Hi John,
Well, I am relatively new to Systema. So you might want to post this
question on the official forum. But there are some more experienced
members of my group so maybe they will reply as well.
As far as lines of attack, I haven't learned anything about these
lines. Mostly we move in a more circular or elliptical fashion but of
course we move in straight lines as well. We aim to maintain contact
with the attacking person. It's a very close-contact kind of martial
training. Rather than blocking, sometimes we redirect an attacking
limb. We try not to impede the natural movement of the attacking
person. Whatever way they want to go to effect the attack, we help
them go in that direction. This way, the attacker does not feel
threatened, because his "attack" is uninterrupted. The attacker also
does not realize that his attack has been re-directed, since his body
is still moving in more or less the same direction. This allows a
small space of time in which the attacker does not realize he has
been unsuccessful. It's most evident with the strikes, which advanced
practitioners allow to glance off them in a way that is very sneaky
and deceptive. It fools the eyes, but more importantly, it fools the
sense of touch. The attacker feels he has made contact, and only
realizes that the strike has glanced off when it's already too late.
Whereas a strike that is blocked, it is immediately apparent to the
attacker that the strike hasn't met its intended target, and
therefore the attacker will strike again.
The Russians call this concept of trickery "happy fist." I don't know
if that has anything to do with the line of attack. Keep in mind, I
have no other martial arts training outside of Systema. So I am not
familiar with the line of attack or how it relates to Systema.
As far as the simultaneous defense and attack, these two concepts are
quite unified in Systema. Any sort of movement intended for defense
will naturally lead into offensive movements. One example is the
principle of "entering in." We practice this in class when we're
working on close quarter drills, or when we're practicing defense
against knife attacks. With knife attacks, it's safer to be closer to
the opponent. Remaining at arm's distance from a knife attacker
aligns you with the range of the blade; stepping in protects you from
wild slashes or stabs. It seems very contrary to commonly perceived
notions. After all, if someone is attacking you, wouldn't it make
sense to stay as far away from them as possible? But as I've
discovered, that tactic does not work. When someone is attacking you,
they are trying to physically occupy the same space that you are
occupying. So, as Systema philosophy teaches us, why not let them
have that space? Why contest for empty space by blocking or trying to
prevent an opponent from getting too close? As it says in the Russian
System Guidebook, when an opponent is close to you, it's helpful
because you know exactly where he is. You can feel his next movement
with your sense of touch, and touch is far more perceptive than
vision.
When we practice "entering in," one person attacks, and the other
immediately steps to the inside, between their arms, and works
offensively against their attack. Of course, we also practice
avoiding and rotating to the outside of the attacking arm, usually by
stepping behind the opponent. But there is really no difference
between offense and defense work in Systema. It all flows together.
You can step inside or outside or literally anywhere to counter an
attack. Students engaged in more professional training for the
military, LE, or bodyguard work probably learn more offensive
tactics. For civilians like myself, the emphasis is on "neutralizing
the threat," and as they say, "The best offense is a good defense."
We train to incapicitate rather than kill the opponent.
It's hard to see the subtle movements in the clips, even though most
of the instructors exaggerate their movements when demostrating for
the students.
One thing I have noticed about Systema and human psychology. It's
very difficult to overcome the fear reaction of touching other people
and letting them touch you. Touch is an important means of human
communication. You can literally feel hostility, tension, and
nervousness, just by touching someone. That is why it is so important
to be on good terms with classmates and practice partners. Hostility
is contagious. So is calm. When someone is upset, our first instinct
to calm them is to touch them, an arm around the shoulder, or a hand
over their hand. This is a way to communicate without words, to relay
our own internal calm to a person who is in need of it. It works the
same way in Systema. A calm and relaxed touch can de-escalate a
situation. The flinch response is in part, a negative reaction to
prospect of being touched by someone else. Systema teaches us to
overcome this. Fast, tense, jerky, or angular movements stimulate
animal instincts such as fear and agression. These instincts helped
our ancestors survive against attacking predators, thousands of years
ago. Smooth, fluid movements reduce the fear and aggression.
Harmonious living is actually visible in the movement. When someone
is nervously tapping their fingers or jiggling a leg or otherwise
expending energy unecessarily, it doesn't take a psychologist to
interpret that movement as a temporary lack of harmony.
With Systema, there is the potential to harmonize the attacker rather
than destroy him. This process isn't necessarily pain-free, but there
is a great deal of compassion in Systema. On the other hand, Systema
is also quite brutal and we do learn finishing moves for worst-case
scenarios. And we do on occassion practice strictly offensive work
that is not based in a response to an attack. But it's always
presented as military work. Except for a few scenarios, such as being
kidnapped or held hostage, for example, we learn how to defend
against violent attacks rather than instigate them.
Perhaps someone else will reply or, as I mentioned in the beginning,
you may wish to post this to the official forum where the instructors
might reply to your inquiry.
*Vsego nailuchshego* (best wishes),
Rachel



--- In systema_group@yahoogroups.com, Rodriguez John <johnc6802@y...>
wrote:
> Hi Rachel
> and my best regards to you and the Systema group... I hope
everybody can help me in my personal quest of Systema until I have
the opportunity to train in any school... of course I saw and printed
the Solo Training Tips of Systema Forum and I tried to follow the
concepts and advices there... mainly about rolling, exercices against
the wall and so... but my doubts are about how systema confronts the
lines of attack, because I have seen in many clips that the systema
practitioners only deflect the line of movement of a commitment
attack moving the body and using the arm to contact with the
attacking limb... another question is about one principle I use in
Wing Tchun and it's simultaneous defense/attack against an
agression... I have seen in the clips that systema's practitioners
use it too but with a different approach because you try to avoid
with the body movement and don't block or deflect per se... any help
about????
>
> Thank you again for your wellcome and I sure will use your group a
lot...
>
>
>
> rkxyz <rkxyz@y...> wrote:
> Hi John,
> Welcome, and thanks for joining our group. I guess you've seen the
Solo
> Training Tips sticky on the RussianMartialArt.com forum. I usually
> practice falling and rolling when I'm training by myself. Today in
> class we practice rolling over wooden benches and boxes, changing
> direction as we rolled over the objects to maneuver over onto our
> stomachs. My teacher told us we could practice rolling over
different
> kinds of objects at home, changing position and ending up on the
> stomach, to protect the spine from sharp objects. In the past, he
also
> suggested using a rolling office chair as a solo practice partner,
by
> using the feet to lightly change its direction while keeping it
within
> your control.
> Maybe someone else has some solo drills to share. Meanwhile, good
luck
> with your training and I hope you find some like-minded people with
> whom to practice.
> Once again, *dobro pozhalavot* (welcome!) and *Vsego nailuchshego*
> (best wishes),
> Rachel
>
>
>
>
> John Charles
> Wing Tzun EBMAS Cuba
>
> ---------------------------------
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