Systema: Hand to Hand

[610Alpha]

Well I just got this DVD in the mail...2 hrs 25 minutes...saw a couple of moves in the first 10 minutes that i will need to rewatch. I will try to do a review on it.

I bought it from the gospel of violence site that has a video recommended by LD3 "BEYOND THE FIREARM PART II BY SONNY PUZIKAS". This is on my list to buy also.

It took 13 days from date of order to make it via snail mail from Texas to IL just so you know. I saved a couple of bucks by buying from this site instead of the russian systema site.

Maybe our sponsor would consider selling these videos so that we can get faster deliveries?

[protus]

Maybe our sponsor would consider selling these videos so that we can get faster deliveries?

(sonny P )
I submit unto you, that this idea, is good one ....
(sonny P)

:P

[Lowdown3]

Sonny was probably out of the country training people again, hence the short delay. Would have taken about that long from Canada had you ordered from the RMA site.

The Combative body DVD is a good one also. You'll never feel better IMO than after someone spends 30 minutes walking/standing on you.

[610Alpha]

so I am better off ordering from Sonny's site so that shipping time is quicker...is that correct?

[Lowdown3]

Either site is good to go. Sonny is a good guy, you won't go wrong there.

[Matt In Oklahoma]

Looking forward to a review. Still considering his Forge video

[1Admin]

Systema concepts are kinda difficult to grasp on DVD I must admit.

Sometimes it looks like play. Sometimes people say "well they are working slow, of course you could do all that working slow."

Yet when you work slow, you SEE things you aren't seeing going super fast, all out. While you do do a lot of that in Systema, a good instructor is going to have you work slow a LOT so that you can focus on the concepts, see things you would not see, etc.

Honestly, their is no Systema group near me, so I don't train Systema regularly. I've attended about a dozen seminars and it's excellent stuff. I've taken some of the concepts over into the other realm of fighting I do regularly and it's helped tremendously.

It's definitely not your standard martial art :)

[610Alpha]

It's definitely not your standard martial art :)

For sure. I did hear him say something at the end of the preview part where he was talking about multiple attackers and how having a stance can expose you and that you should basically remain "fluid" (my term), don't lock yourself in to a stance since that is rigid.

Wish there was a systema school near me too oh well...i will take what i can get and train regardless.

[Lowdown3]

Movement, Structure, Breathing and relaxation.

Your gonna hear those 4 things over and over again. They are all key to Systema.

Whereas with boxing, Muay Thai, etc. you tend to stand in rigid stances. You move but a good portion of the body is tensed up when you move. In Systema it's always about keeping the parts of the body not currently in use in a more relaxed state. A lot of people get confused on that. For example a short range punch in Systema isn't so much momentum swing of the hips type based like in boxing or a Muay Thai kick. The only thing kept tensed is the wrist and forearm. This allows the shoulders to move freely. Again, kinda hard to explain via typing.

Structure is key, your always looking to preserve yours and if possible break down your opponents. The "structure" that you hear spoke of so much is Systema really kinda just relates to good posture, keeping your spine in alignment, etc.

For example, the standard wrestling/grappler hunched over stance would be incorrect in Systema. Why "incorrect"? Cause it creates a lot of tension in places that even a slightly experienced person could exploit.

Never realized how hard this stuff was to explain in this manner! LOL

Good breathing is key. Their are tons of exercises that will help you focus on your breathing. Every Systema class or seminar I've attended has started with exercise and breath work.

"But I know how to breathe, I've been doing it since Day 1!"

Yes, true, but often times we hold our breathe without even realizing it while picking something heavy up, doing pushups, etc. This greatly decreases your strength and/or makes your body work harder.

Movement- with a strong body, that is using good posture (related to structure), that is not tensed up in areas where the muscles are not currently in use or needed, the body moves faster and more fluid. This is how you see Vlad, Sonny, Martin Wheeler and others move so quickly and what seems so effortlessly.

Again, these things are kinda hard for me to put into words on a page. That and please keep in mind I'm no Vlad or Sonny, just a guy that's got his arse kicked more than a few times at these things :)

[Matt In Oklahoma]

I just found a place not to far that trains in it and is affordable. I may try a class or two and see.

[1Admin]

Awesome! Make me envious! Closest Systema group to me is about 3 hours away.

Seems to be a LOT of cross interests also, so don't be surprised to find some similar or like minded people at these sorts of things.

[610Alpha]

Movement, Structure, Breathing and relaxation.

Your gonna hear those 4 things over and over again. They are all key to Systema.

Whereas with boxing, Muay Thai, etc. you tend to stand in rigid stances. You move but a good portion of the body is tensed up when you move. In Systema it's always about keeping the parts of the body not currently in use in a more relaxed state. A lot of people get confused on that. For example a short range punch in Systema isn't so much momentum swing of the hips type based like in boxing or a Muay Thai kick. The only thing kept tensed is the wrist and forearm. This allows the shoulders to move freely. Again, kinda hard to explain via typing.

Structure is key, your always looking to preserve yours and if possible break down your opponents. The "structure" that you hear spoke of so much is Systema really kinda just relates to good posture, keeping your spine in alignment, etc.

For example, the standard wrestling/grappler hunched over stance would be incorrect in Systema. Why "incorrect"? Cause it creates a lot of tension in places that even a slightly experienced person could exploit.

Never realized how hard this stuff was to explain in this manner! LOL

Good breathing is key. Their are tons of exercises that will help you focus on your breathing. Every Systema class or seminar I've attended has started with exercise and breath work.

"But I know how to breathe, I've been doing it since Day 1!"

Yes, true, but often times we hold our breathe without even realizing it while picking something heavy up, doing pushups, etc. This greatly decreases your strength and/or makes your body work harder.

Movement- with a strong body, that is using good posture (related to structure), that is not tensed up in areas where the muscles are not currently in use or needed, the body moves faster and more fluid. This is how you see Vlad, Sonny, Martin Wheeler and others move so quickly and what seems so effortlessly.

Again, these things are kinda hard for me to put into words on a page. That and please keep in mind I'm no Vlad or Sonny, just a guy that's got his arse kicked more than a few times at these things :)

I think you are describing what I have seen pretty well...the whole posture thing was interesting, like he demoed in the vid standing up straight I couldn't raise my leg as high as I could in the systema posture, kind of weird how that worked. The first exercise in movement is so simple yet so fundamental in getting the foundation of systema from what I can tell. So far systema is a fluid type of martial art.

[610Alpha]

I just found a place not to far that trains in it and is affordable. I may try a class or two and see.

Ditto what 1Admin said. The nearest city doesn't have Systema :(

[1Admin]

I'll have to re-watch the video, it's been a long time since I've seen it.

[610Alpha]

Good breathing is key. Their are tons of exercises that will help you focus on your breathing. Every Systema class or seminar I've attended has started with exercise and breath work.

"But I know how to breathe, I've been doing it since Day 1!"

Yes, true, but often times we hold our breathe without even realizing it while picking something heavy up, doing pushups, etc. This greatly decreases your strength and/or makes your body work harder.

We think we know how to breathe!! I remember in basic the DI's would make us practice firing our rifles by putting a dime on the barrel to do dry fire practice to help us control our breathing. Its so much more than what we think. I'll probably have to put that video on my list too.