Systema For Life

Systema For Life

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Systema For Life episodes

  • Episode 104: Creative Training During COVID, with Emmanuel Manolakakis

    This week, in the midst of the global COVID-19 shutdown, we talk with Senior Systema Instructor, Founder of FightClub Toronto, and all-round great bloke Emmanuel Manolakakis.  An uplifting conversation that vacillates between honest, tough-love advice and finding diamonds of positivity in the undeniable rough.

    Along the way, we discuss:

    • differing emotional responses to the reality of the pandemic
    • why the emphasis of your training must (and should) change right now
    • the benefits of enforced creativity and motivation
    • concrete advice for students and Instructors during the weeks and months ahead
    • online and physical resources for solo training


      • Mentioned in this episode:

      Weekly workshops with Vladimir Vasiliev at Systema HQ


      Daily classes and specialized mental training with Emmanuel at Fightclub


      Stay safe, strong and healthy, my friends.

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    • Episode 103: On Stress, Grief & COVID-19

      This week, a deep and heartfelt discussion with healthy lifestyle guru Howard Jacobson (of WellStartHealth and Plantyourself.com), who  finds himself on lockdown in South Africa during the COVID-19 crisis. Having traveled there with his family before the crisis started, he is currently unable to return home, and continues to help people online from their rented dwelling near Ladysmith, in the Zulu district of KwaZulu-Natal.

      Here, we talk about:

      • the physical and psychological shape of the COVID crisis
      • how our shared sense of loss compares to collective grief
      • practical strategies for remaining calm, centered, and healthy every day
      • finding meaning and purpose in the midst of loss and uncertainty

        • With gratitude to Howie and his family. 

         

        Referenced in this episode:

        Finding Meaning: the Sixth Stage of Grief by David Kessler

        StressProof : Online Courses

        NC SYSTEMA Online

        WellStart Health Coaching

         

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      • SFL Episode 102: Vladimir Vasiliev - Black Belt Interview (unabridged)

        This week, a very special episode of Systema For Life, in which we talk to renowed Systema Master and Founder of Systema HQ , Toronto, Vladimir Vasiliev.

        This interview was conducted on behalf of the leading international martial arts magazine, Black Belt. An edited version appears in print, in the April/May edition of the magazine (get yours now!). This episode represents the entire, unedited interview.

        Vladimir needs no introduction - known throughout the Systema world, and a living legend of the global martial arts community.
        No surprise, then, that this is his third cover article in Black Belt to date.

        The topic was training for combat versus competition. In this, we covered a lot of ground. Including:

        • Vladimir's background in boxing, karate, and Russian military combatives
        • tension, telegraphy, and visibility in combat
        • the benefits and pitfalls of sporting competition: confidence vs ego
        • real-life accounts of Systema in action
          • Order your copy of Black Belt magazine at https://blackbeltmag.com

          Sign up for the Fit To Fight multi-day immersion camp with Vladimir Vasiliev at https://russianmartialart.com/camp.php

          Visit Systema HQ Toronto, or purchase downlaodable instructional films at https://russianmartialart.com

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        • Episode 101: Michael Chin

          This week, a deep discussion with Systema Instructor and Harvard-educated physician Michael Chin.

          Raised by Zen-trained parents and trained from a young age in mindfulness meditation, Michael later turned to Chinese martial arts to expand his awareness of breathing and movement. In the high-stress environment at Harvard Medical School, he began looking at alternatives and discovered Systema.

          Now, he is fascinated by the power of Systema to control physiological responses, and is actively researching and publishing scientific papers on Systema principles.

          Here, we discuss all this and more, including:

          Including:

          • his journey from martial practice to medical research
          • understanding mind-body disciplines through science
          • the role of rythmic breathing in regulating your nervous system
          • breathing, tension, and flow state

            • Referenced in this episode:

            Michael's research on breathing, tension, and flow state:
            Pilot Study - https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/31347763
            Flow & Performance - https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC6702786/

            TriStar Systema group in Nashville, TN:
            https://www.facebook.com/tristarsystema/

            Dolph Lundgren TEDx talk on healing:
            https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=iNOE0dZpHcY

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          • Episode 100: Best of the Podcast, 2019-2020

            100 Episodes! We made it!

            For this special, celebratory episode, we’ve assembled a selection of  favorite questions and moments from the last year.
            Inclding:

            • Vladimir & Valerie Vasiliev, talking about the changing face of Systema and the necessity of giving people what they need, even when it’s not what they want. 

Then there’s DC Systema’s Jonathan Han, talking about the role of creativity in training, and Systema as a true art form.
            • We have Menamy “The Tsunami” Mitanes of Systema Los Angeles, talking about the value and pitfalls of cross-training Systema with other martial arts.
            • Lance Rewerts and Martin Wheeler, sharing their thoughts on last years seminal Against Tension seminar at Systema HQ Toronto, and on the concept of power as a natural state.
            • Then frequent contributor Emmanuel Manolakakis, also sharing his takeaways from the Against Tension seminar, and cultivating speed and relaxation on demand.
            • And finally back to Vladimir and Valerie, with some closing thoughts on the benefits of Systema outside of self-defense - including stronger families, stress-resilience, self-insight, and spiritual development.


              • Enjoy.

              Thanks so much to all our Systema For Life supporters on PayPal and Patreon. If you’d like to join the ranks, and help ensure another great year of conversations, please visit ncsystema.com/support, and pledge a few bucks a month to the cause

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            • Episode 99: Mark Fan

              This week, a fascinating dive into training, self-discovery, and the somatic psychology of movement with Toronto-based Systema instructor, Clinical Engineer, and Human Factors Specialist, Mark Fan.

              A deep and wide-reaching discussion, touching upon:

              • exploratory vs structured training
              • the trainable superpower of noticing yourself
              • the effects of co-regulation and de-regualtion in partner work
              • how Somatic Experiencing, the Feldenkrais method, and other somatic methodologies relate to Systema training
                • Train with Mark at Systema Fight Club, Toronto (www.fight-club.ca), and leanr about his research at https://markfan.ca/about

                Many thanks to our podcast patrons and supporters, who made this episode (and future episodes) possible. Help us keep it rolling at www.ncsystema.com/support
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              • Episode 98: Dan Sykes

                This week, an exciting and wide-ranging conversation with Dan Sykes - musician, film-maker, Systema Instructor, founder of the Somatic Training Network, and host of the Systema-based YouTube series Emergency Fish Party! Dan's journey to Systema was unusual to say the least, and his boundless enthusaism for its possibilities is evident to anyone who talks to him.

                Here, we discuss:

                • his intense introduction to Systema and Systema bodywork in Russia
                • exploring the similarities between Systema, Feldenkrais, and other somatic training methods
                • working with the injured and infirm - from treatment to training
                • the story and motivation behind the Emergency Fish Party series
                • Systema as part of a greater approach to health
                  • Check out Emergency Fish Party on YouTube
                  Find out more about the Somatic Training Network at somatictrainingnetwork.com


                   

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                • Episode 97: On Time

                  This episode, we welcome health & wellness guru Howard Jacobson - co-author of Whole, host of the Plant Yourself Podcast, and ongoing Systema aficionado. In a timely fashion, we enter the new year by reflecting on the concept of Time, and how it influences our life, health, and happiness.

                  • perspectives on time thorughout history
                  • the shift from natural, event-based time to agricultural, industrial, and Internet time
                  • the consequences of getting stuck in the past, or the future
                  • using Systema practice to shift and sustain an appropriate time perspective
                    • Mentioned in this episode:

                    The Time Paradox, by Philip Zimbardo and John Boyd



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                  • Episode 96: Emmanuel Manolakakis on Teaching & Leadership

                    This week, another in-depth discussion with Senior Systema Instructor, founder of Fight Club Toronto, and SFL podcast regular Emmanuel Manolakakis. For those who haven't yet had the pleasure of his company, Manny is superb instructor and coach. He always has deep insights on hand, and expresses them with a fine sense of clarity and humour.

                    Here, we discuss:

                    • the essential elements of teaching
                    • instruction vs leadership
                    • establishing (and relinquishing) control
                    • rediscovering your personal agency and sovereignty


                      • Emmanuel Manolakakis will be coming to Durham, North Carolina the weekend of January 24-26th 2020, the second of three seminars entitled Systema Explorations. Open to instructors and practitioners fo all levels, but capacity strictly limited. Register online now at www.ncsystema.com/events

                      Train with Emmanuel - and subscribe to his FightPod podcast - at http://www.fight-club.ca/

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                    About Systema For Life

                    From the publisher's feed

                    Join scientist, author, and Systema Instructor Glenn Murphy for weekly musings on all things Systema. Featuring interviews with top instructors from around the world, seminar reviews, topical discussions, and much, much more. Whether you're just dipping a skeptical toe into Systema, or you're an experienced practitioner with a few million pushups under your belt, there's something here for everyone.