Subcategories of "Columns":
- Alex Haddox's Are You Aware (9)
- Amaury Murgado: Best Practices (5)
- Dan Meadows – Get Real! (2)
- Gary Dill – Jeet Kune Do (3)
- Stephen Spivey's Survival Guide (6)
Systema Seminars in Europe – Short interview with Vladimir Vasiliev
Article by: Vladimir VasilievReporter: Mr. Vasiliev, you have just returned from instructing at two big seminars in Paris, France and Hamburg, Germany. There were over 150 participants in each event. Before the detailed reviews and videos clips are published, can you share your impressions with us? Vladimir: I find that despite the large size of seminar groups, it [...]
Encounter with Systema – An Interview with Vladimir Vasiliev
Article by: Vladimir VasilievQuestion-When did you encounter Systema for the first time? Vladimir Vasiliev (VV): It’s in the early 80s that I met Mikhail Ryabko. -You were serving in the military at that time. What kind of martial arts were you training in? VV: I was mostly training for a close quarter combat. Those martial arts have good [...]
Fists and Punches
Article by: Vladimir VasilievA few years ago, when I was visiting Mikhail Ryabko in Moscow, he demonstrated a slow fist pushup against the wall. I still clearly remember how standing next to him, it felt like a huge beast filled the room, the wall was droning and buzzing under his fists. Pushups in Systema are not just exercises [...]
Is it Fast or is it Jerky?
Article by: Vladimir VasilievHuman eye actively responds to jerky movements, to flashing and kaleidoscopic change of images. As a result, our eye cannot separate speed from jerkiness. Jerky movements seem to be fast, while fast and steady movements seem slow. Our vision does not catch steady acceleration, but easily registers sharp changes from rest to moving. How is [...]
Training Tips from Instructional Materials
Article by: Vladimir VasilievWork against multiple opponents is challenging both psychologically and physically. In Systema, there are a number of simple things to understand and practice to help you gain control over your external and internal opponents (i.e. your attackers and your own emotions). The first skill to acquire is moving away from the line of attack. It [...]
Strikes. Take It or… Grieve It…
Article by: Vladimir VasilievAn interview from the gym of Vladimir Vasiliev Student: We heard that you are currently working on a new DVD on STRIKES. One of the topics covered will deal with the skill of taking strikes. It is of great interest to anyone studying martial arts, self defense or even human psychology. In Systema training, this skill [...]
A Interview with Mikhail Ryabko About Stick Training
Article by: Vladimir VasilievQuestion to Mikhail: In your opinion, what makes stick a good weapon? Reply: I like it because it is easy to get for training and easy to find in most situations outdoors and indoors. Also, a stick is not classified as a dangerous weapon; anyone is allowed to have one. In a confrontation, stick allows [...]
Tying Up with a Stick – Work of a Master
Article by: Vladimir VasilievThis happened over 20 years ago in Russia. My friends and I were at Mikhail Ryabko’s class. The format of classes was such that a student could choose absolutely any form of attack and Mikhail would just demonstrate his amazing variety of spontaneous defenses. We would rarely choose a stick as an offensive tool because [...]
Break Through Tension with a Systema Breathing Drill
Article by: Vladimir VasilievWe all know that breathing is our best tool to eliminate tension. We have done numerous great drills at Systema classes and seminars. Many of these exercises are outlined in the book Let Every Breath and DVD on Systema Breathing: http://www.russianmartialart.com/catalog/product_info.php?cPath=23&products_id=88 I would like to share a very useful drill with you. Mikhail Ryabko and [...]
Master your Tension
Article by: Vladimir VasilievIn Systema conditioning, we try to create all the exercises so that they lead us directly into the highest levels of fighting skill. Training drills are not distinct from the martial art but rather form the intensive energetic foundation for all defensive and offensive movements. One of the variables that interferes with our effective movements [...]
