Systema Guideline to Life, Inner Peace and Training.The Philosophy Behind the Art, by Master Andrey Karimov

Foreword

We will begin by discussing the growth and progression of man in Systema. From birth to death, man's role in life , discovering himself, and even training can all be formatted to be a unique and harmonious lifestyle. From the four main stages of life(birth, childhood, young adulthood, wise age), Andrey Karimov reviews the path meant for us all in our divine natural state and what we can all do to become better people. This guide is meant as an outline to self correct , live happily, and progress as a true Systema practioner.. Dictated by Master Andrey Karimov, translated by  Darya Antipina and interpreted by Olivia Overturf.

Introduction

What is a system and why is it needed?
It is all relative. It is not possible to say something sharply about anything exactly. The phrase "psychological trap" can be used. Who is ready to accept this phrase? Whomever is ready, is ready to be in a cage and have psychological weapons used against them. The correct meaning of Systema, is a coordinated system. Everything in the world is Systema. A full version also includes a coordinated system of all people. Systema coordinates obvious and hidden ideals of this organization. If you do not know your personal "coordinates" , you do not know yourself. Man should have his own navigation to understand his path in life. Our Systema focuses on finding our personal control points in this navigational system and to find out where we are now. Alot of people are not living this way, and are lying dormant. There are many reasons this can happen. One major reason is lack of skills to manage a full life. We are working with people who are ready to take control back of their life! It is very important to make sure you are actually ready, as an individual, for this process. Not everyone will be ready.
The secrets of our system or, "life secrets" are not really secrets at all. We are not, or never will, try to hide these secrets. They will always be available to those who are ready.Secrets are very expensive(emotionally) and you cannot buy or sell them. The cost of these in actuality is mental illness and even human life.
To begin mapping these philosophies, it is important to have a social model. In Russia, and many other cultures, these models are described by the use of folklore and fairy tales. This helps to bring children into an underlying awareness that can help them understand difficult concepts. Usually in a fairy tale of this  sort, a man and woman walking together, as partners, in a marriage, is the highest pinnacle of the fairy tale . When a male and female join together, they have a greater, absolute power. This model typically can foresee and help predict a divine path.This is why they are still crucial in society. Even if man is not doing anything , he will know what is working and what is not. The model will start to reflect in his life and have influence on his path of personal growth. This is the magic and beauty of fairy tales.

Image from Cossack Fairy Tales by R.Nisbet Bain

These models are already divinely planted in our individual genetic code and they are universal and worldwide. What is available in one's mind, can also be available outside of one's mind. These two factors can join together and meet but they can also negate each other and not work succinctly or, they can negatively copy itself. People are either ready to live based on this prediction of their own divine path or they will try to grow and improve basic skills, such as self love. Without this kind of "self love", it is impossible to have love for each other. When one fights against this genetic code or resists his own path, this will lay his prediction out as a man.  It is impossible to win in this fight. One will face the personal inability to conquer inner and outer struggles.

(stay tuned for continued series on Systema Guideline to Life, Inner Peace and Training)



You can follow Master Karimov on FB here.
His You Tube channel is available here.
For more information (in Russian ) you can go  to http://ladsistema.ru/

Cracking the Code: Unlocking the Secrets of Systema with Master Andrey Karimov.Part One

The following works were dictated by Systema Master, Andrey Karimov on his philosophies of Systema, personal growth and emotional health. Translated by Darya Antipina and interpreted by Olivia Overturf. This will be the beginning of a multi-layer series based on the work and study of Mr.Karimov. He welcomes your questions or comments following the articles. Enjoy...

The word " SYSTEMA"- the root of the  word, the main idea, is important.

Let's start with  "ST" in  SYSTEMA. 

ST as in "strength", you cannot divide the "S" and the "T". This is the nuclear part of the word that exists in all European languages and even other languages. 

The letter "S" resembles an "idea" or even the sound "sh" or "s" in different languages. As in a "wild idea". The "s" looks like a snake. God's idea temptates a person. God looks to how people incorporate this idea on Earth. For example, an individual can make an idea very bad, or very cruel. Also , an "s"alone is different than two"s's" as in "SS" like the Nazi "runes" for Schutzstaffel. Any good idea can transfer into a cruel ideology.

The "ST" that are commonly neighboring together and are found in the word "SYSTEMA"are a combination of the "soft s" and the "hard t". STat (СТать in the Russian language)is to shape the body, form,overall make-up of the human body. When you draw "ST" with the focal center points placed correctly, the letters transition from :

"ST" with focalized center

combination "S" and "T"

 "ST" with focal center to " the body"

Upright body with generated energy

The STat figure contains all the components of the psychological, physical and spiritual senses. First, the "ST" contain the mild "s" and the hard "t" which make a perfect balance. While it is essential that a person remain "hard" in their life, it is also important that a person remain soft. If a person is upright, he generates strong energy, if he is crooked, his structure is easy to break. The main goal is to be able to take strikes and punches both physically and psychologically.

Secondly, the idea of softness is important to understand so that our arms become soft and fluid to allow our hands to become sensitive. We must have this understanding so we can understand our own power. For example, if a robber is choking someone, he can easily kill them with "hard" hands, if he had no sensitivity. The "ST" in "SYSTEMA" embodies the balance of both "hardness" and "softeness".We must learn how to use this balance to not cause suffering and pain to others.

The "SY" in "SYSTEMA" defines "the circle". This is a group of like minded people who have the ability to communicate and speak to one another.

The communal Systema circle

This group, can work together effectively as a group rather than individually. Together, they can reach goals easily . How can we learn this ? From the Slavic language the word "GOI"(go-een). From this word "go" or "go to" in the superior sense. GOI = the truth (Istina), where God's sense is. Istina is where God's revelation is contained. At one point, all of us spoke the same language. Language is what taught us to be successful and prosperous. Language itself, can teach and show us these ideals....

(more in this series to come! stay tuned....)
You can follow Master Karimov on FB here.
His You Tube channel is available here.
For more information (in Russian ) you can go  to http://ladsistema.ru/

Interview with Master Andrey Karimov: Part One- Resuscitating Systema.

I finally decided to interview Systema Master, Andrey Karimov. There are too many questions to fit into one segment, therefore, I decided to make this a series of articles(with no real form to it). Keep in mind, everything is loosely translated(by Google translate)..Also, for the record, Mr. Karimov, did not know any of the questions beforehand.
I will also preface this by saying, I speak to Mr. Karimov, almost daily, and have for about four months now. There hasn't been one single conversation where I wasn't pleasantly surprised by a video, a song, or a response. He is both a mentor and a muse, and I am finding, slowly on this journey, that I am not the only person he has inspired.Mr. Karimov is a Clinical Psychologist and Ethnologist  and has been practicing martial arts for almost 30 years. He currently lives in Russia with his lovely wife and three children. He tours the world hosting seminars and events , and will be coming to the United States, for the first time in November, 2015.
He has been extremely patient and helpful with me and all of my questions and comments, that alone, is a testament to this man's demeanor..enjoy!(yes, my initials are "O.O.")

O.O.:There are many clubs and groups that have tried to define the word "Systema", can you clear up some of those misconceptions?

A.K: Systema is a way of becoming a mature person, with creativity, adaptability,the ability to take a punch, all while remaining  true to yourself.This paradox, this dynamic, is Systema.

O.O. : Can you be more specific about that last phrase?

A.K.:The ability to be adaptable, without losing yourself in the process.

O.O.:Most men have trouble being creative and carefree and have the capacity to take a punch. How can they find that balance?

A.K.:There are many ways. Immersing ourselves in culture is a great way. Finding your way into a circle, becoming open, not being afraid to make mistakes or to be judged by others, like with dancing, wrestling and craftwork.

O.O:Would you say being a good Systema practitioner is almost like performing?

A.K.: Exactly!

O.O.: Many people struggle with public speaking, let alone performing. For those just starting out with Systema, what do you recommend?

A.K.:For those who are just starting, I propose alot of footwork, literally and physically. Your "legs save". Meaning, your legs are what carry you and save you. Because of this, we study the steps and dance of the Russian Cossacks. This style of dance also provides a vast experience and knowledge of motor skills, both on the ground and upright. It is effective, if you are moving continuously.Public performance is comparable to fearing death, to some. Does it define who you are?Does this fear make you who you are? That is a question many people will have to ask themselves and it is a real question of personal identity and fortitude. A circle of like minded, positive individuals will overcome those barriers. That is why , we sit in a circle of support of one another, we are all equal in the circle.

O.O.:So if anyone has issues with insecurity, it will be best overcome by finding a group of supportive , like minded people, who can encourage each other and help each other grow in a positive direction?

A.K.: Yes. Grow together as a group. Meet with other groups, share power and positive energy. Closed groups lack communal strength and support. The energy is reduced.

O.O.:I have discussed the complexity, or lack thereof,  of Systema in the United States versus what I have seen and read and heard about in other countries. In the U.S., it seems to be more of a conceptualized idea and less of a "community " feel. Much of what you are describing , may seem irrelevant to a large number of practitioners here. How can you explain why it has become more rigid and less about "art"?

A.K.:I do not know about the U.S. at all and cannot really say anything at the moment. Maybe it's the fear of losing status, position in society, or fear of trying new concepts. But, the more you fear it, the more it happens to you.

O.O.: Personally I was thrilled when I first discovered your videos from a friend (who is a long time practitioner), and became an instant fan.I was also shocked that I had not heard of you before , and was not the only one. It seems, the majority of us were only aware of one "method" of Systema in the United States. Do you think that people may be stuck in only learning that style and not open to others?

A.K.: Making the choice is laid upon the person themselves.God gave us all the ability to see, hear and understand. Making the personal and conscious choice, manifests in the person, himself. Personal choices can mature and strengthen. If people have no choices, they become addicted to the wrong ones.

O.O.:That being said, to train with you, may take alot of men out of their comfort zone, in many ways.Since you use several layers of Cossack dance style and movement, how can you explain to the people who are not aware of your method, and how it connects to richer, deeper part of Systema?

A.K.: It is all very simply interconnected. It's continuity , deep and personal. An experience.

O.O.:So , in reality, Systema cannot be defined by one person or group. Systema is just a word the classifies  "methods" and has evolved over a long period of time, like karate.There is no specific "inventor"or "creator" of Systema, is that correct?

A.K.: If someone claims they invented Systema, they are not being truthful with themselves or others. God invented Systema, it is a method of the divine laws of nature. Tones, sounds, rythym of the heart, breathing. It is the prinicple of  continuity, integrity, viscosity,consistency, balance, commonality and many other ideals.Populations of Russian Cossacks were kept and made to be held in hostile environments, and out of this, a method was comprehended and proverbs were formed.The social model of success and maturity was passed down in fairy tales, song and dance. Anyone who claims they own or created "Systema" creates a barrier to it's further development and ruins it's original copy, which creates a huge restriction.If Systema is sanctioned off to one group, you cannot expand as a whole and causes inner group fighting and corruption.Tradition is time honored, proven and works. The "system" with the same name, is an attempt to manipulate and appropriate gullible and naive students who do not have honest information. It has become a business project and is not the path intended.The fraudsters are beside you , and if you run out of money, they will toss you aside.You can become used to this, and either you run from it or stay and pick at the crumbs left at the table. You cannot pretend to be something you haven't learned ( and commercializing it, is not teaching it).

O.O.:Can you detail that last statement a little more?

A.K.:If the level of requirements are lowered to teach and to practice, then that is bad and deceitful.Then , Systema becomes dependent on these same groups of people. If you are robbed, you will settle for handouts. A commercialized training program cannot teach you these things.

O.O.:It is very clear, that you encourage your students to grow and learn as much as possible. If anyone watches your videos , you sometimes seem superhuman, or indestructible, yet if we pay attention to your videos, we can see that you play guitar like instrument called a  "balalaika" and have just as many videos of training with children as your others. Can you explain your methodology behind this?

A.K.: I encourage my students to learn and grow as much as possible and to learn from other groups as part of enrichment of ourselves and others.Training with children is exciting and helps us let go! The Balalaika organizes the process, creates a space, accelerates understanding, destroys fear and normalizes the function of internal organs. Children exude strength and energy and this is what people need. We need this strength and excitement to strengthen our confidence and it is an important part of societal function. It is important for young people to have our support and see us as a source of confidence, with will and purposefulness.

O.O.:Here , in the U.S., often in training or seminars of Systema, to "break the psyche" students are made to do countless push-ups, rolls, squats, and sit ups. In your videos, this isn't a common place, yet the men look relaxed and exhausted after training with children. Is this perhaps a better way to "warm up" ?

A.K.: It is easier to achieve this level when training with children. It is very important for their growth , both physical and emotional, and gives them agility and consistency with their bodies and their minds. Push-ups are for teenagers. We are not teenagers. We do not have teenage psyches. We need to move past this.

O.O.:On the subject of working with children, is seems like it is a huge part of your training style. Is this mandatory for your students?

A.K.: This is not mandatory, but encouraged.

O.O.:In the U.S. , it is not common to see a large training session including women or children. Often times, women and children are excluded (or not engaged in) alot of the methodology.In fact, alot of "Women's Systema" is called "Women's Self Defense" and children's classes primarily focus on "drills" and "warm up"exercises. This is not the case with your style. Can you explain why it is important to openly include women and children in training Systema?

A.K.: Working with women raises social and psychological human adaptability. As for children, their energy is what we all want, in reality. If we give them a platform to perform, they will find their place in life.Training with women and children help all of us remove social and psychological blocks.

O.O.:The psychological and social aspects of Systema are mostly lost here. In several of your videos , you have a whiteboard or chalkboard in the background.I have never seen Systema broken down in a intellectual,holistic  and functional format like this. Is this an important part of teaching your students, the actual discussion of these topics?

A.K.:Yes, I break down the components of Systema as part of a model of living. It is a lifestyle. A total environment. A "system".

(...to be continued..)


For more information about Master Andrey Karimov click here.
To check out some of Master Karimov's videos go to his Youtube page here.
To follow our Texas network on Facebook , go here .
To check out Siberian Cossack Texas Systema  and follow Master Karimov's seminars, videos and pictures on Facebook, go here.

A Brief Interview with Andrey Karimov from Free Tribune Russia

This is a loosely translated ( I Google Translated my way through most of it) article written by Maria Leontiev.Permission was granted by Mr.Karimov to republish. 

Andrey Karimov is the head of the school, System of Siberian Cossacks. He is an anthropologist, ethnographer, a practicing psychologist, organizer of seminars for the general public and for Special Forces and police units in Russia and Serbia. He created the methodologies, "Ethnomusical Organization of Physical Education Of Preschoolers" and "Fathers and Sons." The following are questions from journalist Maria Leonteva (Kazan) from her interview for the online publication Free Tribune.
What is  System of Siberian Cossack ?

AK: This is a club of like-minded individuals, with whom are engaged in personal growth and development, who care about the education of children. We must understand that the "System of Siberian Cossack" is not some ancient system, and the name,is not the trade name recognizable among other clubs. We have a lot of different workshops for women, men and children. We partake in everything from the interaction of the family, to use of military equipment. Previously, when we had a big club in Novosibirsk, there were eighteen areas of work. Now, we  hold classes in the cities where we are invited. Basically, these are the topics that most people are interested in, such as fighting lessons, seminars for young men and seminars to educate children.

Tell us more about your methodology?

AK: The System of Siberian Cossacks - is about the education of personal identity, through internal questions such as  "Who am I?, Where am I going?, "Why do I exist?" and "If I exist, then what is my purpose?". These are the questions we try to answer through combat, rhythm and movement practices. Tools such as dance,movement and  vocal lessons, help people to actively participate in the world, and not be afraid of it. If you can whip out a voice, if you can stamp your foot, this in itself, encourages you to an active lifedtyle. With the first strike (heel on the floor), a man says, "I am here, I am, I am ready to act, I will act," thus culture encourages people to be.

Why should this person be encouraged specifically, is this not a natural need?

AK: Many people are not productive or are lost in a volitile attitude toward the world, so it is necessary to form a human need to consent to the personal identity. Many now think about this: "I - it's not me, but someone's application." Many live passively, as the poet said: "People are alive and afraid, and do not want to die." People go to work, then to the supermarket in the morning. For what? It is unclear. You must be the person that makes choices and acts creatively in the world to implement a mission, and to realize that people here reveal their soul. We must realize this is nature, and nature is this is the intention, the will and the  initiative. All these people have awareness through their own self realization. So we say - "be a man." What does it mean to fight? It means to defend your own borders, if necessary, be able to cross borders. When I ask whether it is possible for children to climb over fences, the majority says "no, no". But what if it is necessary to save someone on the other side of the fence? Still, half of the respondents say "no". That is what is difficult, strict  parents prevent children to realize the value of time on Earth, be here now, to be adaptable, to learn necessary lessons, to grow.

Why do people come to you at seminars ?

AK: Alot of people come to practice martial arts, and say that they want to learn to fight. But the most important thing remains hidden: the majority of people come from fear, and the real need is to teach them not to be afraid. It is important to recognize all of the instructors, who are engaged in teaching combat practice,this method of fear reduction.  Fears are many: fear of "being  beaten in the stairway" or that "I'm not like everyone else" or "if I build muscle , maybe more people will be attracted to me".  And in fact, this is wrong. It is necessary in life to foster love and creativity, not fear.

 On your website, among other activities specified, social adaptation is taught , but specifically towards military personnel. Why the does this need to be implimented? 

AK: (long silence ... )The fact is that when a person is gone a long time and learns to obey, he ceases to make independent decisions, and is always more or less clear what to do. Then, when he goes to a great life and does not expect such a large number of  bases. Do not expect that non-requirement exists. There are many promises andfalse points of emphasis to which the person is not ready, especially if he was brought up in simple terms and if he is expected to only carry out commands. Learn to understand what a lie is the only provocation military elite units, and many ordinary units do not teach this. But unfortunately,it is not only the consequences of military service, it is the  consequence of raising children in the daily environment at home and at school. As a result, people are becoming more adapted to the fast-paced life. At my school as a child,  they did not teach a person to distinguish fact from fiction. This is a  common question  now,during a more challenging time than ever before. The mission, is to distract people from self focus. Just as bank loans are designed to confuse a man's head, the same as in the supermarket, and so on.

 What other problems are there now in the education of children? What qualities are important to form a human child?

AK: The fact that the formation of the individual ends at seven years. In  pre-school education, at this age (seven years), everything is incorporated, which makes everything much harder. The child's brain is developing very actively up to three years, and then more slowly. Before that age should form three important things: trust, commitment and dedication. The fact that the child in our society does not have a yard, where he would play alone or with other children.Children are conducted ,constantly. Children are deprived of this self exploration, and it seems , the town is isolated from children. It threatens our consciousness and causes "hotbed education" in terms of any framework, soft or hard leads to the fact that a person dies or abandons action, closed in itself. A seven year old boy needs his mother and then he needs a leader,then he goes into another spatial condition in this fairy tale forest. Boys need uncles,positive role models and mentors. Society today is built on a matriarchy - all its institutions contribute to the comfort of life, focused on the institution of motherhood, even if it does not work, but is determined to protect women, the protection of women without a husband. The social protection system is configured for single mothers. How have we have developed such a system? The fact that the Soviet system at some point became very weak, whereas , previously, right from kindergarten, people had and acknowledgment of self, deeper self awareness and knew what steps to take next in life. The system has manifested to men being overprotective, rigid, or tyrannical, which are all essentially the same thing.  Those who tried to escape from the system, escaped through sports clubs, hiking or army. But now, the army is weak, because the officers are not independent and heavily rely on their mothers still "brushing teeth and washing their faces".

The Soviet system created groups of people who have forgotten how to think for themselves. and to make independent decisions. When and why did this happen?

AK:In fact, this happened when fighting with fists , died. Who is the fist? It is he who "sleeps on his fist," who think for themselves. What did the Soviet system do?This created people who have forgotten how to think for themselves and love themselves. That is, take care of their growth and development, to make independent decisions. There is a loss of responsibility in our young males.This is done in order to have a more obedient slave. And so it happened everywhere, seen as everywhere, the boys live with their mothers up to forty - fifty years, in Italy the same.

 What causes contributed to the loss of these practices?

AK:In Soviet times, the social life was highly regulated, and all forms of social life were subjected to inspection or sharp as it's called censorship. Especially those where people showed their independence or will, especially dance. They were not just washed out of the culture, and even condemned. It was believed that if you sing or danced openly, then you must be drunk. An example is the inability to use my voice. Physical causes - social consequence, people can not sing because their voice is clamped, then you need to remove the barriers that man could sing. Robbed voice robbed first parents, then the social structure. The fact that the culture of the Russian apparently created culture-soil, destroying any basis for making the soil more tolerant to any crop, although in itself susceptible culture and peaceful.

Which tool allows you to maintain the viability of the traditional culture of the person? 

AK: Cultures can create a social collaboration or collective. A social collaboration is designed to change a person from their current state, to charging them with energy for their future life. From well-known social collaborations,now only one remains.The feast. Then when people come together to eat, sing, talk. That in of itself, is a social idealology.

Among those who are engaged in the study and restoration of Russian folk culture, to denote the totality of knowledge and training in this line the word "tradition." What is a "tradition" in your understanding? 

AK:Tradition  is a set of principles or entity that transcends people through time and any particular place and time updated: old prolongs itself in the new. I have  even had the phrase "tradition, it germinates with the old in the new, still yourself and it becomes  real, modern" This is how I live, and stick to it.

Continuity is unique to the Russian tradition, or applicable to any tradition of people, is this your idealology? 

AK: I do not advocate separation of one thing from another. I love to find a commonality, so I will answer this way. Each person and each tradition attempts to answer questions about why people exist and for what - this is the main question .General culture, any tradition, encourages people to be, to act and continue to be ones' true self. Russian tradition to encourage to be - there are those who consider themselves Russian, helping to live in the world. And all its elements: intonation, rhythmic style of the past, and living for  the future. Soviet cultural policy has had a major impact on the national culture of all of it's people who were part of the country. The Russian culture is said to have suffered more than others. Because it is of Russian traditional culture that has created a culture of Soviet man. Was this lost throughout  authentic Russian tradition? Tradition has purpose and meaning and this goal has not changed, but some elements are, in fact,  lost. Tradition that can only be described as a phenomenon is present in large quantities. The main objective of folk culture, as already mentioned,is to induce a person to be. A person's ability to adjust to shock is what determines his life, fate or spirituality. But by itself blow means "gift" and the completion of the action, fell, saw surprised convinced. Objective resist, restrain strikes happening around. In this sense, culture is still preserved and continues to keep the strike. Punch - this is one of the necessary qualities, without which man can not be.

 This is only a man's quality culture? Or culture - is the notion of the male?

AK:No, women also have this ability, just in the female body, physiological ability to take a punch and can easily manifest, meaning , it is more natural. Men's quality punch brought tradition. Culture and it's elements, for instance, fairy tales, are intended to educate boys from the men. Culture largely focused on the education of men, and tales told to men. When men have ceased to teach it, we get young boys who can not take a punch. Culture keeps hitting only if it is independent, dependent, or if it is pegged, then sooner or later it dies. If a  boy is nursed for  a long time, as a result, he becomes either alcoholic or drug addict or commits suicide. So if we babysit our children too much,  traditionally, there is a paradox that results in only faster self destruction.

 Is not there a feeling that all the generations of Russian now substituted by such a blow?

AK:Well, what can I say, I'm certain some long lived abroad in Australia, Italy, Slovakia, Hungary, Serbia, Switzerland, Germany, Romania and I can tell you we have a unique country. To love our fatherland must move away from him, then feel to it spicy cravings and understanding of what is happening. I think there is a special mission and destiny that exists in Russia. Do not judge us about it, but I do know that we have the most interesting and unique people. What is now happening in the world is a huge, big idea and Russia plays a major role in it. In other countries, people look at Russia with hope, because the world is on the verge of mental and spiritual, or may not be exactly on the verge of a spiritual, not so easy to explain. Even despite the fact that we have problems with education, with all our tradition preserved the most in terms of initiative, commitment and trust.

Trust in what?

AK:Credibility of all, because there are many kinds of trust. To yourself, to know, to society, to God. In other countries, this level of mistrust leads to the fact that the person is a person in a case, a small coffin.

You say that for young boys, there are some basic phases of maturation, reflected in popular culture with the help of symbols, archetypes, and fairy tale characters that correspond to each phase of growing your space action. The growth phase, when a boy - a child in the fairy tales portrayed the hare, the phase of the sample and experience guy - wolf phase of affairs when a man, breaking initiation wedding, acquires strength and tenacity, and is called a" bear "in the tale, and then, breaking childbearing period, becomes an old man - "gray wolf", acquires wisdom and acceptance. Whether it is possible to extrapolate and say in what phase of maturation is now the Russian society as a whole?

AK: In the nineties, the company was on the stage Man, everyone was like wolves tearing all, such a wild flock without a king in the head, in the tale says that the guy is then your skills to the king, behold the nineties, this is the time for. And now I find it hard to say, the government act like men, changed mentality, they see the provocation and are able to take a punch. The man knows how to fend feints, ie attacks the double intention.

You're talking about what is happening in Ukraine? 

AK:Ukraine - is only part of the big plan, what is happening in the world. If we talk about social roles, I see that the leadership walk as the mature people who can meet the challenges of the outside.
Culture tends to be rehabilitated and even somewhat aggressive play itself when the system pressure and censorship ends. This can be seen, for example, in the stage of the national republics, not of good quality, but differing viability. Why this is not happening with Russian culture? There are several reasons.
Firstly, the Russian culture is also a literary culture. Between secular and urban popular culture, between them is still a struggle, even though the first two picks in the juices. It is believed that the villagers uneducated, uncultured, they say. Although contrary language is the main means of authentic culture, the language is retained by the people, of popular culture took many composers such as Glinka and Bortnyansky.

How do you feel about modern music, which is located at the junction of the pop culture,What about mass and folk tradition, when musicians are synthesized traditional and modern culture?

AK: In the hands of masters of the culture, as well as any product does not die, but continues to evolve, but some performer's material "dies" in his hands and lips.

What does "die"mean? 


AK:Culture encourages people to live and act. If the material encourages people to become stuck, or hang, then it destroys the person. Here's how to get unstuck,  either be or not be. This idea either increases the power to create, to grow, to develop, so it is a continuation of life. If it only entertains, corrupts, take away, then this toxic culture is killing the person.

To check out Andrey Karimov's website (it's in Russian) ...start here.
To visit his You Tube Page , ....go here
To read this article in it's entirety  go here
Follow most of Mr. Karimov's USA / Texas info here.
To find some one of the best blogs that also has a Q & A with Mr. Karimov, written by Emlyn Phillips , click here

Food, Folklore and Fairy Tales: Creating a System(a)

Recently, I delved into a bevy of delight when Andrey Karimov and I began exchanging folklore tales via videos and images . Mostly, I found alot of translated Cossack imagery and tales that were from an antiquated book, and I was checking with him to see if he had heard of them.I am very fond of the art of alot of the stories.

But also, much to my surprise, alot of the tales very much mirrored what I grew up hearing in my own Mexican American culture...
Now , I could on and on and do a side by side analysis of the similarities and imagery, but that would be a whole nother blog...

But for now, one of the key things that I have noticed is that for the most part, the traditional tone of both cultures easily merges. As Mr. Karimov and I share You Tube videos of each other's respective cultures , whether it's song, dance,or performance, we almost always are amazed at how closely related the details are.
At one point, I asked if we had been separated at birth( he didn't respond). While Mr. Karimov takes the time to preserve his heritage, I am off and on trying to dig into mine. Having ADD makes it no easy task and I often get swept away into hours of reading something I never thought I would.
While he knows songs and folklore of his rich Cossack heritage, I can only name a few of the Mexican Folktales I remember from childhood. In fact, one of my favorite folklores , I have tattooed on my back simply because, I have no other real connection of my ancestory and it was one of my favorite tales that my grandfather told me repeatedly , when we spent time together.
This is why meeting Mr. Karimov became more than finding out about Systema. It became a virtual life shift, from the mundane, to now daily reading and studying as much as I can about both worlds. It is a huge undertaking and more than a full time job. How Mr. Karimov does this, is beyond me. I barely remember which was the last book I read a week ago, let alone...which video correlates to what topic we're talking about.
This leads me to believe that Andrey Karimov is a type of phenomenon that we rarely see in our lives. While we like to believe we all meet people for a reason...meeting Mr. Karimov at this specific time in my life , I would have to say, has been the most refreshing thing that has happened in a while. I endlessly get lost in his catalogs of videos of song, dance and music, yet his one to two word responses to my lengthy questions always delight me.
This, to me..is Systema. And while we rarely talk about actual Russian Martial Arts anymore in the "Systema" context, I am always referred back to the meaning of the word..."system". This is a system or method that we should all adapt to. Caring about each other, making connections, forming communities and reaching out to people. Nevermind the awesome training and sword work that visually speaks for itself, but through this type of friendship, we have created something more...a SYSTEM.
The closest thing I've witnessed to something similar to this in my own Hispanic culture was something that happened a few years ago when my son started public school.
I remember desperately trying to rally up members for his low performing school's PTA. I was appointed Vice President(I don't even think I ran for election) and there was a mom, Gloria, who was very active among the Hispanic population of the school(which was 65% Hispanic). Once she realized that I spoke Spanish, her and I became a force and a voice for the Hispanic families that had children in this school. I knew my son was not going to attend there the following year, so I did everything I could to prep her for becoming the school's PTA president. We poured over documents, English lessons, meeting notes(there weren't many) and anything I could think of. Together, we managed to develop two literacy programs for the school and one ESL program so parents can help tutor and learn with their kids.It was exhausting to say the least. Gloria and I rarely spoke outside of school, but one day she called me. I immediately thought something was wrong...(no one calls me, really, unless something is wrong). She asked me what I was bringing to the teacher luncheon the following day.
Because she found out I was a chef, she wanted to see if I was bringing anything spectacular..I told her I was just bringing dip...but it was really good. She laughed and asked if I wanted her to make anything from my childhood.
Now if you're Hispanic, you know this means..tamales. Part of our culture is widely based on food. So without even saying it..she told me she had already made some and was going to save extra for me.
The next day at the luncheon, Gloria and I met in the hallway..she had me follow her to the room where the food was going to be served. When I walked into the room , I all but dropped my pathetic dip with bread bowl, I had spent a total of 15 minutes making. There, in all it's glory, was a buffet fit for several kings. There were about thirteen other hispanic women and Gloria, still working on food preparations. One of the women took my dip from my hands and handed me a plate. The look on my face must have said it all...because she then grabbed my arm and walked me to the first section of food. I was in complete , utter , food anthropology heaven. Some of these women were from El Salvador and South America. Most are from Mexico and none, not one, understood why I was about to cry.
All I remember doing was hugging each of them and getting really, really emotional. While they laughed emphatically, I remember the look on Gloria's face.... she winked at me and in that instant, I knew we had formed a small community. And despite my food geekiness, the women filled my plate with way more food than I could ever imagine. A week or so later, Gloria invited me to her son's birthday party. I asked her if she needed any help and all she said was "don't pass out when you see the food"(in Spanish). When I arrived at the park, there was more food in so many pots and containers than I could ever imagine. I immediately told her she needed to open a restaurant and started calling everyone I knew who had some information on how to help her. She looked at me like I was crazy...but then said" if I open a restaurant, how would I be at the school all the time?"
This was a dilemma. I told her to think about it and to invite me to every gathering she ever had for the rest of my life. And she did, until she moved.
But also, she became PTA president the very next school year. She held meetings in Spanish with an English translator, and did very well for the school. This, was a System.It was a community and probably the closest thing to forming a sustainable source effectively as possible. And it wasn't just one person, it was a few of us...but we did it.
When I look into Mr. Karimov's world, I notice that everyone magically works together. There aren't too many days that go by that I don't communicate with him, and there are even a few days here and there that I talk to some of his instructors from other countries. And seemingly, we are all on the same page. It is such a great feeling to know that this exists, albeit a zillion miles away. It makes you really wonder why this doesn't exist here in the US? Is this an issue as a whole for martial arts? Since I do not know that many martial artists, it would be hard for me to check. I do know that my son's former martial arts instructor and I still talk frequently and I do know, that if she ever needed anything, I would be there for her and vice versa. But maybe, that is only because we clicked. I also know that if any of the people I have trained with , needed something and called me, I'd be there for them too. How could I not? We have all been through some pretty weird things together, and sweated on each other, saw some blood, some emotions...some life. It would be a great System if it stayed that way.

As I was typing this, I decided to watch "Tyson" a documentary about Mike Tyson. His former beloved coach and mentor, Cus D'Amato said this "I never teach until I’ve spoken to the fighter. I have to first determine his emotional state, get his background, to find out what I have to do, how many layers I have to keep peeling off so that I get to the core of the person so that he can recognize, as well as I, what is there."
I almost fell off my chair when I heard this. This is what ,Mr. Karimov and I had been talking about . This is not a new concept, but clearly , produces world championship results. Unfortunately, Mike Tyson fell apart once Mr. D'Amato passed away, but swears that his life would have been much worse had he not had the few impermeable years he had , with him.Imagine, if he had remained alive, the completely healthy mental shape Mike Tyson would have been in? Andrey and I have spent hours upon hours talking about the psychology of Systema. Something I never really thought much about until I asked him.And when I now say "he's my instructor" people must think , "she is crazy, he's in Russia!!"Let me be very clear. I know that. He knows that. But I have learned so much from him about the mindset of training, that I am baffled that it is not discussed here. What he has taught me, is far better from any fall or punch I have conditioned my body to take. Sure , maybe mindset and mental state are mentioned in a few books, but the sense of understanding what real Systema is, now, more than ever...has stopped me dead in my tracks.In a good way.
Now, for the life of me, I don't understand why Andrey Karimov spends so much time interacting with me, but I am truly grateful, to him and his beautiful family. It has made such a huge impact on my personal training goals and direction I would like to take and definitely has opened my eyes to a world of possibilities not only for myself, but for my family , friends and community. How can one person make such a difference? Just by being open and talking. In fact, sometimes, I watch his training videos and think, "this was the man that I just talked to about Russian Folktales?".Because, he is so very , very powerful at training, and so very enjoyable to talk to, you'd almost swear it is two different people...but that is because I had such preconceived notions of what an "instructor" and "instruction" is.I have even , in fact, asked him if it was him in all the videos and still the same person I talk to. Can a person have such a dynamic of being both a great artist and compassionate human being? Yup. And he wants everyone to feel the same. It's a System. Defined in the rawest, purest , state.
And on the heals of all this, I remembered  a picture someone sent me this morning, that made my mouth drool...

And yes, I am aware it is a religious setting, and yes, maybe I shouldn't have noticed the food first. But more importantly , I noticed just simple sense of community. Whether it be a church setting, ladies luncheon, or martial arts group meal....this is still Systema. 

click here to watch one of my favorite Systema videos of all time

Giving you what you need.: Out of the Mouths of Babes :How a Seven Year Old B...

Giving you what you need.: Out of the Mouths of Babes :How a Seven Year Old B...: Recently, our family was eating lunch at one of our favorite establishments . My fiancee and I were openly talking about the events that ha...

Out of the Mouths of Babes :How a Seven Year Old Broke it Down

Recently, our family was eating lunch at one of our favorite establishments. My fiancee and I were openly talking about the events that had taken place earlier in the day in front of our children (our children are very perceptive and would, quite honestly, know if something was wrong).
We had been discussing a bizarre phone call I received from a martial arts instructor that made zero sense to me. (see, Being Blindsided:How We Succumb to the Misguidance of Others).
As I tried to explain the overall tone of the conversation, and began even confusing myself, I looked over at my 7 year old stepdaughter, innocently eating her meal, tearing lettuce with her hands, piece by piece.
Typically, when I am really confused by the actions of people, I can ask any child around me at any given time and say " what do you think this means if someone does this". Their answers will amaze you.
The conversation went something like this:
 "So, this man calls me, a man I do not know, and starts to talk over me, begins telling me the path I should take in my professional martial arts training career, starts gossiping, tells me I am making a huge mistake by going to Russia, is trying to HELP me...and , I didn't even ask him.What do you think that means? I mean, I see you taking your huge chunks of lettuce and you want them to be small pieces of lettuce, what do you do?"

I glanced over at her father and said ..."Watch her break down what I need to do..."

She is quite fond of these games. We play them regularly. She very blankly looked at us and tore the chunk of lettuce into small pieces and took a bite of her meal. And said " you just tear it". I rolled over into a ball of laughter.

Yes.That's right..just tear it.

Often time as adults, we get so wrapped up in the complication of getting from point A to point B, that we forget how incredibly easy it can be to go on a the journey. We struggle, emotionally, mentally, physically. We run into all sorts of obstacles and sometimes, even stray from our path. We forget that we can just go around the obstacles and get to where we need to be. We can easily get sucked into over thinking anything and everything, and can be very easily slowed down by the pettiest of things.

While my stepdaughter didn't wholly understand the great value her visual demonstration of what she did, she got the idea.
Why listen to anyone over explain what I need to do, when I KNOW what I want to do?

This is why children are so supremely valuable to learn from , they are raw, real , honest and to the point. If you allow them to be. If you give them an outlet, you may learn more from them, then they will learn from you.

As I sit and painfully watch the migration of Systema in the United States go from something that could have been deeply formulated to embrace children in a more direct and positive starting point, I do understand, for most, this is a combative art. However, I do not understand why alot of instructors refuse, hate or even gasp at the thought of having a kids class or two.
Even better, why not have a parent/child class?
Now , I may be divulging some ancient secrets here, but there is NO better workout than playing with some squirrly 6 year olds. Let me repeat...playing with a group of 6 -8 year olds, will make any crossfitter bust a knee cap, pull a tendon..or worse...laugh.

As I longingly watch Andrey Karimov's You Tube Channel, I immediately seek out the ones where the men are training with children. The children are climbing, rolling, spinning, twirling, jumping , and really, really getting into it. They make their body movements look so easy, it is almost hard not to want to be a kid again. In fact, I repeatedly ask him if I can just take the kids class....
And the men in the videos? This is their warm-up. This is their psyche breaking. This is their bonding.This is their way to let go, have fun and loosen up. Before they work on themselves.

And if you think for two seconds it isn't a workout, I beg you to watch the looks on some of these men's faces at the end of the videos. It is priceless.

Even better?? Mr.Karimov has a line formation of adults and they respectfully shake the hands of their pint sized training partners. I don't know about you, but that almost makes me tear up every time I look at it.

As a society , we have completely lost touch with our children. I am guilty of it myself. I mentally check out if my son is droning on a bit too long about Minecraft, or if my stepdaughter repeats her idea for a complex saddle design that , clearly , only she can visualize. There are days when I, personally am so tired, I sit and stare at them playing and think "I should play with them" , but have no energy to do it.

Unless , they make me.Which usually involves one or both of them , sneak attacking me, scaring me, or some other ploy to get me involved.And for this, I feel extremely horrible. I should, SHOULD be going to them. Our time with them is so precious, I should be engaging them. I should.

As martial artists, we should too. These children, are our futures. They are the future leaders, teachers, doctors , lawyers, warriors that we will need to make it. We need to fully invest what time we can with them. And that, that is how Mr. Karimov teaches.
When I asked Mr. Karimov what or how  he needed to teach a class here in Texas, his number one request he had was "children".

I sat shocked, stared at the screen for a minute, thinking Google Translate failed me again. I assumed he was going to say " a padded gym , some whips, 20 participants, $9000000, a translator, a limo, green M & M's facing the same way in a bowl". But it was just "children".

If you have children, and you're reading this..I beg you to spend one or two hours a week, just trying some simple exersizes with them.My son and I began training together over the summer and it not only bonded us immensely, he was able to finally take me down after two years of trying. He said it was his proudest moment of the year. My stepdaughter , during our training, has become one of the best massage therapists ever.She delicately shoves her tiny feet into my back all while laughing and making jokes. She has become a near expert on not falling off her father during their "hang on tight" sessions, and she is 100 times more confident than I have ever seen her.
And I, I personally have seen their new found strength as a sign of what I had been missing for a while...connection.

I probably won't ever be able to eat lettuce the same again, without thinking of her analogy, but I will remember that if I am going to do something, I'm just going to do it.


If you need ideas on what to do with your children ( at any age level by the way)...
you can check out this video. And guess what? Alot, if not all of it, is a precursor into training Systema(traditional).

To visit Mr. Karimov's You Tube page, for more exciting videos, never before seen footage and detailed demonstrations check out his You Tube Page here.

Being Blindsided: How We Succumb to the Misguidance of Others

Today, I dropped my son off at school, in what I like to call "the drop off/pick up lane of doom". It is an intricate barrage of SUVs, small cars, students, angry parents, rushing parents, disrespectful people, and well...an all out nightmare. On any given morning or afternoon, you will hear honking, witness near fender-benders, and even see a few kids almost get hit by cars. The speed limit is 20 mph, but you'd think it's 200. I digress.
Today was very typical. I guided my car near the sidewalk so my son can unload his belongings and prance off into his morning limelight, while I sit and wait in my car for maybe 10 minutes to let some of the mania die down.
I carefully, always, inch my very brightly colored car into the street and turn onto whatever the nearest side street is to escape all this. This maneuver, requires a ton of skill, faith and patience, even thought it's just a simple turn.
You have to have full faith when going through this. Not in yourself, but in the person that *hopefully* will let you cut in front of them to make the turn. Usually, you are up against someone in an SUV , who is rushing to get out of there as quickly as you are. This person, must give you the "ok" to proceed, and if you do so, you have to assume they are helping you make a safe decision.
Assume.

I never assume the person who is telling me it's "ok" to go ahead and slide in front of them, is 100% trustworthy. Yet , everyday, when we drive..we , as a whole , do this.
While I was waiting my turn, a woman motioned the "ok" to proceed. I held my hand up , motioning back for her to wait. She flayed her hand at me again, with a bit of an aggressive tone. I motioned her to "wait" again.
What she didn't see, and what I was looking at, was a mom in a small car, on a side street, trying to slowly inch her way past everyone, who evidently, had a crying baby in the backseat. She kept looking back to the backseat, reaching down, looking back, reaching...trying just to get out of where we were. I had been there. Anyone knows, if you have a screaming infant in the backseat of a car, you just want to get home.
The woman, in the SUV, had become increasingly frustrated at my lack of following her command, and gunned her truck. At the same moment, the frantic mom, inched almost directly into the SUV. I was in the middle of trying to motion to the mom to stop, when this happened. Luckily no one was hurt and we all slid out of there as though it was just an everyday malfunction.
I pulled over and took a deep breath.THIS, was exactly what I just went through in my everyday life.

When we hear about things from other people, about how great they are, and we become interested..we may partake, sign up , attend..etc. If we like what's going on ,we become regulars, or attendees , students.This could apply to anything. Music, dance, yoga..martial arts...

When we follow leaders that we feel  may be a good match for us, we aren't really thinking much about it. If it feels right, we go with it. If they treat you poorly, we assume, it was something we did, and trek on.
We don't think much of their guidance into "traffic" . We put a ton of faith that these people,that act as though they know what they are doing, that's why we are all there. Nodding in unison.
We may be wrong....but no one says anything. No one questions it. Not in the open, anyway.
When you begin to get a better sense of "hmmm, that wasn't the first time I was mistreated(led into oncoming traffic), you start to really question yourself. Why am I here? What was I thinking? What have I been putting up with? And when you back away, as sad as it may be, you gain some clarity and insight. You see the bigger picture, ingest, and pick up the pieces .

When you get trapped by the misguidance and advice of several of these people at once, you feel one of a few things 1) surely, all these people can't be untrustworthy, 2)surely, they would stand by me as they said they would, 3) surely, they won't guide me into some traffic and leave me there to get hammered into. Surely, they wouldn't.
But they can, have and will. If this happens, alot of people suggest, just staying quiet, slipping away, and letting yourself become a victim , since..these , after all...are some pretty noted leaders.

In my experience, there is no right way to deal with getting led into heavy or dangerous traffic by strangers. At the end of the day, you are responsible for yourself and expecting people to remain by your side, is almost an impossible feat.
Take care of yourself, the best you can...it may be a fight, may mean you make some enemies, it may mean, you , by your own sword, determine your fate. But don't do what THEY want you to do. After all, they are the ones that took you there.

All experiences, are  learning lessons. Take what you can, from any of them. If you total your car, because someone guided you incorrectly, YOU will still be without a car. However...you may get another one,a newer one, or learn the bonus of public transportation. If you lose friends, because someone misguided you, you may realize, those people..really weren't your friends in the first place, BUT you will make new friends, and maybe even better ones...and , you will now officially know what to look for in a mentor( I hope).

This leads me back to Andrey Karimov.
Initially, I stopped training Systema with any schools, because I felt like I was not getting out of it what I needed. I wanted something a little more holistic, lively, fun..real.
I watched a few of Mr. Karimov's videos online , and noticed a few things:
1) kids- he has almost as many videos working with children(with adults) as he does of knife work, whip work, and other training
2)music-there is music(usually he plays the instrument himself) in almost every video. In fact,in our house..we walk around humming the familiar tune .
3)smiles-even some of what seems to be the most complex and face cringing moves, you will notice a few smiles and even laughter here and there.
4)camaraderie- Andrey has camps and all inclusive seminars. He does't seem isolated from his group. He is fully involved in what he teaches. FULLY.
5)passion. This man..is probably more passionate about what he teaches than I am about what kind of donuts I eat. If you knew me, you'd know what that means.

I couldn't ask for a better path to go down. I couldn't have hand picked a better person to talk to about Systema, than him. He gives me hope and encouragement ( even though I didn't think I needed it), far beyond what I could have expected. He is delightful , helpful and full of knowledge. At the very least, he is inspirational. At best, he forces you to really, really think.

Someone recently contacted me and said , " THIS man you are aligning yourself with is a bully!Just look at him, look at how he trainssss..LOOOOOK AT HIMMMMMM! I will help you , figure out what YOU want!!!"

I'm sorry, what?
A) I didn't ask
B)If he is so horrible, why has he spent so much of his free time talking to me, and showing me a part of his magically traditional life? (no instructor here, has done that.ever).
C)You TELLING me, that someone is a bully, then TELLING me I need to stop associating with him is, kinda by definition, now making you a bully.
D)Considering what I just went through with a group of male "martial artists" threatening, backstabbing and trash talking me, I'm still here, out in the open..I **think** I'll be ok.

At the end of the day...they are all life lessons. I will do as I please, step on some toes, make friends, make enemies, make choices.


But most certainly, I will NOT be misguided by anyone into oncoming traffic again.

To watch more of Andrey Karimov's work with children, check out this video:
Andrey Karimov children and adult combo class.
.
To learn more about bullying and how to detect or stop it visit : Stop Bullying Now

To find out how to find a good martial arts instructor,  simple tips on choosing an instructor

The Battery Effect: How The Company You Keep Can Drain You

One of the most amazingly surreal things that I must point out immediately is that not ONE of any of the people (mostly men) who Mr. Karimov has connected me with, have been disrespectful or rude. Not one.
Considering the language barrier, the lack of knowing who I am, and the cultural differences, all, yes, ALL of the men who train, work with, or know him have all been the most delightful or helpful people ever.All of them.
Mr. Karimov himself has taken so much time from his schedule to answer any of my questions, has shown me archived footage, shared photos and even gone as far as to Skype with me! How cool is that? Very.
Considering , for the most part, I can't even get a response from one of the biggest Russian Martial Arts factories here..without jumping through a zillion hoops. Coincidentally, this is the same factory that I have dumped a ton of money into. Good luck trying to get on their forum , email list or getting a question answered.
This goes back to what I like to officially now call , " The Battery Syndrome". I am not sure of the direct origin of this phrase, but my fiancee told me about it a few years ago. Basically, if you are a fully charged battery, and you are around nothing but negatively charged batteries, then you too, will become a negative battery. If you are around positively charged batteries, you will remain positive. Perhaps even if you are a negatively charged battery and surround yourself with positive ones, then you will up your game. If you take the battery part of the equation and replace it with "humans", then there ya' have it.
Brings me back to what I have recently been through on this journey. Not that long ago, a school here in the U.S. posted a very sexually explicit, demeaning and disturbing "ice bucket challenge" video.
I.LOST.IT.
How on earth is this going to HELP women in Systema in the U.S.? If you read the comments after the video(now deleted), you would damn near think that this behavior, was completely OK by U.S. standards. And you know what....? It was.
As I sat in shock and watched the video , over and over, with the school's logo, insignia and owner partaking in the background, I noticed one MAJOR issue. Not one instructor associated with the international program said anything...not publicly anyway.
The fact that this was even an "ok idea" was completely absurd. I had just mentioned to several of my female friends who had been interested in Systema , that it was a completely balanced art, and that they would surely be welcome at any school. I was mortified. And to think some of the more sought after international instructors had daughters...just....ick. How would they feel that one of their largest earning schools/networks considered this an "ok" practice? What about respect , as a whole, for who you are representing as a school?
As I launched into an online melee of sorts over the whole deal, I had to ask....
How does this happen?
Batteries.
Some of these men, clearly do not take into consideration there are women who are eager , and willing to jump into a class and spend hundreds of dollars a year on a program that doesn't really have anything for them. We do it because we *think* it will help our self defense strategies. And , if you have the right instructor, it will. I was VERY fortunate to have an amazing instructor. Who , most certainly treated me the way he treated anyone else. He didn't care if I had female anatomy. He only cared if I was understanding the information. He only cared if I got it. He only cared if I showed up to class and participated. I was lucky.
How does this pertain to Mr. Karimov?
As I stated before, not one individual who I have met through him , has been even almost rude. Not one. My training here in the U.S., it is easier for me to count the 5 or so men who HAVEN'T been complete moral apes. Maybe Mr. Karimov has absolute standards in the company he keeps. Maybe, just maybe, he has expectations of his instructors, collegues and students. Maybe , this is Systema at it's finest. Maybe, this is how it realllllly should be.

The main prompt of writing this today also came on the heels of an online conversation I had with another martial artist. Midway through our chat, he said the following:

Man:" oh..oh you're a woman???!! I AM SO SORRY! I thought I was talking to a man! "
Me:"It's ok, I get that alot, I mean.. in person, with my hair up..although I think my profile picture doesn't really look masculine"
Man: "It wasn't really your picture, it was the manner in which you were candidly asking questions and debating my statements so profoundly"

This is an actual copy and paste with names deleted to protect privacy. This, really did happen.
The Systema Factory (I think I'm gonna just call it that for short) here in the U.S. has become a big one full of self absorbed, ego filled people who want to be on top. As I have reached out to "other" strains of Systema, I noticed something....the men..of the other versions, not so ape like. They kinda just want you to learn some basic information. Ok so maybe they don't have the best personalities or maybe it's BECAUSE I am female and not many women ask them technical questions, but you can kinda see , they are just eager, passionate people. In fact, I am going to go as far as to say, they have been far more valuable as a training resource than I could have possibly imagined. Including Mr. Karimov, to date, I have more than enough "other strains of Systema friends" than I could have possibly dreamed of. This makes me even question my own battery strength. While I have nothing really informative to share, the one thing these men have said to me was "thank you".
WHAT? Thank "me"?
I don't understand it either, but as a close friend of mine put it, "maybe you let them know there is something they are missing by being female and just talking to them about this stuff"
I hope so.
I really do hope standards of practice change here in the U.S. and I really hope instructors hold their students and themselves to a higher level or moral code than what has been put out there. As I continue conversations with Mr. Karimov and his instructors, I think that is the one thing we may have missed the boat on here. I am always amazed at how his instructors are amazed by my stories of anti-female sentiment, lack of incorporating women, and complete loss of the psychological instruction needed to become a decent practitioner.
Now, I am far from living a complete moral code of emotionally and psychologically healthy infused Systema, but am working my way there. It is alot harder than doing knuckle pushups, situps, squats, and rolls.
Also, there are some great, wonderful U.S. instructors out there. Amazing men, who have nothing but kindness emoting from their hearts. You will know them when you see or meet them.

The man with the huge smile, that's Andrey Karimov. 

follow us on Facebook!

Andrey Karimov's You Tube Channel

Move, Breathe, Relaxxxxxx !!!!

The words "move , breathe, relax" are commonly chanted in Systema (at least in the United States). In fact, I don't think I have ever been to a seminar or class where I have not heard it.
Recently, I was at a seminar where the visiting instructor said "remember..move, breathe, relax". I was half paying attention, because I was coloring with my stepdaughter off to the side, but I immediately looked up and smiled. Before the class started, several of the men had been warming up by doing rolls, or "drills"(as they are formally called here). I, personally, was chatting away with my stepdaughter with no intentions of participating in the seminar because I was overcome with allergies.

I think the instructor may have said something along the lines of "guys, the best way to relax is to....RELAX!!!". Bingo. There it was. He said it and almost everyone looked at him like he had 8 heads. I smiled again.

Since I had been sort of online training with Andrey Karimov, one of the main topics of discussion has been psychological training. Yes..you read that right. PSYCHOLOGICAL training. Here in the U.S., one of the focal points of Systema are squats, sit ups, pushups and rolls. Very few times have I been to any type of Systema demo or class where this was not how class started out. In fact, at one major international seminar I went to, I think I attempted a combination of at least 200 of these.
When I asked the instructor the reason behind the "grunt" work he simply said "to break the psyche".

Um....what?
Immediately my internal monologue that switches to vocal retort had to turn on to mute.
It took everything I had to not say the following..
" I am a single mother, with two, maybe three jobs at times. I am a cancer survivor, a PTSD survivor, and have multiple medical conditions. The fact that I am 35 years old and still able to walk, is a miracle. Pretty sure my psyche has been broken."
Luckily for me, I never said it outloud. I understood , for the most part, WHY this was done, but I felt surely there had to be a better way. A softer way.

As the next few days of the international seminar unfolded during the "psyche breaking drills",I lay face down on the gymnasium floor, daydreaming about donuts and coffee, and how many souvenirs I can cram into my luggage before I head home. I briefly glanced up at the instructor who was standing immediately to my right. He had a huge smile on his face...I said in a quiet voice " I'm breaking my psyche..shhhhhhh". By the third day of the seminar, I pretty much checked out of the "psyche breaking" part all together. I became highly focused on how everyone else was going all out to  achieve their maximum effort of each exercise. It didn't help that I had recently had a conversation with a fellow Systema practitioner who said " I don't really go to seminars...you pay $300 + to do a bunch of stuff your home instructor probably already taught you".

When I first started conversations with Mr. Karimov, I secretly began planning my trip to Russia. I was  am all but convinced that he has something that I, maybe we desperately need here in the U.S. I had way too many questions to ask him on Facebook ( still do). I asked him at one point " what do I need to do to prepare myself if I go to Russia to train with you?"
His answer , "nothing".

Um, what? NOTHING???!! As in "not one thing"? No pushups, squats, rolls? Nothing physical? Lose 20 pounds, start lifting weights? Nothing?

I quickly realized what he was getting at. Why not just learn? Why not just go and be organic? There's so much to learn, how do you know what to prepare someone about if you don't know the psyche of that person? In my head, I thought "awesome, I don't have to start doing a million rolls" but my heart was pounding . My previous U.S. Systema mentality kept rearing up it's ugly head. How can I not prepare..what does he really mean?
He means what I have said to myself everytime someone says "oooooh you should watch (fill in the blank) Systema video of (fill in the blank) instructor. It's REALLLLLLY good."
I don't watch Systema videos. Or..didn't , until I watched Mr. Karimov's. I immediately became a fan. I have now watched so many that I can't even remember which ones I've watched and which ones I haven't. I never watched Systema videos because I really, reallllly am a fan of learning without preconceived notions of what is supposed to happen and what I should be learning. And, in fact, if you watch enough Systema videos(or enough of the wrong ones) you may end up not even going to a class.

Mr.Karimov's videos are full of music playing in the background, usually by him. He plays an instrument called the "balalaika". It's is a pitchy, guitar/banjo instrument, that has a bit of intricate artwork on it.

Andrey Karimov and Balalaika

This, THIS is how he breaks the psyche. Music. He plays at an alarmingly fast paced, loud rate. He very methodically watches his students as he's doing this. The tempo changes ( I have yet to figure out if he is changing it to the pace of his students or if he is changing it to CHANGE the pace of his students or if there is even a reason). Whatever the reason, it works. If you watch the videos (muted) you may flinch a few times at some of the "work" that is being done. If you unmute it, you just notice, movement. You may also notice a few smiles. For me, this idea works.
Why is this not done here? If you are a serious practitioner, I challenge you to ask yourselves that. Is there a reason we "pump" up to partake in a martial art, that explicitly asks that you remain "relaxed"? Is there a reason we need to be reminded constantly to " move, breathe, relax"?
 Some may say " the drills at the beginning of class are to break the psyche, that is it". Here's a little note on that...
Not once, since I've been "learning" from Mr. Karimov, has he ever described ANY of the work he does as "drills". Not once. Why? Maybe because for him and the amazing people that train with him, THIS IS THEIR WAY OF LIFE. They actually incorporate Systema as a lifestyle . Not a weekly class that you show up to.A "drill" implies that it is something only to be implemented when needed or for training purposes. A "drill" makes it seem like an exercise you must learn to be successful. If it is just something you do, then it is just something you do.
And to make things even more interesting, I am not even sure Mr. Karimov has a training/class schedule. He has a zillion and one seminars, that include full immersion in all aspects of what he teaches...including psychological work. That's right...PSYCHOLOGICAL.
One simply cannot learn how to run, without learning how to crawl then walk..we all KNOW this, but why , why are we not being taught this? Why is Systema here in the US taught without any type of psychological emphasis of remaining human? We are told "remain human" but , do most practitioners know what that means? Why are we not sat down with pen and paper, to discuss why this part of Systema is so very crucial to making you the best practitioner you can be?
Is it marketing? Is it watered down version? Is there something more? What are we really not learning?
Relaxing, to become a better martial artist, sounds weird at first, but really, it is highly effective. When I did finally jump into training at the seminar with "RELAXXXX" instructor, I found myself completely floating when we did our "drills" together. He had me up and on the ground in the matter of seconds. We playfully trained and he was so incredibly smooth that I felt, personally, THIS is what I want. THIS.
In fact, when I asked Mr. Karimov what he would like to do while he is here in the U.S.( I plan on selling a kidney to get him here) he just wrote "PLAY".

Yup.Me too...me too.

To watch more of Mr. Karimov's videos on You Tube :

http://www.youtube.com/user/nrooLad/videos