What to Expect When Training in the Russian Martial Art of Systema?
In his article Bratzo Barrena discusses what to expect when training in the Russian Martial Art of Systema, as most people who attend their...
Mastering Systema: Striking Spirituality
I attended two days of the Mastering Systema seminar in Toronto, Ontario. It was a week long event, and I was there for the...
How Hard Should Your Systema Training Be?
Your Goal
The goal of Systema training is to accumulate power and not tension. I believe that with each training session, while doing the same...
Tense Shoulders – The Bigger Picture
When I observe students in class, at seminars, or when I evaluate instructors through the Systema Video Program (SVP), I see one most common...
3 Types of Fear – 3 Ways to Breathe
We can view our fears on three levels.
The first one we can call Personal Fear. It is the type that develops without any...
Defend Disarm Control in Systema
This article discusses defend disarm control in Systema where defending and attacking are the same thing, where you must identify if the opponent is...
Systema Combative Body Massage
Any good massage is beneficial. The Systema combative body massage that we do in classes has its own unique and practical value. Done in...
Working Against Multiple Opponents in Martial Arts
Working against multiple opponents in martial arts is challenging both psychologically and physically.
In Systema, there are a number of simple things to understand and practice to...
Be a Moving Target
Everyone knows that shooting a moving target is much harder than a fixed one. It requires additional efforts and skill. Something similar happens in...
Systema Pushups
A few years ago, when I was visiting Mikhail Ryabko in Moscow, he demonstrated a slow fist Systema pushup against the wall. I still...
Work Against Multiple Opponents
Work against multiple opponents is challenging both psychologically and physically.
In Systema, there are a number of simple things to understand and practice to help...
The Skill of Taking Strikes in Systema
An interview with System's Vladimir Vasiliev discusses the practical (apparent) reason for taking strikes and the underlying (psychological) reason.
Student: We heard that you are currently working on...
Mikhail Ryabko’s Stick Tying Techniques
This happened over 20 years ago in Russia. My friends and I were at Mikhail Ryabko's class. The format of classes was such that...
Break Through Tension with A Systema Breathing Drill
We all know that breathing is our best tool to eliminate tension. We have done numerous great drills at Systema classes and seminars including aSystema...
Control Tension with Systema Conditioning
In Systema conditioning, we try to create all the exercises so that they lead us directly into the highest levels of fighting skill. Training...
Systema Breathing Application
How to breathe to prepare yourself for a fight using Systema breathing application?
When an untrained person perceives danger, his heart rate and blood pressure...