What can Aikidoka learn from Systema?

Posted on 20/10/201421/10/2014 by Matt Hill

“What Can Aikidoka Learn from Systema..?” by Keni Lynch

More and more people in the Aikido world are beginning to realize that even a short course in Systema will pay them great dividends in increased mental and physical freedom, leading to effortless movement. Famous names in Aikido who have learned from Systema include: Hiroshi Ikeda (Aiki-kai 7th Dan) and Kevin Choate (6th Dan under Saotome Shihan), Matthew Hill (5th Dan Iwama) and the list is growing. The similarities with Aikido are uncanny.

Mikhail Ryabko, Founder of modern Systema, with Matt Hill.

When I first saw Vladimir Vasiliev’s Systema (S) on video 5 years ago, for instance, I thought someone had taken Japanese Aikido, added a few punches to it, and given it a Russian name.. it was so close to what I knew.. It was as if some Japanese guy had somehow secretly emigrated to Russia long long ago, resulting in a very evolved version of Aikido (A) that no one in Japan, and even the Western world, could have predicted or expected to see.. until now..

I attended Anthony Lucas’s Systema class yesterday in Budapest and so thought I’d share with you some of what I learned and tie this in with a brief technical comparison between the two systems. As someone with 30-years-plus experience in Aikido, whose made a conscious study of its major schools like the Aiki-kai, Yoshinkan, Tendo-kan, and Ki-no-Kenkyu-Kai (KKK), I think I can comment fairly on what is different and special about Systema that is missing in Aikido training. I’d like to present three ideas from S that might help Aikidoka realize, apart from the great overlap the two arts share, what is unique to S, so that you can learn to explore these in greater depth in any S seminar. Of course, Systema has many branches, just like in the Aikido world, so we can only talk in general. But, I think we can always learn more about ourselves, and whatever branch of Aikido you may happen to study, the following points, common to all branches of S, will inspire you:

Number 1: Breathing. The greatest thing about S is how they move from the inside – out. Of course, Aikido too, in theory, is about the spirit leading the body, but for most people this theory is a little abstract and not as evident in practice. Don’t get me wrong, there are many people in A who practice sincerely, with spiritual intent in the back of their minds. And, there are a few great teachers who actually teach the spiritual and energetic sides in detail, but the majority do not. The general pattern though is that we find ourselves moving without really knowing how or why we have to move in certain ways. Indeed, we have the names kokyu-ho and kokyu-nage (‘breathing exercise’ and ‘breath technique’), for example, to enhance our

appreciation of the breath, and the ki exercises to help us realize the energetic mind, but few of us know the real reasons why these are so central to grasping Aikido as a whole. In practice too, these movements are difficult to pull off..

Systema can come to the rescue here: a) because it has a solid foundation in breathing and b) because the physiological reasons it gives as to why relaxation is good for self- defense, and why this leads to smoother interactions in potential conflict situations, is ground-breaking scientific news..! It has to do with monitoring our breathing, so that no matter how fast or furiously our partner moves, it is possible for our nervous system to stay calm.. if we know ourselves and our body’s limits.

Many advanced Aikidoka also know this (especially in the KKK) and consciously try to work on keeping calm but what they may not know is how the limits of their own personal breathing patterns can upset their inner equilibrium. S deliberately explores the different aspect of the breath: the inhale, the exhale, and the holding of the breath after exhale, as well as after the inhale. These breathing patterns are explored in basic exercises, like the push-up, the squat and sit-up, to develop stamina in the lungs and nervous system, and are central to cultivating calm and safe movement. But, the whole idea is not to do more of these..

Quantity, or strength per se, is not the ultimate goal. It’s the psychology behind such things as oxygen deprivation and the nervous system’s reaction to panic that are the most valuable lessons here.

As we all know, scientists tell us that, in a threatening situation, many people hold their breath. In what is famously known as the fight or flight response, blood pressure, heart-rate, and muscular tension all rise, the pupils of the eyes dilate to try and take in more of what is going on, and, as your body instinctively goes into the stress mode, you feel the urge to fight, to run away or to freeze on the spot with fright.

S helps us get in touch with the workings of this response in ourselves in a safe environment, and through S’s slow-motion practices, and relaxation exercises, to override this instinctive response to danger, so that we can defend ourselves in the manner of our choosing. This, alone, would be a great addition to anyone’s Aikido, but the greater benefit, I think, lies in knowing how to challenge our limits, and thereby enhance our everyday life. In S seminars, you will learn how to take the tension completely out of your body in every potentially stressful posture. This psychology of relaxation under stress is something that can serve you well for a lifetime of reduced stress… I got this from Anthony, and, I think, this is invaluable.

Number 2: Natural Movement. You may be sceptical, like I was, when any martial art claims to teach ‘natural movements’, because it seems clear that every culture has its own definition of natural. Just think of the difference between the minimalism of Aikido movements compared to, let’s say, the exuberant gymnastics of Brazilian Capoeira. Both martial. Both natural. Yet, they are on opposite ends of the spectrum of expressive human movement. But, if we say, ‘natural’ is ‘whatever can help us survive an attack with ease’, then we have to think of the most likely attacks in a civilian context, and consider the question of how we will personally encounter them: psychologically and physically.

You can probably be 99.9% sure, for example, that you won’t be attacked by a man flashing a Japanese sword on the street.. (So, what is the relevance of Aikido sword- work..? That is another question..). And, it’s also statistically improbable that you’ll have to deal with cartwheel kicks from someone whose friend is playing the berimbau in the background…

By contrast, S focuses on how to deal with the most likely grabs, pushes, punches, kicks, knife attacks and group attacks.. but all within the simple context of moving with an awareness of your calm(ing) breath. Like in the best mastery-level Aikido, you have to start with yourself, and realize there are no separate techniques. S is only about the freedom to move yourself freely.. in the here and now.. Kind of like the gentle art of Aikido free-style, but with the stops removed.

S has found a way to teach this freedom to us quickly, through progressive drills and exercises. Through S, we can realize that it isn’t the memorized martial techniques we know, even if learned over decades, that will get us out of trouble but our innate freedom to move without fear… Like the Zen master Takuan said, “..if our minds are caught in the thought of technique, then we won’t have the freedom to respond creatively, spontaneously, appropriately. Our partner will spot our distracted mind, detecting a gap in our awareness.. we’ll be unable to move, while our opponent will be able to exploit this moment to attack us…”

So, the way we express ourselves in self-defense MUST be natural in the psychological sense that it will always be personal, natural to you, and different to someone else’s way, even if that person is your most favorite teacher of Budo. I like what an 8th Dan Kendo master once shared with me. He said: ‘Most people think of the Way (or ‘Do’, as in ‘Bu-do’) as a road, or a road-map, already travelled by others. Its features and landmarks are well known. It’s usually about a set of rules, teachers and formal

traditions.” “But, I don’t think of it that way..” he said, “the True Way, I think, is really our own.. It’s like the freedom we feel when walking on the beach, alone.. and, as you take in the beauty of the scenery, and look back, you see a series of footsteps going all the way back to the horizon.. When you take stock of your training record over the years, you realize, for the first time, where you’ve been. That is your individual path.. If you think of it this way, you can give yourself the courage to move forwards for the rest of the journey into the unknown.. What else is there..? If you follow someone else’s way.. even Ueshiba’s Aikido.. it could still be taken away from you, if you relied on others to give it to you.. but your way is your way.. you will always have it, and it can’t be taken away..’.

S is natural in that each person can discover their own insecurities and express their freedom to move past them, all within a safe place. S calls this the work.

Number 3: Strikes. In spite of Ueshiba saying, allegedly, that “Aikido is 90% atemi” (or ‘striking’), Aikidoka are shy, in general, of following through with punches.

(It should be said, though, that Ueshiba’s statement here is apocryphal, and is still controversial, and, therefore, shouldn’t be taken literally as gospel. At the very least, if Ueshiba did say this, we have to reconcile it with his other statements like the fact that Aikido has something to do with the infinite spirit of the universe. It would be logical to ask, then: ‘how it is possible to have 90% of infinity..?’ But, the absurdity this leads us into is a debate that will have to be covered in a separate article)

The Yoshinkan and Iwama dojos are about the only ones that use strikes extensively to get their techniques to work. Without strikes to initiate their moves, their hard versions of Aikido don’t make much sense. The Aiki-kai and KKK tend to limit striking in their curricula; even eschewing defences against kicks, on the grounds that they don’t want to encourage violent minds. OK, I understand the sentiment.

Most Aikidoka, I think it’s fair to say, don’t like the image, the feelings or conduct, and seeming lack of control that appears to be associated with punching and kicking. Indeed, in the minds of non-violent people, punching is already a kind of violence, and, because of their violent image in films, the martial arts are also, unfortunately, often enough equated with thuggery. In the eyes of many Aikidoka, then, the martial arts (Bu-jitsu), as opposed to Budo, are No-Go Zones.

Indeed, I think it’s true that non-violence is what attracts people to come to Aikido in the first place. After all, if you wanted something more aggressive, there’s no limit to the range of choices available.. From MMA to Krav Marga, Brazilian Jujitsu to Thai Kick-boxing, you can take your pick.. Aikido is supposedly uniquely different from this smorgasbord of consumer choices, because it takes its firm footing on the basis of its non-violent spiritual stance.

So, the question to S people from A people would then have to be something like: ‘Can punching ever be spiritual..?’ And, the short answer is ‘yes’. But, the second part of the answer is: “it depends on you..and your intent..” “If you punch with love..” Anthony said.. which, by the way, made my head spin, in the beginning..

A spiritual punch – Vladimir Vasiliev with Matt Hill.

But, then when you actually try it, it ain’t so bad..

In fact, the punching in S is nothing like in boxing, where we tense our arms and go against our partner to try to knock him out. The punches in S are done exactly like the idea of ki extension. You just extend your arm with a relaxed fist to break down your partner’s balance. Or, you make him react to your hand that’s in the way of his movement. People who are off-balance in the turn, as you move away, are vulnerable.. At the same time, if you had to KO someone, there is no reason why you can’t do that in self-defense using S, just like you can do that with Shiho-nage or Irimi- nage in A. Then again, Ueshiba did say “ Aikido is loving attack and peaceful reconciliation”.. Too many of us think that this reference to ‘loving attack’ is only about uke’s role, but there is no reason why tori can’t also be loving in defending themselves with punches.. If so, S can show us how..

The kicking too is done more like Ikkyo with the legs. The idea is to lead the attacker’s leg a little, touching his shin with your foot to make him pause (omote, or ‘entering’, if you will), or, by stretching his heel out a little with your foot, making him lose his balance (a sort of ura). Again, there is much more to using the legs than the punishing Thai-Kick Boxing routines..

Leg work – Vladimir Vasiliev with Matt Hill

Finally, just a few words on the Systema Instructor Anthony Lucas. I have found him to be a generous person, with a compassionate heart, always ready to encourage his students with positive feedback. As an experienced teacher of Ninjutsu, it is clear he is also keenly aware of the differences between kata (or form) training and the relaxed freedom of movement which Systema provides the student of traditional Budo. He has trained with some of the biggest names in Systema, like Vladimir Vasiliev, Mikhail Ryabko, Martin Wheeler, and others. As a fellow researcher along the martial road of self-study, I salute him. and recommend him highly to all Budoka, but Aikidoka in particular who have so much to gain. Europe is lucky to have him.

Matt Hill is teaching a seminar in Amsterdam on October. A Full Systema Instructor under Vladimir Vasiliev and Aikido 5th Dan under the Saito Family, Matt will explore drills to:

improve your creativity,
feel confident in your instinctive and spontaneous response,
develop your ability to handle psychological pressure,
applying the principles to multiple attacker & crowd work and
drills to add relaxed power to your movement to improve both Aikido and Systema.

Be sure to mark your calendar for this unique event. Click here for more details

Matt Hill with Morihiro Saito Sensei.

Writer: Keni Lynch is the son of Aikido pioneers in New Zealand and currently teaches Aikido in Budapest, Hungary. He is an award-winning philosopher and has a masters degree in International Relations from Victoria University in Wellington. He is also the author of the upcoming book ‘Aikido Body’ (2014), in which he shares some of the principles behind effortless Aikido mastery, based on his 34 years of experience in the art.

Will this work for real?

Posted on 17/09/201421/10/2014 by Matt Hill

Will this work for real?

Probably the most common question asked by martial artists is: ‘Will this work for real?’

They ask it of themselves, others and their instructors.

A common theme running throughout this year’s Full Immersion Systema Training Camp in Toronto was belief; the removal of doubts. If you have doubts, you won’t be able to perform, you have to be totally confident in your capability.

If you watch a person filled with doubt, it is immediately apparent in their movement, their aspect and even every breath that they take. Right from start, the drills at camp addressed this.

In the first session, we did a number of different breath holds with specific emphasis on introducing physical as well as emotional/psychological stress. Detailed instruction was then given on the recovery process. In fact, the real work of the breath hold was in the ability to restore as quickly and thoroughly as possible. We were shown how to use the breath to remove emotional stress, and movement to eliminate physical tensions. We soon realised that recovery from breath holds is very close to recovery from strikes. We also did a fascinating and revealing exercise on faith in yourself during prolonged breath holds.

This solid foundation of preparation for the body and psyche continued into the combat phases and was a strong theme throughout the week. It was clear that progression in Systema was much less about changing your surface movement. Rather, it was about changing your operating system on a fundamental level in the way that you deal with your own fears, anxieties, stresses, pain, tensions and ego. We were gently (and not so gently) being trained to give our bodies the correct responses.

Watching Vladimir, Valentin and some of the other great instructors work, is like seeing this faith manifest. Every demonstration is perfect in that moment. If you are new to Systema, there are no pre-ordained movements or katas, just the right response for that moment. The masters wait calmly and peacefully and then deal swiftly, precisely and effectively with whatever presents itself. There is beauty in this. There is a self-knowledge that your movement and response was wholesome and perfect: neither too little nor too much. You may never do that same movement or series of movements again, but in that moment, it was perfect.

Watching Vladimir during one demonstration, I was struck by the level of unconscious skill that he possesses. He was dealing with three multiple attackers and talking to us at the same time. At one stage, he had two in front and another joined from the side. He threw the side attacker behind him without any obvious diversion of attention from the front two attackers. Without looking, he delivered a heel kick to the chin as the attacker hit the ground. A ‘wow’ escaped my lips as he did it. The spontaneous, effortless precision was stunning.

In the end, it was clear that it doesn’t matter what you do. Whether you are a performer, an artist, in business, a martial artist, a person of God or a soldier, if you are good, you must have an unshakeable belief in yourself. Systema, with its unique drills and methodology has the ability to give you this. The courage to find a deeper pool of strength rooted in humility.

It is said of the great generals in history that they knew themselves and they knew their men. Their persona instilled a belief and confidence in those under their charge. Caesar was said to be able to walk the camp fires at night and be able to talk to his men on a personal level, knowing their names and their families. This instilled cohesion, loyalty and belief that was unshakeable. Vladimir has this persona. As does his whole family. During mealtimes, Vladimir would walk around the room with a word and a smile here and there, before eating his own meal. Vladimir’s wife Valerie knew all of the instructors by name and so did their daughters, Melissa and Julia.

Vladimir is the kind of martial artist that comes along once in a generation. Much more than this, he is one of the most open-hearted, generous and decent men I have ever had the privilege to meet.

To understand more about Systema’s unique drills and exercises join us for a unique event. Vladimir Vasiliev and Mikhail Ryabko are coming to the UK for the Legends of Systema seminar on October 4th and 5th.

Systema Falling, Rolling & Movement Workshop – 28th Sept

Posted on 31/08/201421/10/2014 by Matt Hill

‘Systema is transmitted body to body‘

The bottom line is that you learn Systema or any other martial art by having it done to you, body to body. If you can lose the fear of falling, you will be able to concentrate more on how it feels during the takedown and in fact at all times during the training process. This will accelerate your learning.

‘You build a body from the ground up‘
Just like a baby, you build a strong body, with freedom of movement through relaxation in every range of motion, from the ground up. I will be showing lots of exercises to develop balanced core muscles and to maintain good posture and graceful, powerful, easy movement.
Lose the fear of falling
As we get older, we become more and more scared of falling over. We become tense and brittle. Learn to lose this fear and tension through simple methodology that can be practiced by anyone of any age. Learn to heal the body through movement. Watch cats and dogs stretch and roll around on the floor with ease, well into thier old age. They do it because it makes them feel good and keeps them healthy. Even if you are not a martial artist you will benefit from this workshop. Learn to:

Move freely and easily on the floor.
Transition from standing to ground and from ground to standing with ease, slow or fast

Basic to advanced – speed, height, distance, obstacles
We will move from basic falls rolls and ground movement to more advanced levels such as increased speed, height, distance and obstacles. through the day. Everyone is free to sit and watch some or stay at basic levels the advanced work is not mandatory. That said progression will be methodical and gradual.

Details

Date: Sunday Sept 28th
Location: Unit S3, Avonside Enterprise Park, New Broughton Road, Melksham, Wiltshire
Time: 10am-2pm
Need to bring: Loose, light clothing, Water bottle.
Investment: Just £40 (Discount for club members).

Numbers will be strictly limited. Book below to secure your space to avoid disappointment.

Systema Massage Workshop – 24th August 2014

Posted on 17/07/201421/10/2014 by Matt Hill

‘Know Thyself’

The Systema Massage is a unique approach to relaxing the body, mind and spirit. On Sunday August 24th, Wiltshire Systema will be conducting a workshop on the basics of Systema Massage.

You do not have to be a massage therapist to benefit from this workshop. Everyone will benefit from it. The methods are simple yet profound. You will learn in a four hour workshop how to:

find and remove tension, stress, emotional burdens and ease pains in yourself and in others,
Increase your freedom and ease of movement,
learn to ‘let go’ of physcial, emotional and mental tension and stress,
balance your system to optimise health, energy and sense of well-being

Systema massage is often described as a process of ‘annealing’. This is the process used to remove inherent stresses, reduce brittleness and impurities that cause weaknesses when working with glass and metal.

The session will start with learning how to breathe in a way that removes stresses and tensions and allows the body to relax deeply.

Using hands, feet, or a combination of both, participants will then systematically learn to massage the whole body, identifying and removing tension from their partner.

Meditative
It is important to note that the Systema massage is not a passive massage. The receiver is managing their breathing and relaxation in a way that is critical to the successful removal of tensions, stresses and emotional burdens. In this way it is very like a meditation session. You will receive the same benefits. These benefits are profound and will change, for the better, the way that you deal with the everyday stresses of life.

The softer you get, the stronger you get. Your body will soften as the muscles release a lifetime of built up tension. Your mind too will begin to soften, not holding on so tight and learning to ‘let go’ of physical, mental and emotional burdens.

The build up of tension in our bodies begins as a thought or receipt of information. We then turn this into an emotion through the filters of our experience and education. When the emotion is negative such as fear, anxiety, worry, anger or even hate, the muscles begin to tense and lock that emotion in. This emotion then becomes physical in the body. By working on the tension in the muscles we can begin to remove the emotions, fears and anxieties that caused the tensions in the first place. This leaves you feeling cleaner, lighter, and with a sense of freedom.

The Systema massage also works on the joints, ligments, tendons and organs of the body. They all carry stress and tension. Every part of your system begins to release, soften and relax deeply throughout the massage.

This wholistic approach begins to calm and balance your whole system, in a way that will leave you feeling lighter, more relaxed and better able to cope, in a proactive way, to the stresses and strains of life.

You will get an innate understanding where tension is in your body and that of others. You will learn how to ‘let go’ of that tension so that you begin to be able to self heal.

You will leave more relaxed than you can possibly ever remember. More importantly, what you learn in this workshop will benefit you for the rest of your life.

Details

Date: Sunday August 24th
Location: Unit S3, Avonside Enterprise Park, New Broughton Road, Melksham, Wiltshire
Time: 10-2
Need to bring: Loose, light clothing, Water bottle, hand towel, roll mat (optional), light snack (optional)
Investment in a lifetime of health and well-being: Just £40.

Numbers will be strictly limited to 40. Secure your space below to avoid disappointment.

Testimonials:

Having studied and practiced a number of Eastern and Western massage systems over the last 20 years, I believe the Systema Massage has great importance and its full value and scope is still to be understood. In my own experience, it is unique in its effective treatment of deep rooted muscular tension caused by years of poor posture, muscular tension and any disharmony within ourselves. It works on physical, mental and emotional levels leaving you feeling washed clean of inner tension, anxiety and muscular tension. I also recognise the bodywork skills in Matt Hill and his ability to read and connect during a treatment, to ensure that whilst he takes your body to the edge, you feel safe and in control at all times.’. – Gareth Leake.

I went to Matt with a shoulder injury that I have had for years and within 10 minutes Matt had cleared the knotting to an extent that I can stay on top of it myself. It was amazing. – Will Jones.

Is it entirely pleasurable at the time? No. Does it work? Definitely. If you want an effective massage that will clear tension related pain and leave you feeling light and relaxed this is the one. – Martin Earley.

I have travelled all over Asia and had hundreds of massages, from some of the oldest and most respected massage traditions in the world. Matt’s Systema massage is in the top three. It clears things that others don’t get near to. – Peter Dolan.