Do you even train,bro? The illusion behind pre-training and what it can say about your instructor's teaching abilities.

Now, we all know where I will be in just a few short days....Russia!!!.Some may refer to my adventure as "crazy" but I , on the other hand, made this decision one morning last year around this very time. Once I decided to go to Russia and train with Andrey Karimov, we began discussing small details. I watched all of his videos and practiced with whips..daily, for months. I lingered in and out of back pain treatment, medical treatments, doctor's offices and physical therapy more than I'd like to admit. I was put on bedrest, taken off bedrest, in the ER...you name it,it happened.

All this really messed up my plan :TRAIN EVERYDAY FOR THIS SEMINARrrrrararwr..
At some point, somewhere along all of this , someone came to me and said"well,  you are kind of cheating by "pretraining and having insider intel on his teaching style"". Um, what the wha?

I am not even sure what that meant. I asked this person to elaborate and he said"well, you know..you already know what's going to happen".
Yeah. No.
I didn't .
I bought my ticket, made my reservations and mapped out my 4 week journey without knowing anything. Hell, I wasn't even sure what city I would be in. I just knew I was going. But this brought up some interesting points...
1) I was not, in reality, training with any regular group here...so my training, was what I had already learned plus whips..at best. Sure, we fight in our house, really well...and fun...but, not "training".

2)Daily communication with Mr. Karimov rarely involved discussing "training" . We prefer cat emoticons and cat videos-much to everyone's surprise.
3)How could I prove to any naysayers that Mr. Karimov has such exquisite teaching material and technique,if anyone believed I had a one up on them?
4)Why would anyone take my word on it...I can say "yeah..he's a great instructor"? all day long, but even I would want proof....why shouldn't anyone else?
5) If part of the reason most people don't go to Russia and train is the fear of not knowing the language, culture, surroundings...how could I put their minds at ease? Here I am , Rosetta Stoning it away , which again..gives me an one up. And let's be honest....if you have a new motorcycle , and you're a Systema instructor, and you haven't been to Russia...ever.... you are cheating your students out big time.

I made the very conscious and difficult decision to stop pretraining. I stopped preparing myself and endlessly watching  his videos. Luckily he began touring, so our conversations are quick and fun.I became ill, so there was not much I could do but rest up. I stopped trying to eat super healthy , I stopped my barefoot walking through the rocky terrace at the park.I stopped using all my language learning apps. I stopped obsessing about the culture, geography and what social mistakes and fouls I may make. I refocused my energies on other projects, and stopped thinking about preparing myself for training. I asked my doctors to slowly pull me off any medications for nerve spasms and muscle pain from my conditions that I was taking and I detoxed myself off virtually anything that would make this a comfortable experience for myself as possible. I, am going in raw.

I want to go in completely void of what may be stuck in my brain that may have created bad form and may have caused me to duplicate horrible patterns...I want to go in as though I were a child, in a candy store..and see every opportunity for life. I want to go in at zero and come out at 100%. Now , the choice wasn't all mine, I mean..I have been on bedrest off and on, and I could easily blame it on that...but why blame anything...why not see what comes of this experience , live and up close?

one of my many trips to the ER in the last year.What's your excuse?

While I thought maybe I should have started video taping this display of de-systemaizing, I found some of what I was going through, very graphic and personal...some situations frustrating and some liberating. I did start to film a doctor a few weeks ago , until he had some bad news and I turned my camera off per his request.

The good news is this.... no one really knew I was doing this( and if you were one of them, thank you for not laughing at me, yet still calling me crazy), so you are hearing it here first. In fact, I only recently told Mr.Karimov , and I am not even sure it translated well. But then again...he is 100% secure in his technique and methods anyway,so he doesn't care much about what I think I may know vs what he can teach me. He cares about being open and honest and doing the best I can. The bottom line is...he cares.
All this made several things happen in real life....
I gained weight(egads ...this water training just got real, ugly)
My asthma came back , full force... I am currently , sitting recovering from pneumonia.
I trained a few days ago for the first time in months, with someone new and was surprised by my own agility/memory/skill. Don't get me wrong, I could barely move later on...but that's ok.

While everyone wonders how I am going to survive this intensive training program without pretraining....., I wonder, "how am I going to walk away from this group of amazing people without crying?". How does anyone survive anything? They just do. Mr. Karimov is 100% in teaching this, and I am 100% confident that I will learn what he has to offer(even the underwater stuff). That...says alot about both of us. You cannot expect to get what you want, without the work. If you go into this situation guarded, with false assumptions, then that's exactly what you will get out of it.Yes, you can pick and choose what you want to learn, but then what? Then, you are are cheating yourself of a full, immersive experience.
This brings me back to what I've always suspected..this "Systema", is a lifestyle choice. It isn't weekly meetings, training incessantly, timed training,memorized "drills"....these people, actually live this. Everyday. It is their system, their lifestyle. It is what works for them.That is why there is no real definition for the art,for them. It is your individual system and how do you train for that?

I will document as much as I can along the way. I'm not nervous or scared about messing up. I have every intent to be a complete sponge to what he has to offer. I will be living this module of training for 21 days. I will be exactly where I said I would be a year ago.

Everything we will be doing will be documented via video and I am sure it will be on a DVD. I am REALLY putting myself out there....like, seriously. I want everyone to know, that if I can do this, so can you. Yes.YOU!
Save the Starbucks money, make a plan, and stick to it. Find an instructor you like and go.
Stop pre-training, start living!

Mr. Karimov's wife, Katherine.

Thank you Jesse, Sharon, Veronica, Milo, Harley and anyone else who watched me go a smidge crazy on this journey.

Why am I so angry??? Why I'm here, how this happened, and how you can get better at Systema.

In light of recent events, I have all of the sudden made a TON of new Facebook friends. The common statement I receive is "Wow, you just took this whole thing to another level...why?"

I am really a nice person, no, really.

Please, let me explain....
My journey into Systema(US style) , was a short, brief, rather- weak -attempt- on- my- part, one.I am the first to admit, I am not the best student, martial artist(I never claim that title) , or understander of it, ever.While I swear up and down, Systema saved my life in more ways than one, something happened to me recently, that really made me think..."Systema, could really save my life now".
To tell the story , to help you to understand, I will have to tell the story...
In January of 2014, I began feeling ill. Nausea, vomiting, lack of appetite, dizziness. I was crying for no reason. I had aches and pains in random places...most of these things were usual for me, minus the vomiting and lack of appetite. Jokingly one of my friends said " are you sure you aren't pregnant?".
The reason this is a joke with my friends and I is, because in 2009, I had cervical cancer. Part of my cervix was removed and I had a combined ablation surgery to help the cancer not spread. I made a full recovery but was assured by doctors I would never, ever be able to get pregnant again.
Well, the pregnancy test I took that evening proved otherwise. In fact, all of them did. This was on a Sunday , late at night. I was hysterical. Devastated . Confused.
The next day, I called as many doctors as I could. They all put me off and patted me on the head until finally I told one of them of my past medical history. She got me into her office that day. She confirmed I was pregnant and gave me the date and times she had available for the "medically necessary" abortion. We sat in horror. I told her I was not ready for this and had to think about it. I rescheduled an appointment with the ultrasound tech for the following week . During that appointment, we were able to see our little embryo. The doctor, once again, advised we not continue with the pregnancy due to the extreme danger it would put me in. Again..we were devastated. The following week, we had another ultrasound appointment. Much to everyone's surprise, the embryo began forming as normal. My hormone levels skyrocketed. WE. WERE .PREGNANT. At this stage, there is a moment when life, is life..and this baby was fighting. We decided to try to keep the pregnancy. After our appointment with "Dr.Doom", we decided to find another doctor who would at least support our decision. We found one.

Max

Before I go on, I have to also mention that right before any of this happened, I had a mammogram due to a lump I found in my right breast... by the time I was six weeks into my pregnancy, I got a call from my oncologist who needed to see me right away.
When I sat in his office, already with some weight gain, I was not in unfamiliar territory. An oncology center is not my favorite place to be, but I only assumed he was going to tell me it was nothing. When he walked in, I chimed that I was pregnant with a certain glee behind my voice. He sat down, put his head in his hands and told me that I needed a biopsy .
I was devastated, again. The mass had all the markings of cancer. I have a family history of cancer. I , had already had cancer. I sat in shock while he and his nurse filled out the paperwork. The next day, we met with the surgeon. While the surgeon reviewed all of the options of whether a biopsy was even safe at this point during my high risk pregnancy, I kept thinking" this cannot be happening".
It was. I was scheduled for my biopsy with no sedation because it was too risky. If you have not had a needle forced into your body to remove a chunk of tissue , while completely awake and talking , you have not experienced pain. I joked with the radiologist the entire time and tried to "breathe and relax". It sorta worked.
A week later , I was called in for results. At this point, we had already seen part of our baby formed in ultrasound , with a miraculously strong heartbeat. He was kicking and moving and making me nauseous. My weight gain was epic and I was ok with that. The doctor sat down , put his hand on my leg and told me the worst news. I was going to have to have the lump biopsied again because the sample came back inconclusive and due to my pregnancy, this could mean I either had six months to live (hormones can increase the spread of cancer) or , at some point, the cancer could spread rapidly back to my cervix. The second biopsy leaned more on the side of cancer. within a week, I was scheduled for a full lumpectomy. While managing a delicate pregnancy. The follow up appointment was great, any trace of cancer was removed because it was at it earliest stage!
All of my doctors, specialists and team were confident, at least openly, that I would be ok.
About a week after my lumpectomy, I was in horrible pain. Blood was coming out of me everytime I urinated. I was admitted to the hospital for one week for testing, rest and medication. I was glad to leave and continue my pregnancy.

A week later, I woke up covered in clear fluid. I screamed in horror and within hours,my life crumbled . We , were in the process of losing our fighter baby.
As I was being heavily sedated to keep my hysterics at a minimum, all I could think of was how short our lives were. How if, we didn't fight, we didn't try, what I would have not learned. As I was in and out of states of shock, I had an epidural to help with the delivery, that was completely botched and ripped parts of my spine...(that is a whole different story).
Days went by. The depression of living through a tragic loss, post pardem depression and back and forth physical pain were too much. I decided to start to do some Systema at home. Rolling, was out. The scar from my lumpectomy stung every minute I laid face down on the floor. My back, had scars from the botched epidural. My legs, were swollen from being hospitalized... I was a mess.  As I lay on the floor, I decided to think of "drills" that I had not seen. I came up with a very simple drill using a stick and a wall(or partner) and presented it to my former instructor. The students loved it and i was amazed. If out of inspiration, I, as merely a student, came up with this idea, why was I having so much trouble being stuck in training?Systema saved me so many times, but what more did I need? What was I not being taught?

What other potential did I, as a student, have that was not being unlocked? I sat in my car after class and cried. I felt like I was so stuck in training and only blamed myself.
I decided to ask around via other international instructors for advice. And one in particular, pointed me to Andrey Karimov. I was delighted. His videos intrigued me to no end. I contacted him immediately. This same instructor told me about Valentin Talanov. I had heard of Mr. Talanov and had seen so many Facebook pictures of him that I was familiar. I saw that he was to hold a seminar soon in the US and penciled it in. I was excited. I knew Mr. Talanov was great at breathwork and that my diaphragm had been destroyed during alot of what I went through.
In the meantime, I sought out support locally to help bring Mr. Karimov to Texas. There was none. In fact, there was contrite. I was devastated. I switched gears and sought support to help bring another instructor from the Systema strain here, again..met with angst. I sought out support to bring Mr. Talanov here, and again. nothing.
At this point in my life, I knew one thing. These instructors had an incredible amount to offer. In my conversations with Mr. Karimov alone, I learned more about Systema than any other training or seminar that I had been to. If he could help me in conversation, imagine in person. I pushed forward and decided to figure out how to bring Mr. Karimov to the United States.
During this time, something very bizarre happened in the Systema list. Mr Valentin Talanov was cut from his top instructor status with whom he had been affiliated. I was beyond devastated. That meant, no seminar...no training..and no adding to my health regime. At some point I realized, that there was some deep seeded inner workings going on that many don't know about or hear of. As his cut from the group became a public display of insult, I became more and more angry. Not only was he being thwarted, he was being stopped or slowed down , from coming to the US. Now, I knew, no one would support him here, and I would have zero chance to learn breathwork from him. Now, these people, have made an attack on MY health. They have invaded my right to learn, and also, stopped others from learning from the best.

My online campaign of promoting all , ALL, Systema began. I was not nor am not, going to be a part of a program that will hold people back from growing as  practitioners. I was not ,nor am not, going to watch these men be squeezed out while the rest of us sit in uneducated trances watching the same tricks over and over and over, when there is so much out there to offer. As my research into other styles grow, my mind and heart fill with the goal of creating an important opportunity for all of us. I will not stop until everyone "gets what they need". Since it seems, some groups do not want to work with me, I will consider them working against me, and their students. I have heard the same story over and over..."my instructor won't let me train with another instructor" and I even went through a little of that myself, and you know what?? That may be because your instructor is coated with not only fear, but ego. Two of the biggest areas that Systema talks about not having. If this is your instructor. Leave. And know, this is really only a problem in the US. Ask yourself why.
I invite you as instructors, students, question havers , to any seminar we will have in the next few years and experience the glory out side the hole we have all been in. Since many of us can't get to Russia...why not bring Russia, here? The power to growing a community, is beautiful and the only way to do it, is to do it....
Happy Training!

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/

Giving you what you need.: Cracking the Code: Unlocking the Secrets of System...

Giving you what you need.: Cracking the Code: Unlocking the Secrets of System...: The following works were dictated by Systema Master, Andrey Karimov on his philosophies of Systema, personal growth and emotional health. T...

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 2-Finding A True Master

Not to toot my own horn, or Andrey Karimov's, but six months into learning from him, and I feel divinely refreshed. There still has not been one single day that I haven't learned something new, exciting, different or substantial from either him, his videos, or conversations with him. When I began my journey into wanting to learn more, my goal was to "learn what I was missing". I had no idea what that meant, or even what it could be. I assumed that my training, seminars , books, etc about Systema were sufficing, until I realized, they were not.
Turns out..there was alot more.
 As I type this, I can honestly assure you my computer is full of documents , drawings, pictures,

Woman training in Sambo(1991)

books, PDFs, diagrams and video...all in a language I know nothing about. I still , in all honesty, dare not call myself a martial artist. I am merely a student. And because I am a student, I wanted to find the best, for me. I deserved it. We all do.With  that being said, this has become a huge undertaking, full of surprises, passion, lack of sleep, commitment, enlightenment and learning. On finding a true master...part two of the interview with Master Andrey Karimov:....(roughly translated with Google Translate)

O.O.: On finding a good instructor or Master , what are some qualities to look for?

A.K.: There are two ways to become a Master, knowing these will help.
          1) Learn from other Masters who are at a higher level than yourself.
          2) Develop thinking to observe the world around you using divine laws of physics.

O.O.: Who or what determines the "master" in Martial Arts?

A.K. 1) Does not compete, does not try prove anything and likes what he does.
         2) A Master is accurate, but if  wrong, will smile about the error.
         3) Does not just use the words "you should" or "you can not do that." but uses more appropriate  and necessary terminology
         4) Able to hear and understand you and know how to use his words accordingly
         5)Does not consider it necessary to frequently use mystery and magic to explain what he was doing.
         6)Sees what's stopping you . A true master has the knowledge and has the ability to tell you                 simple words
         7)Able to wait until maturation of skill in the student; a Master is not in a hurry
         8)A Master does not like hypocrisy or flattery.
         9)A true Master is worthy of respect, but does not require it by force.
         10) To a Master, everything is simple and understandable, almost too simple.
         An example of this is a saying " I came to a village to find a man who is between the age of 80            and 100 who is respected by everyone and some even fear?"

O.O: When I first began watching your videos, I contacted you and immediately, I knew, you would be a great instructor for me and I would not accept less than that for myself. For those who do not have the means or resources to go train where and with whom they would like, what do you recommend?

A.K.: Sometimes we have to think and act by trial and error.It is better to travel half the world to find the best master.It saves time in the long term to find better for yourself.

O.O:Who inspired your journey to get to the level you are at today?

A.K.: I saw the eyes of elders, 90-100 years old, bright eyes, ready to see a miracle, and I wanted to be like them.

O.O.:How old were you when this happened?

A.K.: Twenty years old.

O.O.:When you were that age,did you think you would be at this level as you are now?

A.K.: I had the flair like a dog.But I found people to work with. I had persistence and a strong interest in learning.I knew I would get here sooner or later.

O.O.:Do you have the same expectations of your students?

A.K.: It's better to ask them. It isn't just me, but more a matter of principal.

O.O:When I watch your videos, I see constant dynamics of  laughter, concentration, partnership and community. Why is this sense of community is so important in learning Systema?

Common instruction with lecture.

A.K.: It answers the question of identity, who I am? Where do I belong? Commonality gives strength and energy. It provides physical and mental health balances.

O.O:Many times here , instructors are known for saying " it's your fault" . As in " it's your fault you were hurt in training"," it's your fault you did not progress", "it's your fault if you do not understand".How would you, as a psychologist, explain this phenomenon?

A.K.: If you are a Master, you'll be able to explain why and what to do.Anything else is not competent instruction.

O.O.:What are the warning signs a person can look for , if they feel they have a lower quality instructor?

A.K.:
    1)You do not understand what they are saying.
    2)The following words: " I have a certificate", "you have to listen to me", "you cannot do that"                (without explanation).
    3)The instructor does not allow you to go and learn from others
    4)You sweat alot,but still feel awkwardness in movement.

Олег Чернецов

Remember " repetition is the mother of learning and the consolation of fools".  And why? It is because "it is a mad house, and the key is lost".

O.O.: What do you look for in instructors in your program?

A.K.: Zest for life and the ability to train are enough! That is a start! If a person does not have these qualities , they cannot become an instructor.

O.O.:How do you view the growth and changes for Systema in the next few years.

A.K.: Systema is first and foremost , the ability to think and to reason.Then the interest to implement and follow through. I wish only everyone can come to understand that.

O.O.:You have been kind enough to talk to me frequently and this has made for an amazing learning experience! Would it be ok if others contact you with questions or advice?

A.K.: Yes! It is easy. Accessibility is another quality to look for in an instructor.

O.O.:Do you also recommend "self-study"?

A.K. Yes , the Family is the most powerful workout, along with surrounding society, and then personal psychology. Take care and be well!

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..)


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