RIF is a pioneering martial arts club in St Petersburg started in the early 1980s by a group of karate enthusiasts. This presentation is compiled by the club's founders.

1. The history of club “Rif”

2. Master of the first generation
Grunkin M. Aleksandr
St.Petersburg, Russia

3. The Founder of Sport Club Rif
In 1980 the
group of
enthusiasts
under
supervision of
Igor Messing
began to
practice
Karate Do in
St.Petersburg

4. Igor Messing – the founder of Rif
Underground practice in 1981
Karate practice in Igor’s
apartment

5. First generation of students
1980-1984
We remodeled
a small room
of former
public library
for our Karate
practice.
We practiced
hard with
fully open
hearts.

6. All equipment made by our students
Isolated from
international
Martial Arts
community, w
e relied on
our intuition
and common
sense.
We constantly
worked on
mastering of
our Karate
skill.

7. First generation of our instructors
These
enthusiastic
people
established
foundation for
future Rif’s
“stars” and
strong
reputation of
the club in
sport Martial
Arts
community.

8. Igor Messing in boxing gym
To hide our Karate
practice from
authorities, as a cover
up, I. Messing signed a
contract with local
technical college to
build a gym for
boxing.
“I taught student the
boxing during the day
and Karate at night”.

9. We practiced a full contact Karate
1980-1987.
During that
time we had
just one
criteria for
our practice:
If technique
works in real
situation, we
polish it. If it
fails, it gets
forgotten.

10. Practice in small apartment
1984-1987
I. Messing
“I tested each
move at home
before show it
to my
students”.

11. We call it “Free boxing”- no rules,
no limitations.
1983-1987
Trying to find a
“gold style”, we
mixed traditional
box, karate,
elements of kung
fu and wrestling
yet always keeping
our path of
creation and
searching for
improvements.

12. Practice, practice… and practice

13. Rif’s base- gym on Bucharestskay Str.
Determination and Loyalty to chosen way

14. Karate in action – first competition
in Rif, opened for the public

15. Awards after long, hard day of competition

16. I.Messing and his close students, 1987
A new law
legalized Karate as
sport and opened a
new chapter in
Rif’s history.
We were ready for
that day.

17. Kickboxing – new sport in USSR
1989 Sofia, Bulgaria
1St.International Tournament Full
Contact Kickboxing
The team from St.Petersburg
represented by club “Rif”
Peter Ioffe – Bronze medal
Eugene Maksimov-Bronze medal
Serge Shunkin – Gold medal
Final fight for the Gold medal. In
“absolute category” S.Shunkin –
on Rt.

18. Rif in new age of M.A.in USSR
1990-1992
We took approach of
concentrating our practice
and efforts on the
disciplines with full contact
competitions and
established rules.
Kickboxing and box were
priority during that time.
However, our students
participated in
Karate, Sanda, and Hand
Combat competitions as
well.
Our instructors in
1990-1992

19. 1st. International Karate
seminar in St.Petersburg,
1991
We were glad to be part
of the first international
karate seminar under
supervision of Chuck
Norris in St.Petersburg.
The time of “iron curtain” is over

20. Rif on the track of success

21. He came to Rif at age of 7
In age of 16
Alex Berkovsky
achieved the
title “Master of
Sport”, won
multiple
tournaments and
became the three
times Champion
of St.Petersburg
and eventually
the Champion of
Russia in full
contact
Kickboxing.

22. Master of sport with his coach
Alex Bestuzhev
The Two times
champion of
Russia
Kickboxing full
contact
Professional
League
The coach –
Peter Ioffe.

23. The son and his father
Serge Uspensky
The Champion of Europe
and The World in full
contact professional
Kickboxing
Master of Sport of
International Degree
His coach and his father
Victor Uspensky

24. The fight in Paris
Valery Brudov
Master of Sport of
International Degree
Professional Boxing
2nd place Championate the
World and Europe

25. Alex Bestugev – one more victory
The second time Alex
became the Champion of
Russia between
professionals in full contact
Kickboxing in 2003.
He celebrates his
achievements with his
coach Peter Ioffe.

26. World Cup – final fight
Valery Brudov and
his coach Cushnir (on
Lt.) before final fight
in Paris, 2007.
For the first place on
World Cup.

27. Our “Stars”
Alex Bestuzev
Serge uspensky
Denis Ctarkov
Valery Brudov
Alex Solochin
Serge Morozhov
Genady
Martirosyn
Alex Sokolov

28. Our sponsors and our coaches
Club Rif has a strong long
time connections with a
multiple public, social, and
local government
organizations.

29. The routine practice in Rif

30. Our hopes and our future
Urbanovich Daniel (2002)
Champion of SPb 2012, 2013
1st place of SPb Cup 2011,
2012

31. Our hopes and our future
Galkin Semen (2003)
Champion of SPb
2012 and 2013
1st place SPb Cup
2011

32. Our hope and our future
Ievlev Nikita (2000)
Champion of SPb 2011
and 2012
1st place Turner “White
Nights” 2012

33. Our hope and our future
Sviridov Pavel (1998)
Champion of SPb 2008-
2012
1st place Cup of SPb 2009-
2012
1st place Turner “White
Nights” 2011, 2012

34. Trainer Eugene Maksimov with his students

35. All ages and any M.A. styles are welcome to our
club

36. We are building the new Rif

37. We see a bright future from a dusty window
We know we have to Win