It is easy to put Systema or martial arts into the sport or activity category. It is more than that though. It is training for life. It is also the perfect parent and child activity.
There are of course clear self-defence benefits and every child should know their most basic of human rights. Self-Defence. Systema teaches you not how to fight, but how to survive a self defence situation. The situation begins long before the fight ever does. So situational awareness and relaxed confidence are also taught as ways to avoid confrontation.
As well as the obvious self defence aspects, I have compiled 10 reasons to enroll your child into Systema classes below:
- Calmness and stability. We start with breathing and relaxation cycles. This skill of knowing how to breathe in a way that calms, relaxes and stabalises them will benefit them in all kinds of stressful situations such as exams, tests, interviews etc. for the rest of their lives.
- Increasing their resilience. The combat side of Systema improves their resilience and removes fears in a fun way. Everyone gets and gives hits and kicks. They get grabbed, pinned, thrown, stood on, by one person, two people, with their eyes closed, in a crowd – every scenario you could imagine. Nearly always slowly and experimentally to avoid injury and improve learning. Physical and emotional resilience to any situation and creative abilities flourish. We also show children how to fall softly and safely. This is a fear that most carry their whole lives becoming worse as you get older. Systema removes that fear.
- Dealing with emotions, stresses and fears. Systema teaches children to get comfortable with stresses and emotions of all kinds. Anxiety, anger, pride, ego, self-pity, pressure, fear and other emotions are managed through simple breathing exercises.
- Creativity Flourishes. Children get comfortable with getting things wrong. In Systema there are no set responses. In Systema we don’t study technique. We study movement. Think lion cubs. They learn to fight through play. Creativity flourishes in this environment. Fear of getting things wrong stops creation of ‘new’ responses, ideas and movements.
- Learning to move well and safely. Children study the four pillars of human movement. These are movements that we are born with. All four are done naturally with the focus on breathing and relaxing the whole time. They check thier body’s full range of motion and ability to support its weight through that range. The children learn to move with smoothness and effortless ease removing tension through the exercises.
- True Self Confidence. In Systema there are no belts or gradings. Not only does this keep cost down for parents. It also teaches children a very valuable lesson. Their sense of pride and achievement is based on their own sense of their skill level. Care needs to be applied when building children up with ranks and praise as this can often be fake and fragile and taken away or withheld from them. Only strength from within gives true confidence, founded on humility and walking the right path.
- Strength, Courage and Humility. This is the motto of Systema and it applies to the biggest challenge that they face. Themselves. True strength, courage and humility only come through facing their own fears, pride and ego, and overcoming these. As well as strengthening their bodies, children learn that real strength comes from within.
- Leadership development. As your child progresses they will naturally become mentors and guides to other children, teaching them the skills of calmness, relaxation, spontaneous natural creativity and helping them remove their fears. Believe me, this is inspirational to watch.
- Practical and real. Training in Systema is based on the training of the Russian Spy Network. Training is not based on sport and competition, but on survival. Training is subtle, powerful and effective and deals with hands, feet, wrestling, single and multiple opponents, crowds, weapons and every scenario in between.
- Parents and Children Training together. Parents can join in the family class on Saturdays at 9am and the junior class on Mondays at 18.15-19.15. It is natural wholesome and fun for parents and children to enjoy this activity together and it is inspiring for the children to see parents training alongside them.
In short Systema builds healthy, strong, calm, confident, stable, balanced, well-adjusted children. It is also some of the best fun they will have all week.
The video below gives a short insight into a regular family class.
Family Class: Saturdays 09.00-10.30
Juniors 8 and above: Mondays: 18:15-19:15
Spot on Matt. This should be taught in all schools.
I agree, thanks Ruth.