Investigation into new training methodology
Over the past several weeks I have been researching and have begun a little training in Systema, a very comprehensive martial art employed by elite units of the Spetsnaz (Russian special forces).
www.russianmartialart.com
This art strikes me as quite remarkable particularly in the way in which it is based upon "internal" or "soft" principles which I have come to expect only in Asian systems. A martial artist no less reputable than James Williams( www.dojoofthefourwinds.com) has deemed to characterize it as "Russian Aiki" and from what I have seen (and admittedly the little that I know of aiki) this seems to bear out at least as a generalization.
A young guy who has done some training with one of the primary teachers, Vladimir Vasiliev, is living in town here and, as his training partner has moved to Toronto, I am now working with him. I mentioned methodology in the header and one of the things that intrigues me about Systema is that many practitioners seem to learn through a seminar format by working with Vladimir or Mikhail Ryabko (Vladimir's teacher) when they have the opportunity to attend a seminar or visit Toronto or Russia and then work out with fellow students in the meantime. Myself, I am used to having a teacher with whom I train under on a regular (or not so regular!) basis and in some cases occasionally a more senior teacher will come to give a seminar. This is the first time I have worked in what is more or less an informal study group basis (just the two of us right now). Indeed my training partner has no formal authority to teach but he is skilled enough and good enough of an explainer that we can try and work together for co-development. Alot of similar but larger groups in the U.S and elsewhere have been forming along these lines in past years to study Daito Ryu, Niten Ichi Ryu and I think also Suio Ryu.
Although there is no replacement for an excellent teacher I nonetheless look forward to exploring this way of learning.
www.russianmartialart.com
This art strikes me as quite remarkable particularly in the way in which it is based upon "internal" or "soft" principles which I have come to expect only in Asian systems. A martial artist no less reputable than James Williams( www.dojoofthefourwinds.com) has deemed to characterize it as "Russian Aiki" and from what I have seen (and admittedly the little that I know of aiki) this seems to bear out at least as a generalization.
A young guy who has done some training with one of the primary teachers, Vladimir Vasiliev, is living in town here and, as his training partner has moved to Toronto, I am now working with him. I mentioned methodology in the header and one of the things that intrigues me about Systema is that many practitioners seem to learn through a seminar format by working with Vladimir or Mikhail Ryabko (Vladimir's teacher) when they have the opportunity to attend a seminar or visit Toronto or Russia and then work out with fellow students in the meantime. Myself, I am used to having a teacher with whom I train under on a regular (or not so regular!) basis and in some cases occasionally a more senior teacher will come to give a seminar. This is the first time I have worked in what is more or less an informal study group basis (just the two of us right now). Indeed my training partner has no formal authority to teach but he is skilled enough and good enough of an explainer that we can try and work together for co-development. Alot of similar but larger groups in the U.S and elsewhere have been forming along these lines in past years to study Daito Ryu, Niten Ichi Ryu and I think also Suio Ryu.
Although there is no replacement for an excellent teacher I nonetheless look forward to exploring this way of learning.
posted by Billy Jack at 12:58 PM
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