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Why Systema / Russian Martial Art?

Reason Number 1.

The philosophy! It’s about being natural! It’s about being human! It is about being a good person. Here is a great explanation of Systema’s philosophy from Mikhail Ryabko.

Hammer and Nails

Losing One’s Temper Brings On Problems ……..

There was a boy with a bad temper. His father gave him a bag of nails and told him that every time he lost his temper, to hammer a nail in the back fence. The first day the boy had driven 37 nails into the
fence. Then it gradually dwindled down. He discovered it was easier to
hold his temper then to drive those nails into the fence.

Finally the day came when the boy didn’t lose his temper at all. He told his father about it and the father suggested that the boy now pull out one nail for each day that he was able to hold his temper. The days
passed and the young boy was finally able to tell his father that all
the nails were gone. The father took his son by the hand and led him to
the fence.

“You have done well, my son, but look at all the holes in the fence. The fence will never be the same. When you say things in anger, they leave a scar just like this one. you can put a knife in a man and draw
it out, it won’t matter how many times you say ‘I’m Sorry,’ the wound is
still there. A verbal wound is as bad as a physical one.”

Regards,

Troy White

Awareness for Self Defense

99% of personal protection is using ones brain! So many confrontations, attacks and fights could be and can be avoided or altered by using simple methods utilizing the brain instead of brawn! Probably the most important mental aspect of self protection is Awareness! Although it sounds simple for one to be aware so few people actually are. To explain awareness we may use Color Code model based on one first devised by the pistol shooting coach Jeff Cooper. The model is as follows:

Although the chart gives four Code levels awareness could be simplified even further into the fact that either; ‘one is aware on what is going on around themselves’ or ‘they are not!’. A sad factor working against awareness is apathy. “That would never happen to me!” or “Assault is illegal so I should be able to go where I want and not worry about being attacked!” Sure, these and similar ideas are great but far from realistic! One should never have to worry about violence or being assaulted but apathy to reality could get you hurt or killed! Sorry! it’s not a perfect world! Conflicts, confrontations, attacks, assaults and murders do happen. Be safe and be aware! There is no need to be paranoid, just be aware. Know that you are in control when you take action. If you are apathetic you are a victim! If you are aware you are in Control!

Masters Journey

A great video with a great message! Please take the time to watch it all.

Mysterious Letters from Gary Engels on Vimeo.

Mat Chat – Children’s Anger Management.

How do we teach our children about anger management? How do we get our point across in martial art class? First off Anger Management is our ability to control ourselves from blowing up and exploding in fits of rage. There are some simple techniques to help us prevent this such as counting to ten and through deep breathing. In order for us to teach this to our youth in the martial arts a great tool called the “mat chat” may be employed. The students are gathered around the Master Teacher and a quick discussion takes place. This is not simply a lecture time from the teacher but rather a question and answer time to allow the students to give their answers and feedback. It helps the students to think and to be heard and it helps them to relate more closely to the lessons of martial arts and not just regurgitate answers. Communication skills and anger management techniques are self-defense!

This video by Tom Callos is a great example of a “Mat chat” covering a few techniques for anger management in a children s /youth martial arts class .

Bowing – The Polite Greeting

In martial arts we teach our students to bow. The bow is used as a salute and a greeting which usually also denotes seniority by way of the junior  first bowing  to the senior with the senior returning the courtesy. Sometimes we get so formal in our teachings and ways that we lose sight of the fact that it is a personal connection with another person. It is a connection from the teacher to the student and from the student to the teacher. It’s not an ego booster for the teacher! Nor is it teach the student to be submissive.

Here is a great short clip of Master Tom Callos teaching a youth class on polite greeting.