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Nice Post!
Vladimir's "Let every breath" is essential in understanding how to control your body/mind properly for sure.
I've been training in Systema for about 10 years now, and whilst I agree with a lot of what you're saying, I think you have to be more realistic also in your rating of said self's abilities.
It is vastly different training with fellow students that do not have an intent of harming you and are somewhat cooperative compared to the individual intent on hurting you at all costs on the street.
Systema does a great job in preparing you to flow in every which way so you can overcome your would be attacker or at least survive.
However, I would fall far short of making the assumption that every man you train with could not deal to you in a life an death situation if they had to.
The success in survival and an mounting an attack is definitely 90% psychological, as mentioned on prior occasions Systema frees the individual of those panic attacks and mental blocks which are responsible in making so many individuals freeze during an attack.
Letting your Body/mind react instinctively.
The development of Systema and the Russian fighting arts is, like all fighting arts, traced to the warriors of Russia and more recently to the commando units .aka Spetsnaz.
The Russians have always understood the importance of the body/mind connection on on natural flow, so I wouldn't lump this principle with the new age concept.
It has been around for centuries.
Whilst I agree that some women make excellent fighters, my experience in and out of the armed forces has shown me that men are naturally built like natural weapons(due to natures design)and therefore an equally trained men is at an advantage in a physical encounter over a woman.
However a better skilled woman especially in systema can definitely overcome a poorly skilled man, that's what is so good about Systema.
You stated that a lot of guys try to come in all commando style, and whilst that may be true especially in Canada and the U.S.A I also have seen many women that cannot and do not flow well at all when training in Systema.They try to force techniques and use whatever physical attributes they have , this is especially true of women that have ring experience or have trained in traditional Karate/Muay Thai or wrestling.
Spetznaz troops move very freely flowing in and out of an attack and often disrupting the attacker and overcoming the would be opponent, regardless of their size.
They are adept at dissolving an attack even before the proponent has fully launched into a full flight assault.
Because they have mastered themselves first, they are masters of their mind/body, they totally understand who they are and the environment around them and the laws which govern who they are and the how the universal principles apply to themselves and everything they interact with.
I wholly and heartily recommend every individual training in Systema to read and watch "Let every breath" as a first but extremely essential step in helping you become a master of your body/mind and your own Universe.
It may sound new age but actually it has been around since the beginning of mankind and is a fundamental concept that has been and is enacting itself all around us all the time.
Systema helps you tap into this, thus freeing you from your limits and you will become one with it.
Happy training.
Cheers!
-Andrew
Hi,
In response to your question, I have been training 3X a week for 3
years and 10 months. I remember the date so exactly because I pay my
class tuition on the 15th of every month. I live in NYC and train at
Fighthouse with Edgar Tsakouls http://www.fighthouse.com
I think individual psychology is more of a factor than gender. I
guess women have one advantage in that strength is rarely an option
in a class full of men, and there are very few women in Systema and
in martial arts in general. So women have to learn the skills, we
have no choice if we want to excel. Sure, it can be a bit lonely
sometimes, being the only woman at a seminar of 50 men. At the 2005
training camp, there were about 95 men and only 5 women. But that's
more of a social reason than a practical one. Most guys are nice, a
few feel humiliated that a woman with a lot of training is a better
fighter than a man with almost none. In general, Systema guys are
decent, gentlemanly types who respect women who can fight rather than
feel threatened by them.
I wouldn't say Systema is easier for me because I am a woman. It's
easier for me because I was able to learn to relax more quickly than
some other students. This is the single hardest thing to learn. You
can pick up the other foundations of Systema, the breathing, constant
movement, and correct posture. But you simply cannot force yourself
to relax. Systema is 90% psychological. If it wasn't, I would not
have come this far. At the risk of sounding arrogant, I'm one of
Edgar's top students, I rarely miss class. The last time I missed a
Systema class November of 2006. So because I am diligent, I have
learned more than students who train sporadically or only once a
week. But I am neither strong, nor fast, agile, certainly not
aggressive, I have no desire to "beat" anyone, in fact, I'm actually
a shy person. Systema is so effective that even though most of the
guys are bigger, stronger, more competitive, and have a lot more
invested in "winning," very few are any match for me. This is not a
testament to my superior skills. It's just that diligent Systema
training will have that effect on anyone! And I have a great
teacher :)
The most important thing, in my opinion, is to relax mentally and
physically and to use proper breathing as described in Let Every
Breath. Don't try to "do" something to your training parter. Let the
movements of the attack guide your defense. Sooner or later it will
all blend together. By defending, you also learn effective attacks.
It's a very small difference between attack and defense, very often,
it's simply a matter of who starts the engagement. Anything you use
to defend can also be used to attack and vice-versa.
Lots of guys want to go all commando, they get lured into Systema by
its connection to the special forces and the military. Systema is
extremely brutal and effective, yet it is not possible without what
some would consider the more New-Age-y side: breathing and
relaxation. My advice is to not overlook these key components of
Systema simply because they don't appear dramatic or exciting. Don't
be shy about coordinating breathing to movement. I have seem many
students who do not progress because they are unwilling to explore
the so-called "softer" side of Systema: relaxation and breathing.
These are the very things that may save your life if you are held in
a tight joint lock or sustain a mortal wound and feel your strength
ebbing away. I always remember that Vlad told me Systema is 90%
psychological and that means that whatever movements and techniques
you practice, ultimately it's your own psyche that will aid your
survival.
Hope this helps. Good luck with your training and *vsego
nailuchshego* (best wishes),
Rachel
--- In systema_group@yahoogroups.com, sean davis <sadavis7154@...>
wrote:
>
> thanks a million Rachel,
> I will do that. How long have you trained, where are you located
and was you treated differently being a woman in the system? Or did/
does it come easier to you than it does with men, We have a tendency
to use strength where grace is needed. Sorry if im asking to many
questions
>
> Sean
>
> rkxyz <rklingberg@...> wrote:
> Hi,
> Have you tried the training partners section of Vlad's site:
> http://www.russianmartialart.com/main.php?page=partners
> If there's nobody listed nearby, try posting a question to the
forum,
> they might know of another student in the Frankfurt area. That's
> probably your best chance of finding someone in your area.
> Good luck and best wishes,
> Rachel
>
> --- In systema_group@yahoogroups.com, sean davis <sadavis7154@>
> wrote:
> >
> > hi im living in germany, Frankfurt area which is west germany,
all
> schools for systema are in east a great distance from where i
reside. I
> was hoping someone may know of someone who may be a certified
trainer
> are at least trained in the art. living in the area (hessen)Anyone
got
> any clues?
> > thanks
> >
> >
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