This episode sees the return of Ryo Onishi (Systema Japan) to the podcast, with an engaging discussion of developing real power in Systema. As usual, Ryo brings practicality and a healthy perspective to a topic that can easily drift into the esoteric and impractical. Here, we get into: Common points of confusion Aspects of power development: lightness, ease, asymmetric responses How to know if you're on the 'right' track Use of power in combat and life If you enjoyed this topic... See Ryo's rela...
Sep 02, 2022•56 min
This episode, a fascinating discussion with Systema veteran and Head Instructor of Systema NYC, Edgars Cakuls. In this second appearance on the show, Edgars reflects on ideas and concepts shared during his recent 2-day, outdoor seminar in Durham, North Carolina, entitled Working From the Spine. Along the way, we cover: The critical importance of spinal integrity Stability vs fluidity Training body awareness versus conceptual-intellectual learning Redirection of force and power Train with Edgars ...
Jun 03, 2022•41 min
Hullo, Friends. After an 8-week sabbatical, Systema For Life returns this month with a broad discussion on the subject of focus, attention, and the attempt to "optimize" your daily training and life routines. I'm joined once again by coach and wellness expert, Howard Jacobson. Here, we get into: Losing and reclaiming routines during the pandemic The upside and downside of tireless life-optimization The focus economy and "productivity porn" Psychological parallels between resolving conflict and r...
Apr 29, 2022
This week, another fascinating conversation with prolific movement scientist, neuroscientist, and martial artist Jan Bloem. As we learned during our first conversation last year (see episode 124), Jan has studied the art and science of movement and combat at the very highest levels – on the theoretical side as an expert in kinesiology and psychomotor therapy, and on the front lines as a world champion karateka; a defensive tactics instructor to military and law enforcement; and as one of the ear...
Feb 25, 2022•1 hr 10 min
This week, a deep dive into the world of Original Strength - a system of natural movement and neurological "resetting" created by company founder, personal trainer, and physical educator Tim Anderson. Tim's simple (but effective) OS system is a wonderful complement to Systema practice - especially for beginning trainees - and for anyone recovering from injury, impairment, or the ravages of modern life on the body. After many years of hearing about Systema, Tim took the jump and began training pr...
Dec 17, 2021•54 min
This week, a dive into the world of martial arts, medicine and holistic health - with impassioned Systema student and Doctor of Chinese Medicine Gabriel Stern. On the medical side, Gabe was a trained EMT and ER nurse before becoming a student and clinician versed in Chinese healing modalities. On the martial arts side, he studied Eskrima and Pekiti Tirsia Kali for several years before venturing into Systema with Edgar Cakuls in NYC, and with us here at NC SYSTEMA. Always candid and radically hon...
Oct 01, 2021•1 hr 20 min
This week, a rare hour with bestselling author, speaker, and leadership specialist Greg McKeown. Greg is the author of the best-selling Essentialism: the Disciplined Pursuit of Less (2014), and the new New York Times bestseller, Effortless (2021). If you haven't read them, the relevance of Greg's central principles to Systema training are well worth exploring.Here, we discuss: the futility of trying to "do it all" minimum viable actions vs minimum effective doses of effort releasing, noticing, a...
Sep 17, 2021•54 min
This week, an enlightening conversation with veteran Systema, Filipino Martial Arts Instructor Al McLuckie. Al has over five decades of experience in arts ranging from Western Boxing and Kempo Karate, to Eskrima, Kali, Silat, and (of course) Systema. A former instructor for the famous Degerberg Academy of Martial Arts in Chicago, Al's unique and unparalleled knife skills, in particular, have seen him teaching famous martial artists such as Lee Wedlake, Scott Glenn, and Martin Wheeler, along with...
Sep 03, 2021•59 min
This week, a brief chat with Senior Systema Instructor Martin Wheeler, following his recent Redwoods Systema Camp in California, and foreshadowing his 4-day Masterclass events in Los Angeles and Raleigh/Durham, NC. Here, we chat about:- insights from teaching and training worldwide- the benefits of multi-day immersion training- the surprising effects of training outdoors- discomfort as a necessary path to awarenessBoth of Martin's Masterclass events - East Coast and West - are still open for reg...
Aug 20, 2021•33 min
This week, another engaging conversation with author, podcaster, and expert health and wellness coach, Howard Jacobson. Here, we get into the tricky question of how to discern truth from falsehood, reality from creative (and compelling) stories. Using concrete examples in the fields of nutrition, exercise, and martial arts practice. Touching upon: How we decide what is true (or true enough) The necessity and paradox of trust Resolving conflicting ideas What science, medicine, and Systema trainin...
Aug 06, 2021•1 hr 16 min
After a short break (and an extended, three-week road trip across the USA), we return this week with Menamy Mitanes - Systema and BJJ Instructor at The Academy Beverly Hills and Systema Los Angeles. In this, Menamy's second appearance on the podcast, we delve beyond his personal story and get into the core training philosophies of the martial arts - about which Menamy is more than qualified to speak. With a pedigree that includes JKD and FMA (under Dan Inosanto), BJJ (under Rigan Machado), and S...
Jul 23, 2021•1 hr 14 min
This week, an engaging romp into the worlds of Systema, alternative medicine, and meta-cognition, with deep thinker, podcaster, martial artist, and Chinese medical practitioner Taran Rosenthal. Taran has an incredible breadth of knowledge - which is apparent to anyone who talks with him about anything - yet his experience of Systema profoundly influenced his experience of daily life and parenthood. Here, we riff on all that and more. Including: - Discovering Systema as a means of self-regulation...
Jun 25, 2021•1 hr 14 min
This week, a mind-expanding walkabout through the realms of body, mind, and spirit, with Indigenous Australian author, scholar, arts critic, and martial artist Tyson Yunkaporta. Tyson is a Senior Lecturer in Indigenous Knowledge at Deakin University, and author of the extraordinary book Sand Talk: How Indigenous Knowledge Can Save the World . Originally aired on Tyson's own podcast, The Other Others, this episode delves into the confluence of Systema and Indigenous thinking, including: Physical ...
Jun 11, 2021•1 hr 11 min
This week, a conversation with health and wellness guru, Systema For Life regular, and possessor of relentlessly regular bowel movements. Here, we ponder the subject of self-talk, which one way or the other has become louder and more frequent over the last, lonely year. We're often told by therapists, leadership gurus, and cocky celebrities that self-talk is all-important - the difference between success and failure. But how important is self-talk, really? What role does it play in our health, o...
May 28, 2021•1 hr 2 min
This week, a light-hearted romp into the world of martial arts, mind, and creativity, with Systema Instructor and fiction author Patrick E. McLean. Patrick is an accomplished martial artist with a pedigree that includes Judo, Jujitsu, Eskrima, AikiJujitsu, and Systema. He is also the author of more than 10 dramatic-comedic fiction books, including the award-winning How To Succeed in Evil, and the host of the How It's Written podcast. Here, we talk about aspects of creativity in life, work, and t...
May 14, 2021•1 hr 12 min
This week, a deep-dive into the myths, half-truths, and hard truths surrounding training for defence against edged weapons, with none other than Martin Wheeler - Senior Systema Instructor and Co-Founder of The Academy Beverly Hills. Here, we seek to include a wide range of perspectives on knife defence, in order to dispel confusion, inform your practice, and make sense of the frequent (and predictable) objections that inevitably arise whenever anyone puts out a knife-defence video clip. The hope...
Apr 30, 2021•1 hr 12 min
This week, a ponderous diversion into the world of behavioural economics, with Economics Professor and Systema practitioner Rik Chakraborti. At first glance, you might not think that economics and martial arts have much in common. But in truth, both involve the resolution of internal conflicts, warring instincts and incentives, and a keen understanding of human behaviour. Here, we get into: Rik's attraction to Systema as an operating system Varying motivations for training martial arts How our c...
Apr 16, 2021•1 hr 8 min
This episode sees the return of author, health and wellness coach, and host of the Plant Yourself podcast Howard Jacobson. Prompted by nothing and nobody in particular, we tackle the tricky subject of how not to be an a**hole - especially when you are trying to coach or change somebody for the better. Along the way, we touch upon: When and why good intentions go bad Clarifying your motivations Recognizing where the power lies (hint: it's not with you) The three golden rules of a**hole avoidance ...
Mar 19, 2021•54 min
This week, an interesting departure into the field of nutrition and metabolism, with Stanford-educated physician, metabolic health expert, and Co-founder / Chief Medical Officer of Levels Health, Dr Casey Means. We know that diet, nutrition, and metabolism are critically important to overall health, regardless of other behaviours and considerations in life. As it has been said - you can't out-exercise a bad diet. You can't out-relax or out-meditate it, either. But given that there is such a glut...
Mar 05, 2021•57 min
This week sees the joyous return of veteran instructor, founder of Austin Systema & Tai Chi, and thoroughly decent human being, Gene Smithson. Always an elightening guest, here Gene shares his insights on: how he has grown and developed because of the pandemic why the goal of good movement is joy the difference between training, manifesting, and being advice for staying happy and whole in tough times Train with Gene at https:// www.austinsystema.com , and buy his execellent books and e-books...
Feb 19, 2021•1 hr
This week, a fascinating conversation with neuroscientist, self defense expert, and prolific martial artist Jan Bloem. Jan has studied the art and science of movement and combat at the highest levels, in the fields of kinesiology and psychomotor therapy, as a world champion karateka, and as a teacher and student of Systema. Here, we discuss: his path into martial arts via traditional Okinawan karate the problem of linear training vs non-linear combat the role of meaning, belief, and culture in m...
Feb 05, 2021•1 hr 39 min
This week, an uplifting and inspiring chat with UK-based Systema Instructor Matt Hill. Matt is a former British Army Paratrooper Captain, and founder of the Matt Hill Systema Academy, based in Wiltshire (western England). An accomplished leader, teacher, and crisis management expert, Matt has a calming demeanour, an adventurous spirit, and a tireless dedication to training and living Systema. Here, we talk about: How he pivoted to meet new training needs during the pandemic His incredible 2019 e...
Jan 22, 2021•1 hr 8 min
Well here we are - we made it to the end of 2020 - some of us limping to the finish, but across the line, nonetheless. Among all the challenges and problems we faced this year, I was grateful for the enjoyable and thought-provoking conversations that the Systema For Life podcast provided, and grateful for the opportunity to slow down, think more deeply, and reach out to guests I otherwise may never have considered. This year, we had a wider range of guests and topics on the show, ranging from th...
Jan 01, 2021•1 hr 20 min
Merry Christmas , to all who celebrate it!This week, an energetic conversation with Rafe Kelley - martial artist, movement expert, natural parkour pioneer, and founder of Evolve.Move.Play . Rafe is legendary in natural movement circles, and seemed a great person to banter with about aspects of movement development, exercise, and play. Here, we touch upon: Rafe's path from anthropology to gymnastics and parkour The connection between movement, meaning, and well-being The limits of machine metapho...
Dec 25, 2020•1 hr 34 min
This week, a profound exploration of abstract strategy - and specfically Colonel John Boyd's OODA loop concept - with former Commando and professional technology strategist Ben Ford. If you are interested in any aspect of good decision-making under pressure, this is one you won't want to miss.Boyd's OODA (Observe, Orient, Decide, Act) loop, is a powerful concept that describes how individuals and groups (and even entire armies or organizations) make and optimize decisions. Boyd, a US military fi...
Dec 11, 2020•1 hr 23 min
This week, an enlightening chinwag with author, coach, body language expert, and former Royal Marines Commando Terry Vaughn.Terry has a wealth of experience in personal protection, and is passionate about of the value of situational awareness for all. His D.I.R.T. (Dangerous Individual Recognition Training) program puts a laser focus on how to develop it. Here, we discuss:how the motivation to learn and practice comes from adverse experiencesthe necessity of relaxation in scanning for threatsund...
Nov 27, 2020•46 min
This week, we embark on a wild, meandering convergence of modern and ancient thought, with author, academic, and custodian of indigenous wisdom Tyson Yunkaporta. A member of the Apalech Clan and a senior lecturer in Indigenous Knowledge at Deakin University, Melbourne, Tyson bridges the modern and ancient worlds in his work, and brings a radical perspective to things most of us take for granted. His book Sand Talk: How Indigenous Thinking Can Save the World is unlike anything I have ever read - ...
Nov 13, 2020•1 hr 33 min
This week, an engaging and enjoyable chat with Systema practitioner, wellness coach, and podcaster Howard Jacobson. Here, we get into a range of topics relating to coping with the ongoing constraints of the Covid-19 pandemic, as we face the sixth month of life in its shadow. Themes include: The dangers of avoiding discomfort Mitgating stress and anger through exercise (and how that can easily backfire) Finding acceptance and context in your daily interactions The primacy of relationship in conve...
Oct 30, 2020•57 min
This week we talk with James Somerville - Toronto-based Systema student, academic, and author of Meditations on a Russian Martial Art . James has a PhD in History from Queens University, and wrote his thesis on the dictum Know Thyself , as popularized during the Italian Renaissance era. As such, the book presents an interesting - if somehwat critical - take on the origins, practice, and historical context of Systema. Here, we discuss several core themes from the book, including: What motivated h...
Oct 16, 2020•1 hr 3 min
This week, a light-hearted conversation with Arizona-based Systema Instructor and world-class cybersecurity expert Jeff Shearer. A warm, generous, and fiercely intellgent guy, Jeff trained with us for many years at NC SYSTEMA, before moving out west and starting his own Systema group near Phoenix, AZ. Here, we discuss: What drew him to Systema practice and teaching Systema and cybersecurity - similarities and differences Achieving a dynamic balance in work, relationships, and understanding the s...
Oct 02, 2020•1 hr 3 min
