Globalkick Systema Training

 

Interview:

(This interview has been edited for website convenience. The original appeared in the July 2007 issue of UK martial arts publication- Combat.)

 

Things to do When you're in Danger…

- An interview with Aran Dharmeratnam

 

When it comes to practical self defence, Aran’s expertise runs into some ground breaking areas. It’s hard to sum up in just a sentence, the convergence of skills this instructor represents. But I am sure his students would agree with me; if I say that one of Aran’s specialities is showing people how to get out of dangerous situations. Readers who follow his column in Combat will know that he is committed to making people more aware of the training methods and the teachers that have helped him over the years. And in this brand new interview, he talks openly about escape tactics, fear control and one of his latest projects.

 

 

Combat: Aran, you’ve been involved in self defence for some time now. When did you first start training?

Aran:  It was during childhood. I had an uncle who lived in Malaysia. He worked in this Malaysian police unit and he had received training in various systems; so whenever I was in Malaysia, visiting family, he’d teach me Ju Jitsu tactics. But because some aspects of his job were quite dangerous; he had also developed these remarkable observational skills. And this awareness enabled him to detect trouble very quickly. So he was one of the first people to help me to understand was how these skills can be applied in everyday life.

 

Combat: You’re an instructor of Systema, the Russian martial art but before this was it Ju Jitsu that you were teaching?

Aran: Actually, Ju Jitsu was the first art I started teaching, but as my training moved into other areas, it got to the point where I had to merge together all the knowledge I had picked up from different combative systems and this art became known as Chakram. Then a few years later, I met Vladimir Vasiliev for the first time, and he helped me to connect with something deeper; something beyond technique or acquired knowledge.

 

Combat: It seems to me that Russian masters like Vladimir, are keen for their students to realise the pitfalls of aggression. Why does Systema in particular, have this focus on non aggression?

Aran:  Aggression is like a bad nemesis for all people; think about all the destructive acts that have come from aggressive emotions. It can spread very quickly and it can be amplified. That’s why it is so dangerous. So when these Russian instructors started talking about ways to avoid it, this was another thing that really impressed me with their approach.

 

Combat:  Today knife crime seems to be an increasing problem in Britain. So Aran, do you find that now, more people want to learn how to survive this type of situation?

Aran:  Yes very much so. It is something that we cover in training from different perspectives because really… many unusual things can happen during a knife encounter. And people often get told that the best thing to do is to try and run away. And yeah, it is best if we can avoid a confrontation with someone wielding a blade…The trouble is; even when people realise the importance of running away; they don’t always do this. The aggressor’s hostility can create some kind of ‘lock on’ effect. It is as if some kind of negative connection gets developed between the aggressor and the other person.

 

Combat: Why do you think it happens?

Aran: Well, there’s this heavy void that exists between fight or flight and people can get stuck in this; when they are not sure of which way to go. And when the body is in survival mode there are all these surging psychological and physiological changes it has to adapt to. But there’s also a way to harness our inclination towards flight. There is a state of being; maybe you could call it a wavelength, where we can literally connect with the flight stream and use this inclination for flight to escape or to actually counter our opponent; if that’s what is required. And sometimes the principles of escape and counter become merged together.

 

Combat:  It is interesting that your refer to this moment where the person gets swayed between fight or flight as a heavy void. I’m sure a lot of people can relate to this sudden feeling of hesitation that sometimes gets experienced. So what can a person do to become more functional and get away from this effect?

Aran:  Well, everyone is different, so each person has to understand their own psyche and the things that help them counter fear; but for me, when it comes to acting in the moment or breaking away from trouble, one of the most powerful things, is effective breathing and this is something I gained from training with the Russians. In Systema, breathing is used for establishing control of the psyche. So if we do find ourselves faced with danger, we can use our breathing to get back to a more functional mode. It can also prevent us from even entering into that ‘lock on phase’ and in this way, we don’t get drawn into the attacker’s world. Maybe we can even avoid an aggressor before they have a chance to pull out a knife.

 

Combat: So when you‘re training people to survive knife situations, do you cover escape tactics?

Aran: Yes. People need to know about the things that can weaken their escape or prevent them from even using this option. So that’s one of the first things we look at.  Then there is that moment when the person actually breaks away from the threat. And even within the few seconds that this occurs, there are some things that can be done to buy some time or establish some distance. The direction we take could also be important; because not everyone finds it natural to just turn and run; some people find themselves hesitant because they are scared to take their eyes off the aggressor or expose their back. So we look at ways of angling away from the opponent. And sometimes there may even be a blind spot that we can make use of. Then, there are times, when escape can be applied in a way that’s less likely to put the opponent into chase mode.

Combat: This is really interesting. Do you think you could do a feature on this subject in your new column?

Aran:  Yes, I think it will be good to cover this subject in more detail. But one thing to remember about escape tactics is that there could be moments when the concept of running away is a bit more limited. It is not always possible to outrun certain opponents and other factors make it harder to escape.

In fact, a few weeks ago I carried out a workshop on disengagement, and we trained in quite an open area. The participants were given the chance to see how effective their escape tactics could be; when someone was running after them. And if their training partners caught up with them, they had to apply other options and overcome the fatigue from their initial sprint. Well the first time they did this; their defensive tactics were a bit tense, once they were caught. Fatigue had set in and they were losing concentration. So, we returned to the importance of breathing and the drill was repeated a few more times. And it was good because when everyone started to breathe more effectively, they found it easier to run away. And if they did get caught, they were still able to continue protecting themselves; without turning things into a draining struggle.

 

Combat: Can you tell us about some of the other principles of disengagement?

Aran: Well let’s also consider the option of cooperation. I know some martial artists might view this as a defeatist option; but there are times, when it is better to cooperate with the mugger’s demand for valuables; especially when faced with poor odds or armed opponents. Now at the moment, there are a number of young people being targeted by knife culture. So some concerned parents are sending their teenaged children to learn some martial arts; but these teenagers also need to know how to handle situations on a psychological level. They need to be made more aware of the behavioural responses and dialogue that can further provoke the armed aggressor. At the teenage stage of life, people can be quite quick to make heated remarks or argue with those around them. And the trouble is this can cause the aggressor to use violence. So young people need to know how to cooperate or respond in a non threatening way.

 

Combat: Why do you think some teenagers get targeted by gangs?

Aran: On the basic level, it may be something they have on them, such as a phone or music device that makes them an inviting target. But there are other reasons. May be the gang sees certain teenagers as a soft target, based on what they are wearing and how they behave. Or if the teenager appears aloof or unaware of their surroundings this also shows the gang that this person could be an easy target… Another thing that gets teenagers noticed is eye contact. So while its good to be aware, teenagers should avoid eye contact with potential aggressors, as they walk down the street because this eye contact can be seen as a challenge; it creates that ‘lock on’ we talked about earlier.

 

Combat: From what I have heard, you’ve had to overcome your own fair share edged weapon situations over the years. What parts of your training helped you to survive these encounters?

Aran: There have been a few close moments…Each one really involved a slightly different approach: dialogue helped in one situation; movement in another. An ability to understand the opponent’s psychology also came in handy at times. Really, a combination of different principles helped me; and maybe something else…. But in most of these situations, before the attackers even tried anything; the first opponent would be fear…Fear can enter the scene much earlier than people realise because often what happens is that we detect threats on different levels, before the conscious mind fully comprehends what’s going on…

Fortunately there are many things that can help us overcome fear.  And there is something else I can openly say has helped me and its prayer. In Russia, one of the things Mikhail Rybako helped me to realise was that prayer can be accessed even when we are faced with a stressful situation. He helped me to understand how it can be integrated into life; even when we are moving through an unpredictable environment.

 

Combat: Your knowledge translates into some fascinating areas, from aviation security to travel safety; and I know you have featured in various security publications. So along with your training role what projects are you working on at the moment?

Aran: Recently, I finished working on a manual on personal safety and it is designed for people who want to know more about how to avoid aggression. Not everyone who wants to learn about self defence is interested in martial arts; so the manual focuses on core principles that should be accessible to most people.  There will be a lot of info on awareness and disengagement. There are a lot of people out there who are genuinely concerned about crime and they want to have a better understanding of some of the modern day threats. So I guess this is what really inspired this project.

 

Combat:  It sounds as if this manual is going to be very useful and before we finish, can you tell us about your new column: The Negotiator.

Aran: Sure! In this new column, we’ll explore some of the principles that have helped people to disengage or survive various forms of conflict. It is going to be a very unique column and it will give Combat readers some sharp insights about self protection. And I know that a lot of readers have enjoyed the Russian Chronicles, so the new column will contain plenty of new material relating to the Russian survival arts.

 

Combat: Aran we would like to thank you for taking the time to do this interview; once again you have given us some really practical things to think about.

Aran: My pleasure and I’m grateful to Combat for making an effort to actually cover this important subject of self protection in even more detail. Thank you.

 

 

 

About the author: Aran provides one-to-one Systema training in Central London and group training in Stamford, Lincs. His clients include professionals, executives and martial artists, as well as those working within the media and security industries. To book a training session contact: Email: aran@globalkick.com Tel: 07939 678 356