Sergey Zhukov: Rethinking Training Across the Board

About a year ago, I came across a video of some phenomenal skill I had never seen before. The title of the video was called "Russian Martial Arts Exercise 2 Riga Latvia TSA". Now, again, let me restate the fact that I am not a "martial artist" but I have been training off and on for some time. My training, never consisted of anything like this.
At about the time this video landed in my lap, I was recovering from a tragic miscarriage and was on bed rest for at least 3 months. My body, my abdominal area and my back were completely destroyed...my diaphragm was shot. I was a mess. I wanted to start back into a routine slowly but really had no idea where to start, again.
I am now aware that this is a common exercise developed in other art forms and there are indeed , instructors in the US who demonstrate this, but IMHO, none as smoothly and as well as he did. It wasn't even that it was smooth, it was that there clearly was something about his calm demeanor and peaceful energy, that just grabbed me through the screen. I immediately began trying to find out who he was, where he was, and where he taught.And I came up empty handed. I asked everyone I could think of. I think I even publicly posted about him on Facebook. Still, nothing.
Finally one day(albeit it 6 months or so later), someone told me who he was and WHERE he was(faceplant). I managed to contact him and was so extremely thrilled by his pleasant demeanor and openness. Again, this was something not really felt in the larger community in the US( in my opinion). I was amazed at his description of flowing, movement and the inevitable " be like water". My ass, could not be like water. I tried. I tried feverishly to recreate at least 5 seconds of his work. It was completely impossible. I knew, what I had learned, what I was learning and what I would continue to learn, may be in all actuality, a lie. I had zero control over my movement on the floor and no matter how many situps, pushups and squats I was doing, this routine was impossible. This , my friends, was the single video that changed everything I thought about RMA.
Once I finally admitted defeat, I began researching RMA in every language I could think of. I resourced my friends. I resourced my library. I stayed up for days. I watched a ton of Karimov videos and picked his brain relentlessly. I studied history, warfare, Cossacks, military movement , all from a Russian perspective(some I already knew, some I was able to get really deep into). I was determined to go to Russia, it was the only way to quench the desire I had for more.
Months went by and my computer crashed multiple times with info overload. I bought a laptop. It was full within weeks. My physical library was overloaded. I had databases in databases. I still do. I spent every second I could trying to unravel some of the most complex theories and practices of Russian Martial Arts and the Slavic Arts. All because of this video.

For me , going to Russia was not a choice. It was just the beginning. And much to my surprise Sergey Zhukov met me in St. Petersburg. I honestly thought it wouldn't happen.But once I saw his face, it was all I could do to not cry. I know..sounds cheesy BUT...he , along with Karimov, were the few faces behind opening my eyes into a different way of thinking.
Seeing Sergey in person was really just amazing. We exchanged basketball gifts and headed to a local park in Pushkin. Sergey softly explained to me how the basketball thing worked.

He related almost every move into what seemed to be an defensive or offensive technique. The movement can also apply to law enforcement. Dance. Flexibility.Strengthening. Breathwork. Meditation. This simple routine, could really change the way you train, yet rarely taught or explained. Sergey continued to talk about the difference between the word "relax" and "release". Anyone who's been to a Systema class or seminar for two seconds will hear the word "relax" used repeatedly. Yes. Repeatedly.
Sergey's overview was by far more intriguing. To relax , means the body is at rest completely as in ,"fight before bed". His thoughts on using the word "release" instead , in training, made much more sense to me. Release the tension in your body, so you can accept a punch, a blow, and disturbance.

Recently, I continued my "interview" with Sergey and he proceeded to tell me more. ..(roughly translated by Google Translate)
..on movement...
" In my understanding that there is a certain perception of the world around. This perception defines the articulation of movement. All of a person's real intentions show through movement. The basketball is simply a game with movement.I play with different movements and teach them to others. When you are able to move freely, then you stop comparing. Everything depends on you. The individual. Once you start to do something, the results are evident. (sic)."

...on training..." In training, we work with free movement without technology. The body is always changing load. If the load is small , it increases. If it is large, it is too much and becomes exhausted. I believe in "Triangle health" : moderate load, moderate power and moderate rest. It is a balance on all. The body is a great eye. To see all around the eyes must be open. The body must have ability to see danger. In my first stages of teaching and studies I teach how to free the body, how to remove pain from the body and how to remove fear from the body. This is what keeps the body closed. After each training session, the body becomes clearer and clearer.(sic)"

Sergey is currently a Slavic Arts bodyworker, but served as special forces and trainer for 26 years with five of those years in an anti-terrorism group. He trains and has trained in other arts such as karate, Thai boxing, Bujinkan, Aikido, Kali and Systema. He is also a part of T.S.A(tactical speed application) and has several videos online of his tactical training methodology developed to fill the gap for law enforcement and military ops.

  You can find out more about Sergey Zhukov, his skills and his work on Facebook.
   His You Tube page is here.

Sistema Boya: An In Depth Discussion with Leonid Polezhaev

I had the great fortune of speaking with Leonid Polezhaev of Sistema Boya yesterday. With his permission, the following is a portion of our Q&A with his thoughts about Systema, Cossack style training, spirituality and combative arts...(he speaks English , yet some words were translated via Google Translate).

(preface) I have followed Sistema Boya for a while and recently, found a few of his videos posted on Combat Labs Russian Martial Arts' Facebook Page. While I never continued my research into the Boya school, I always admired Polezhaev's videos and his exquisite skill level. Leonid Polezhaev was both profound and deep in our conversation, which was something I have only witnessed with a handful of other Russian instructors. He accredits this depth with the reality of being in Kosovo in 2005 , where he had a spiritual internal awakening of sorts(roughly described). 

Polezhaev spent 10 years from 1998-2008 committed to both his faith and Russian Martial Arts , and in 2008 started his own combative style and methodology. He has a passion for the Cossack style with a focus on personal growth and emotional health and well being. This was something I have become highly familiar with in my understanding how even some of the most sought after instructors really utilize and put into practice in their lives. They negate fear and emotional weakness with a deep understanding of being alive and not taking anything for granted. Often times, their faith is their driving force behind their powerful and effortless movement that reaches a skill level unparalleled to anything I have seen in the United States. The sense of calm and peace radiates from some of the finest instructors and they have all stated that this is the sole reason their skill level is amplified. While at times I still struggle with understanding the complexity of these great instructors, Mr.Polezhaev really explained it at a whole new level.( please note, this is a roughly open conversation with some translation errors and has a generalized open communicative tone-any mistakes made in publishing due to translation will be corrected if necessary)


--I asked Mr.Polezhayev to tell me a little bit about himself and what he thinks of the division and contrast to the "combative" arts and the Cossack style and how he feels about the continued debate of what is right, what is wrong on different resources and RMA threads...this is what his response was ..

LP: Yes. It is fine. Everyone has his own view on the close fight. I tend to think to what is art - the art of life -humanity and human development through the motions? The vector can be deployed in different directions - you can wear uniforms and belong to the "special forces" or "Cossack", but the inner meaning - what is inside a person - it's energy is what is more important.

(on telling me about himself)- I am: Man. Personality. Energy. Divine Energy.Love. No Fear.Violation of Divine Love. Restoring the Balance. No matter distance and time, countries and continents. With thoughts. Promised thought. Micro- and macrocosm. We are together, or not. Friend. Enemy. Love is love. Love is evil. The adoption of an evil. absorption and return back to his Love. Folded point. Expansion into infinity.
Attack the enemy in the reflex of fear, anger, hatred, resentment. Pain. Pleasure. Lust. We expose it to the dead point - adjustment and murder with Love. Take his confession and repentance. Give him the joy of returning to God. Protection - love pain. Holy Rage. He wants to make himself sick. Take in the waves of love, the Holy Sacred Rage what you spawned. I will recompense, and will give you and erase from this world manifestation of the Void. Give a death or life. Destroy or (repair)? Decide for yourself. Why have you come to me? The solution is for you. I am your reflection.If the person does not love - he is afraid. Walk down the street and radiate an inner light through a smile (smiling mask). Peace and balance. If you are afraid - then you are a victim. So you sit .
Another point - practice - training should lead to a balance and peace, the different rhythms of the training-hall one situation to another rhythm street - but it is also training - the game - the main thing at the end of the game to reach nirvana. (Or soon to enter itself in nirvana). Light destroys darkness around, slowing, stopping time. Disappointment that the enemy stands firm. Beat, tear, and tear it with a smile - and then regret it, or a piece of meat (that is left of it) as a child(sic)

OO: And this is something you have written?

LP: Yes.This is the philosophy of "система боя"

OO: And where did you train?

LP:Kosovo. It was scary at first. My soul trembled with terror. But love has destroyed the fear. When I came back - I felt that while I was there, something very important and valuable to mankind. I was asked to describe how I go into an altered state, Not describe the training process but internal content.

OO: Was this during a war in Kosovo?

LP: In 2005 there was no physical war,but a spiritual war. There was a place of contact between light and darkness.

OO: What about other training background information?

LP: In 1998 I graduated from the training system Kadochnikova. and I went to the Orthodox church. Confession - prayer and monasteries - it lasted 10 years. In 2008 I developed my own combat system from there.
Now I'm combining everything associated with the Cossack style because (I value) their policies.

OO: How do you feel about the criticism that the style of dance and fight are not developed together?

LP:It is not true! Dance has to do with the Cossack battle! A dance is the rhythm inside of you - this will be drawing the battle. I love Lezginka. My family lives on the Kuban 160 years. We are Cossacks .Before, we lived Chernihiv (Ukraine)

OO: Many "combatives" instructors say it is pointless and there is no reason to train in Cossack style... that there is no history with Russian Martial arts and Cossack style. How do you feel about this?

LP:Then they do not understand the soul of the Cossack.
We are united by Orthodoxy,but the rhythm of movement of Russian and Cossack dancing is different. But in the end what is the difference - which way to achieve inner enlightenment!? Russian or Cossack style?



While my conversation with Mr.Polezhaev continued on to other topics, the few key points he had mentioned , were commonplace for many of the other highly skilled instructors I have spoken with along my journey, including Sergey Zhukov, Sergey Kuznetsov, Andrey Karimov and Yuri Sheshukov. Their seemingly fearless approach, grace, permanent smile and lack of tension, all come from within. Almost all of these men attribute this practice to having a true understanding of themselves and inner peace.


To see Sistema Boya videos you can go to his You Tube page, in Russian language here.

Don't speak Russian? No problem, Leonid has an English You Tube channel here.


The following is an interesting excerpt I copied from Mr.Polezhaev's Sistema Boya website in reference to the rules of his school. Very , very on point(in my opinion)

Guidelines for Practice "combat system"

• "Combat system" should be open only to those who agree and upholds the principles "combat system". Anyone who does not follow this - can not join us. Specifically: Only those who have read and agreed with these guidelines shall be allowed to participate.
• Only those able to exercise true patience, self-control, and dedication shall be allowed to participate. It requires a doctor's note. In particular, people with mental illness, drug addiction, or mental instability shall be barred from participation. The need for such a doctor's concerns individuals who may present a danger to others. Naprimer-, those with infectious diseases or clinically insane person or persons who have no self-control.
• Persons with criminal records are not eligible to study. Troublemakers, those who commit crimes, and those who live in Russia that violate domestic laws do not have a right to learn.
• Those who do not uphold the guiding principles of the "combat system", either as practitioners or as members of society who have committed shameful acts should be expelled.
• Regarding accidents occurring during training (both inside and outside the gym), should not cause problems in the "combat system".This is an extremely important point. Those who wish to take personal responsibility for accidents occurring during the practice of "combat system" to learn not allowed. We reiterate for clarity, "combat system" does not accept responsibility for accidents occurring in the course of training, regardless of location.
• The tradition of "combat system" recognizes nature and the universality of human life We are studying the way to a man's heart.Recently "combat system" has become a truly international movement. There are various taboos among the peoples and countries of the world. We must respect each other, striving to avoid such taboos. We must put the heart of the warrior first, working together for self-improvement and "combat system". Those not upholding the above-mentioned guidelines should be expelled from the "combat system".

Here is a brief summary of his education and training :

Education: from 1988-1993 - Krasnodar Higher Military Command School of Engineering Strategic Missile Forces ( KVVKIURV ) Faculty : ACS; specialty: Cybernetics engineer

Combative Training and Experience:

1977 to 1987 -Engaged in Greco- Roman wrestling 

1988 to 1993 . - Training at a military school 

1993 - served in the Armed Forces, a reserve officer 

1995 to 1997 . Martial arts instructor

1998 - current-System " Cossack Spas" 

Since 2010 led the club " Dogfight Cossack scouts 

The Power of a Skirt: Does A Skirt Have More Power Than You May Think?

The power and beauty of a skirt. 

I write this on the eve of many realizations...one being, that I have worn a dress or skirt consecutively for over a week now, trying to implement the self given "skirt-a-day" challenge. This idea came after I returned from Russia(actually, it was in the works there) and wanted to work on a few social ideologies that I witnessed during my time there that may or may not get the attention of a few people who knew me best back home.
While I'd like to think this idea/challenge really worked, to be honest..it was a bust.Not completely, not yet, because I told myself I would do 30 days and see how I felt after. The goal was simple, wear a skirt or dress for 30 days , see if I can get a few of my friends to join in the fun(sorry girls, I totally forgot to mention it) , and see if there are any social or behavioral changes in the people around me based on the fact that I am simply wearing a skirt.
Before the fem-police get called in...I have to go back to how this whole thing started.

While in Russia, I had the honor and privilege to train with a wonderful woman named Olga Malkova.

Olga Malkova...fierce.

At first glance, Olga seemed quite ravishing and shy. She has raven colored hair and orange eyes(ok maybe not "orange" but very light brown..certainly orange in the sun). Her smile almost sings and her voice matches her. She is very polite, courteous and graceful.
Oh...and she can probably kick your ass.
After a few days of being around Olga, she encouraged me to wear a skirt to training. I nearly fell out of my KEEN hiking shoes when she suggested it. My immediate thought was "what if I trip and fall?!!!" But once I took a look around the room, I noticed almost all the women were wearing skirts. None were falling because of them and ALL of the women looked really graceful and amazing. That night, I unpacked my completely crushed and wrinkled skirt (which I was advised to bring beforehand) and laid it out with great disdain. I had no idea what was going to happen or how even..I would walk to the gym..in a skirt...(I didn't. I changed clothes at the gym..because yes..I am that stubborn).

Olga and several of the other women, were really, really amazing practitioners and martial artists. For the entire time I studied and tried to train in Systema in the US, I complained and whined about the lack of female presence in the Systema community. I only knew of a handful of women who trained in it and we all kind knew of each other and it was nice, but some of us felt very ho-hum about training. I personally , was lucky that I had some great experiences with some great instructors but overall, I always felt like I was missing something or, that I was going to get killed on the mat. Either way, there certainly wasn't a balance and I had been told many times, Systema is not for women.
SO of course, my shock in finding Andrey Karimov and his almost even number of women vs men seminars, was astounding. When I asked him if he trained women or taught them Systema, he replied "Why wouldn't I? Women are a strong social aspect of the world and are great to learn from!"...um. wha?
Not at all like any answer I heard before and also the biggest reason I went to Russia to train with him. There were just as many women at this seminar as there were men, and it certainly helped for the dancing part! But to watch these women toss men around like it was easy, was beautiful all on it's own, and in fact, I would have to say the epitome of perhaps what "soft work" should be.

I digress....
The day I walked into the gym in my skirt(or one of them), you could hear a pin drop. It was awkward to say the least and I felt probably the most embarrassed I had ever felt in my life. The only other closest example I had to this feeling was when I went to a friend's house for her birthday party and her husband did not recognize me (after knowing me for 10+ years) because I was "cleaned up". In fact, he almost didn't let me in the house! Had I known this whole time that wearing a skirt had THIS much power, perhaps I would have done it more...
and that was precisely Olga's point. Not that there were any stipulations or feminazi rules about it, but she could fight, dance, swordplay, sing and then cook, all in a skirt, all without falling and all with not even breaking a sweat. She was fully in control of her body, her movement and her grace. She, was in CONTROL.

Please don't let me fall on film, with a sword
(that was my mantra)

nailed it..sort of.

Once I started training, I quickly realized how NOT in control I was. I damn near tripped over my skirt every 5 seconds and of course, this was the same day we filmed a swordplay video.(ARE YOU KIDDING ME???!!IN A SKIRT, ON FILM, WITH A SWORD ??!! UGHGHGH)... yes..that happened. Not only did the sword get caught in my skirt every 3 seconds, my frustration level was increasing and my mental state was getting frazzled. Now, this became a challenge. I looked around the room and not one other woman had this same issue, not even the female children. Not one. I was devastated, but trucked on.That night we danced until 2 am. I am pretty sure I mooned everyone there with the number of times I stepped on my skirt and pulled it down accidentally. Grace factor=zero.

The next day, I returned in my hiking pants(which fit by now because I was losing weight from all the physical activity), only to find the men AND women , slightly disappointed that I was not wearing a skirt again. AND, they told me about it!!! I almost felt bad that I had let them down, but wondered what all the fuss was about. The men told me I looked beautiful and the women said the same. It was probably the most compliments I had ever had, in my life.
Why would I not want more?
In fact, a few of the men and women asked if my own boyfriend treated me any different wearing a skirt and I had to embarrassingly admit, he did not. They encouraged me to wear skirts more often to represent a more graceful and feminine energy and maybe , he would hold my hand, or carry my things...maybe.

Of course, this single-handedly went against everything I strived for my entire adult female life. I wouldn't say I was a "feminist" but I would say that I could carry my own things,open a door and hell, I was known to have some of the most random, male dominated hobbies around. I'm not entirely sure if that's being a female in Texas , or just because I knew I had to do what made me happy. The cost was becoming obvious: I lost my feminine balance. Big time. Not only have I noticed in the past 2 years or so, that typically, I am the one holding the door open for men in public, but also I am the one fixing things, I am the one maintaining order..I was also, extremely exhausted. My body has slowly been giving off warning signs, everything from clusterheadaches to a horrific and nightmarish miscarriage. I was exhausting myself by doing everything and working hard to keep the ship from sinking.
But I didn't realize this until I was in Russia. During one of our discussions, one of the men told me how important it was for women to rest, therefore, the men
carried and chased after the young children from the time they could walk, until the children were self-sufficient. (Yeah, mom friends..we did it wrong).....He stated that women were really the driving force in the household and their support, love and nurturing spirit were all necessary to keep men motivated through anything;long work hours, financial loss or even..war.He also stated "this is why it's called "Mother Russia", she is revered.

not even his baby, ya'll, he's just helping.

This sentiment almost had me in tears. Mr. Karimov himself had told me that women were like a nuclear power plant and you never wanted it to explode....(LOL). And by the looks of how these men treated not only their own wives, but me, well there was something certainly to be said about it all.
I was slightly catered to, by some of the men in Russia. And by "catered to" I mean really, they were just attentive. If I looked too pensive , they checked to see if I was ok. Ran out of water?...some on the way...Raining? was covered up....Cold? Offered a jacket or to huddle in close. And usually, my arm was guided on almost every expedition we went on..in unison with many other women..... the women really were cared for. All of them.

Roman Khozeev knows how to do it right!!

Now, the personal debate for me was surely that it could not be just the skirt. However, in retrospect, what man would want to walk with a woman, who is not flowing gracefully with a long skirt, next to him? Not many. And when I brought up the actuality of what it is like in the states, that not many men walk around holding the hands of their female companions in the US, the Russian men were shocked.
Not only was this commonplace for the men in our group, it was common for the men to make sure if anyone else's wife was not accompanied, that one of them would make sure she was taken care of. All the women felt really, really safe. This was something I had not felt in ...well, ever.

Again, I was not sure if this was about the skirt, or about the maturity level of the men. All I can say
is that the women were amazing fighters and practitioners.
They were on point with their skill and grace and I learned so much from each one of them. The men did not take it easy on them in training and every female held her own. It was amazing and beautiful all at the same time. The women had an empowering tone overall and one that I admired daily. In fact, I sent a text message to a friend in the states and told her about this skirt phenomenon. While I waited for her response, I realized that I wore skirts before but usually on special occasions and that, on average, wearing a skirt on any other occasion other than a night out or church Sunday, meant you were a lazy , hippy female , who perhaps had no laundry left. Her response was exactly what I had thought in my head of when I personally stopped wearing skirts..."I usually only wear skirts when I don't have to chase the baby around".

this picture got alot of feedback on many levels

Almost simultaneously , I noticed one of the men in our group, carrying his baby and his
wife was training right next to him, in a skirt. To both their credits, they each trained with baby in hand and switched duties during training , so they could get equal amounts of time participating. This was not something I had going for me when my son was this age, but I could totally see the point of not wearing a skirt one your baby is walking...UNLESS , your male counterpart is equally responsible for the baby rearing.

yes..she took him out with a baby in hand.

Again, looking around the room, and in reflection of our trip, the parts of me that were lost in my personal journey, became the parts of me that were immediately brought back to the table. Often times, women lose their sense of identity when they become mothers and wives and they become all too secondary of a thought in a household. They are easily overlooked, unappreciated and even, left behind and this is exactly what happened to me. I became only "mom" and nothing more which almost everyone at the seminar noticed.....
getting to a point of how to change this , was almost all too much for me to deal with and at times, it is what certainly broke me at the seminar. My emotional state when from being numb, to wondering what I had done in my life and relationships, to how would I be able to recover..?? Yup..all from a skirt...

So, Olga's advice was simple..."Olivia..start small, start wearing a skirt and see how you feel , on the inside, the rest will radiate from within."

She's good, because yes, I feel great but really, the only person who noticed was another friend of mine who coincidentally , ALWAYS wears skirts and dresses. But I also noticed that she has amazing physical balance(she wears heels all the time) and I have literally seen her ask for help when she needs to carry something heavy and no one rolls their eyes at her(um, if I ask for help to carry something heavy, often times it is because I am being sarcastic---hence sub-issue part 2). While her encouragement for hanging in there with the skirt challenge is amazing, I wonder still, what social impact it will make on the people around me? What if I become someone who asks for help after years of not needing any? What if I become someone who can receive a compliment without snorting a sarcastic laugh after...? What if this skirt thing works wonders in my training balance and grace (something I've struggled with my entire adult life)???

Hopefully some of my skirt antics will be available on DVD or video soon and you too, can see my blunders during training with a skirt. So far, it's only day 9 of wearing a skirt and I've tripped and fallen twice, not bad at all. I rather enjoy the whole skirt thing and if you'd like to join in the challenge let me know!!

For the Love of Children:The Importance of Emotionally Safe and Structured Training with Kids in Systema

Alot of people may be surprised at the heavy dose of children's work Andrey Karimov offers at his extensive seminars. Our 21 day seminar in St. Petersburg offered up a nice sized portion of in depth work with children. Before I go any further, Mr. Karimov is a practicing psychologist and has carefully spent several years constructing these modules for children and their emotional health. Each game and series is designed with a few key components in mind :

• identifying children's deep, emotional issues by gauging responses to activities
• helping each child work through such issues
• allowing parents to partake in witnessing their children's independence and strengths 
• formulate a strong sense of identity and free thinking 
• allowing children to try and succeed in a safe, nurturing environment without judgement

Does your kid have the wiggles? Body language is very telling.

• giving parents, specifically fathers, ideas and formulas to help improve relationships with not only their children, but the children around them

and much more.... each activity starts out quite abruptly with the balalaika(yes, I know...you don't know how to play one, don't have one, or don't understand why it's needed....) Remember the game musical chairs? The music played while we all ran around to get to the last chair but the minute it stopped, it was game on?
This, is how the balalaika is used. Now , if you try this in your school, you can certainly use whatever instrument or music of choice but the key is to be consistent. As with anything with children, consistency fosters stability.

Is you Systema kid's class helping or hurting them?

Mr. Karimov often started each session simply by monitoring the children. It was almost a given that the adults in the room were not to interfere or redirect the children in any way...(and if you know me personally, you must know how incredibly difficult this was for me). Without any cues or directions, Karimov began to play the balalaika at a moderate pace, he then would build speed and abruptly stop. The kids, once they heard the music, would run around the room(floor covered in mats) and drop to the ground and stop, when the music stopped. Usually, there would be a few seasoned kids in the group that knew of the routine and seemingly, the other kids just followed along. Again, not much , if any direction from the adults. Once the children stopped(most dropped to the floor face down), Mr. Karimov would quietly point out the children who were unable to keep still...the ones peeking, wiggling, shifting positions, or still walking around....
These were your rule breakers , for lack of a better term.Which is not necessarily a bad thing. These kids also maybe had a difficult time in general by not having a calm demeanor and often times would look back at their parents for approval to make sure they were doing the drill correctly. Again, there was alot to be said by witnessing this display of simple body language.
This all begged to ask the question, what were we teaching our children, in "Systema" in the United States? I know of maybe a few instructors who have done a great job formulating really amazing kid's classes , but that's only a handful. I've found more instructors who have completely thrown the baby out with the bathwater by having kids line up only to punch one another and claiming this was their anti-bullying program.
No one talks about the psychological effect of improper training, or how to help parents foster better relationships or even...dare I say, gets fathers involved?? Not anyone I've heard of.

And how does this pertain to you , as a martial artist? If you have a child, and you spend a ton of time away from you child, training...doing mainly "systema" things, why not utilize that time to the benefit of your parent/child relationship? Not only did some of our best warm up routines come from working with the children at our seminar, almost all of us had a ton of fun, were completely limber and loose, and all of us reached a level of training much more effectively than if we JUST DID SIT UPS.

Barring the musical mat exercise, the demonstrations that followed blew my mind(luckily, the adults got to play too!)...

The great and unmatchable Masha...you'll be hearing more about her

One demonstration in particular, knocked me off my feet, figuratively and literally. Mr. Karimov and a partner each had one end of a rope...they dragged the rope towards and lineup of children and either shifted the rope up or down forcing the children to make a snap-quick decision. Sounds easy? It's not. The goal of the game was to get children to understand that adaptability really is dependent upon them, not the people around them, and that they alone, were responsible for their decisions, so merely mimicking their cohorts may not work for them, especially since the rope was being moved at different angles. And guess what? Same game for adults and almost all of us fell. Why? Perhaps because we have what Mr. Karimov refers to as "maladaptive programming". We are conditioned to overthink, overdo, and over prepare for everything. Pre-jumping over a rope , as an adult, will most certainly land you on your face..(yes, this happened to me). Waiting until the right moment to decide whether you should leap, drop to the ground or merely slowly walk over the rope, was a key way in identifying what your natural behavioral patterns were, and for children, this is key for their parents to understand.

• Are you raising an overconfident child who is impulsive? Early rope jumper.
• Are you raising a child who struggles to decide what to do and goes with the crowd? Cautious rope jumper.
• Are you raising a child who makes the very obvious wrong choices frequently? Opposite end goal determination rope jumper.
• Are you raising a child who waits until the very last minute , but makes a successful choice? Again, cautious, yet thoughtful rope jumper.

Not as easy as it looks. Better than sit ups, squats, rolls and pushups.

You get the idea. And this was only one game, of many, many games. This game, by the way, works great for adults and the kids LOVE to watch the adults play. Not only do you get a heavy dose of plyometrics on board, you start to really work on yourself. Now that I look back at pictures of myself doing this demo, I can reflect on what it felt like participating. Not only was I wearing a skirt, I
noticed that I waited until the moment the rope touched me to move. Again, I'm not a big fan of using excessive energy ( I'm old, what can I say?), but this also is a slow process I've learned to use throughout my life. Normally, I would have panicked, already wondered how I would jump or which direction, but knowing that Karimov was liable to raise the rope in any direction almost gave me a better sense of calm in my own quick decision making and adaptability skills. I , in fact, was relearning to trust my own judgement.

Again..this was a game designed for children, but worked really well for all of us. I will be continuing writing about child-specific , and emotionally safe children's games and training from the seminar in St. Petersburg with a highlighted focus on the importance of adequate work with children. Oh, and at the end of each children's session, the kids lined up to thank the adults... mutual respect was very key in wrapping up each session.

***Photos courtesy of the great Evgeny"Eugenious" Pechkin. You'll be hearing more about him too.