Michael Chin is not only a research fellow, but he is also a Systema instructor hailing from Worcester, Massachusetts. Here is a slideshow of lessons from the Systema guru, Vladimir Vasiliev, on movement in the Russian Martial Art of Systema.

1. Vladimir Vasiliev on Movement
in Systema

2. As a martial art developed by the
Russian military, Systema focuses on
relaxation and breathing techniques
in addition to hand-to-hand and
weapon combat.

3. On the Russian Martial Art website,
Vladimir Vasiliev describes the
secret of systema and its unique
method of combat.

4. His first piece of advice is to
always be on the move.

5. It is a lot more difficult to attack a
person moving around than a
person standing still.

6. Constantly moving around adds
another level of complexity that an
attacker has to deal with.

7. This is also the case for multiple
attackers.

8. When an opponent is relaxed and
spontaneous, the attacker not only
has to think about how to attack but
also where to attack.

9. Vladimir describes this kind of
fighting as “chess-like,” in that every
move is calculated to confuse the
opponent or use a group of
attackers against themselves.

10. The difference between the relaxed
movements that Vladimir is
speaking about and the more typical
jerky, tension-filled movements is a
major aspect of the art of systema.

11. When an opponent fights with jerky
motions that are basically just
position changes with small stops, it
becomes a lot easier to guess their
next move.

12. In systema, fighters are trained to
fight in completely relaxed and
smooth, both in body and mind.

13. This is done through exercises in
consistent combative breathing
techniques and internal control.

14. Systema focuses a lot on the
mind as well as the body.

15. Vladimir says that when someone is
fighting with tension, they are really
taking power away from themselves.

16. Fighting with tension is an illusion
of power when really they are
fighting with fear.

17. Tension and fear are negative
emotions that take away from the
true reality of power.

18. Power, flexibility, speed, and
accuracy are qualities that humans
contain a large reserve of but need
the proper training to successfully
unleash these qualities.