fight one must watch and avoid both knives.
It is very difficult for an ordinary person to understand all this until an experienced instructor shows him, which is Alexander Mikhailovich.
Strong man
To do what Kisten does, you need to have great physical data. According to the master, you need will, physical endurance, good "articulation", excellent speed and reaction. Being engaged in this type of fight, one must know the physiology well. To incapacitate the enemy, you must be able to inflict an injection or cut on the enemy where he is not protected by a bulletproof vest. Alexander is equally good at using both hands, working with two knives at once. He teaches his wards the same.
Master's technique
Alexander Mikhailovich is a great master of his craft. While preparing the military and bodyguards, he teaches them according to his own methodology developed over the years. Its technique can be called stressful. For a person, the sight of a knife is already stress. Kisten's technique is that his wards, working with knives, get used to them. They are no longer a stressful factor for them. The technique of the master is very interesting and it is not easy for a layman in this field to understand it. But the point is that Kisten does not teach ordinary people, but special professionals.
About the knife
In 2017, the International Exhibition of Hunting and Sporting Weapons was held in Moscow. A novelty was presented at it - a knife "Kisten". The knife got its name thanks to its developer and knife fighting specialist Alexander Mikhailovich Kisten. The author himself attributed it to army knives and knives suitable for survival. At the exhibition, it was presented as a multifunctional knife. This item will certainly appeal to men who like to be outdoors (hunting, fishing, travel).
Brush now
Alexander Mikhailovich Kisten is currently working in commercial security services. In addition to his main work, he is engaged in writing. He has written several books. One of them is called "Spetsnaz Methods for Leaders." This book was published in 2002. It is well known to the reader who knows the author and what he does. It was published not only in Russia, but also in many countries of the world. On the basis of Kisten's books, films have been created that are no less interesting and popular.
The personal life (family, wife, children) of Alexander Mikhailovich Kisten remains a secret, which he is in no hurry to reveal.
