(This is part 1 of a 3-part series about the Systema masters' visit
to NYC, during which they demonstrated Systema at the United Nations,
filmed some footage for the Discovery Channel at Fighthouse, and gave
two seminars on the subsequent weekend. For full details of all the
days of their visit, see the thread on the offficial forum
http://www.russianmartialart.com/forum/viewtopic.php?t=3267)

Systema Masters demonstrate Russian Martial Art at the United
Nations, Wednesday, October 24, 2007

I was honored to be invited to the United Nations for this
demonstration; many deserving students from all over the world would
have been glad to be there. Edgar told me that because I'm a writer,
if anyone was to document and remember what was shown to us on that
day, it'd be me. I shall try to live up to his expectations. First
let me say thank you to Mikhail, Vlad, and Edgar, for inviting me to
be their guest, and to the United Nations, for hosting this
enlightening event.

I met our group outside the Visitor's Entrance, and could not believe
how handsome all the guys looked in their suits. I've never seen
Edgar or Vlad that dressed up before. Peggy and I were also wearing
formal business attire and both of us were in heels. Mrs. Ryabko and
Mrs. Vasiliev were dressed beautifully. I think all of us spent a
moment or two marveling at each other's appearances; after years of
working out together, always looking sweaty and rumpled, it was
strange to suddenly see everyone so dressed up. It was an occasion to
look one's best; being a guest at the United Nations is a great
honor.

That was my first time meeting Larissa Ryabko and I'm sorry that
there was too much of a language barrier for us to communicate
beyond "Hello." She is a stately woman and looks very much like a
colonel's wife, which I intend entirely as a compliment. Maybe I will
learn Russian someday so I can greet her properly.

The UN representative who served as moderator opened the event by
saying that martial arts gets a bad rap in television and the movies,
yet it involves self-discipline, awareness, love of beauty of
movement, and harmony in the body, mind, and with the
environment. "True inner discipline is freedom," he said, and to that
end, martial arts masters from Russia, China, Japan, and the U.S.
would demonstrate.

Valerie introduced Russian Martial Art, with comments from Mikhail
and occasionally Vlad. Mikhail was surprisingly verbose. His military
background is evident; he was at home in this environment, the elder
statesman speaking before the committee. Vlad smiled the whole time,
he looked like a mischievous schoolboy about to launch a paper
airplane. He didn't say much. Mikhail quoted Romans: "If you want
peace, be ready for war." He also said, "I was always sent to war.
The United Nations is the only organization that wanted me to stay
home. My family and I are grateful." We laughed, but he was quite
sincere.

Mikhail provided an introduction to Systema through Valerie's
translation. "Russian Martial Art encompasses wrestling, striking,
health and fitness, and religious components." He explained how
Systema was classified under the Soviet Union and if the Soviet Union
had still existed, Systema would still be suppressed. I realized that
I had been directly affected by the dissolution of the Soviet Union,
in that it gave me a chance to learn Systema, which has changed my
life.

"No competition, no stances, no tournaments," Mikhail continued. "We
get close because it's a better range for holds and strikes." He
demonstrated the range of the legs, which is farther than the arms.
Mikhail said that students see results after just a few classes. "Go
with the force, don't resist," he said. "You should be no different
than an everyday person, just standing around."

He and Martin began to demonstrate. Martin tried to grab him. It was
interesting to see Martin, one of the top instructors in the world,
with an even greater master. It was the first time I was seeing the
extent of Mikhail's skill, and it was truly amazing. The other
masters there to demonstrate their styles looked on with rapt
attention.

Mikhail demonstrated hitting Martin several times, using the
unhurried, un-flashy movements he had talked about as 'everyday
standing around.' Martin took the strikes very well, perhaps better
than anyone I've ever seen. And because Mikhail's strikes aren't
flashy, an uninformed person might think he's not hitting Martin that
hard. But when Martin sat down next to me afterwards, I noticed he
was panting. I thought to myself, "So he's mortal," because I've
never seen Martin out of breath! Martin told me later than when
Mikhail hits him, he is acutely aware of his own mortality.

He also showed the no-contact work with Martin, which is of course,
amazing. He never falters. Just when you think Martin might actually
get him, Mikhail steps out of the way at the last second. It's really
a marvelous, breathtaking sight. It was my first real close look at
the extent of Mikhail's skill with the psychic energy; previously, I
had only seen this high-level work on videotapes.

Frank A. was next to demonstrate, and he too tried to grab Mikhail at
different speeds, fast and slow. Mikhail showed the no-contact work
with Frank, as well. He attempted to de-mystify it, showing how Frank
would halt if he raised his fist, stuck out his leg, or presented an
imposing figure. He said there are various ways to employ the no-
contact work: by stopping suddenly, or by moving suddenly, even by
taking a sharp breath, all of which cause a 'frozen' reaction in the
opponent.

Mikhail talked about even movements, uninterrupted, and full
breathing. He emphasized the need to dissipate aggression with your
own actions and breathing. If you have fear, you feed the attacker's
aggression. He also said that Systema practice never includes pre-
arranged attacks.

Frank attacked him faster. "The defender must be calm and ready,"
said Mikhail. "Strike in such a way so that he forgets about you," he
said, hitting Frank and stopping his attack. "Quick, painless
resolution." He demonstrated exciting versus calming strikes, and
several strikes that I think made the recipients (Frank and earlier,
Martin) laugh.

Frankie F. and Denis also demonstrated with Mikhail. Denis takes
strikes very well, after Mikhail hit him, he invited one of the other
masters to come up and hit Denis a few times. Master Short Iwasaki
hit Denis in the stomach – I am not sure if he was hitting him as
hard as he could, but he was putting a good deal of effort into it.
He smiled as he saw how little his strikes affected Denis. Compared
to Mikhail's punches, which seemed so much quieter, Denis hardly
seemed to notice Master Iwasaki's. He also kicked him quite hard, but
Denis just smiled and moved only a little.

Denis said, "The strikes make you warm." He lifted his shirt, and his
stomach was reddened. "I did not get offended," he added, and I think
the strikes do less damage because of that.

Vlad did a very brief demonstration with multiple attackers that I
wished was longer, but there was so much to show, and not enough
time. Somehow Vlad's shoe came off and in his usual witty expression
of Systema, he launched it at his opponent, to much laughter. I wish
Vlad could have demonstrated longer, but there were other masters
waiting to demonstrate their own styles. The moderator thanked
Mikhail and his demonstrators: "Versatile, wonderful, powerful yet
relaxed… very beautiful," he said.

The other three masters were also very interesting speakers and I was
going to add a few lines about their demonstrations, but there is so
much to write, and I want to get it down while it's fresh, and also
keep this at a good, readable length, though I could write a whole
missive. There were masters of Tai Chi, Aikido, and Tong Il Moo-Doo
also there to demonstrate.

After the demonstrations, they opened the floor to questions, and the
moderator requested another demonstration of Mikhail's no-contact
work. I think Denis was the one to demonstrate with him, but cannot
quite recall. They showed a few more minutes of this extraordinary
work, during which Mikhail really does appear to be an ordinary
person, "just standing around." Ordinary, but so elusive – always one
step ahead of his attacker, almost as if he's reading his mind.
Mikhail had a few more words about the psychic energy, which I think
of as "the energy of intent." I think the moderator, rather than
having any particular question, just wanted to see more of this
remarkable movement.

After posing for photographs and thanking everyone, we celebrated the
exciting day with a lovely meal at the famous Russian Tea Room. It
was a memorable experience, a day I will remember for a long time to
come. Systema has truly become an international martial art, and a
force for good. I hope the entire world will be as fortunate as I to
benefit from this precious gift of knowledge, freely shared with us
by two great masters whose greatness extends so far beyond
combatives.

*Vsego nailuchshego* (best wishes),
Rachel