This feature appeared in Combat magazine's column The Negotiator in July 2010. It has been edited for website convenience.

 

State of awareness

Another perspective on Systema Training

 

By Aran Dharmeratnam

 

When people look for a martial art to train in, they are usually keen to discover how a particular art or discipline can help them. Often people look for an art that can help them in a number of different ways. Some train in order to learn how to protect themselves. Others want to gain confidence or improve fitness levels. Then there are those who train as a way to gain a deeper understanding of mind and body. Now in the years I have spent training people in the Russian martial art, Systema I am pleased to have seen practitioners achieve a variety of goals and objectives. Through diligence and dedication, these individuals have overcome many obstacles, defeated various fears and conquered weakness. More importantly they have discovered something about themselves in the process. As one goes to deeper into this Russian martial art, they should start to see that it is an art that really enables practitioners to embark on a journey of self discovery. The variety of drills and challenging exercises found in Systema allow the practitioner to realise those tensions and weakness that can have a negative affect on tactical performance, as well as everyday life. The training can also provide ways of addressing or even removing certain weaknesses. In many ways, Systema is an art that connects people with a powerful state of awareness. This state of awareness is about awareness of the external world and the world within.

 

Awareness- a familiar friend

We have looked at awareness in previous features within The Negotiator. But often we have explored the type of awareness related specifically to self defence and the avoidance of aggression. At this moment in time, please try to consider awareness as a more multi functional tool that can help us in so many areas of life. And if we can project our awareness into different aspects of our life, it will help us to better understand our surroundings, our physical condition and the way we interact with others.

 

Optimising performance

Whether its the actor preparing for a role, the student getting ready for an exam or an executive planning for a presentation, its quite possible that some tension or stress may enter during the preparatory stage, especially if there is lot of pressure on the person. But one thing this training addresses is a way for the person to detect and understand those tensions that can obstruct or hinder a person’s performance levels. By understanding how to increase one’s awareness, it becomes easier to spot how and why certain tensions enter. It also becomes easier to prevent them from negatively affecting one’s performance in carrying out certain tasks or activities.

 

In training

We strive to access a significant state of awareness in training. Within a Systema training session, students are encouraged to be aware of how their body responds within the various movement drills. They also need to be aware of their operating state. In other words, they need to be able to make sure that no negative emotions are obstructing their work. Furthermore, they should also be aware of their training partners’ general state. In realising the mental and physical state of the training partner, the student will be able to work that much more effectively. And in regards to solo training, its easier to select the right exercises to do, when you have a good understanding of your current state.

 

Maintaining a balance

In connecting with deeper states of awareness the Systema practitioner must also adhere to the principle of balance. If the person focuses too much on one particular form of awareness, their awareness may suffer in other areas. For example, a person could develop such an intense awareness of their own mind set or current physical state that they can end up being oblivious to what’s happening around them. Or, the person could be so connected to what’s happening in their surroundings that they fail to realise their own physical state.

 

How to access deeper states of awareness

The first thing to realise is that relaxation is the key. Study how to relax mind, body and psyche. Through relaxation the mind is calm, the body is free and the psyche is steady. This allows the person to access a good state of awareness. In Systema there are exercises for each of these three areas and of course some exercises will work all three. Usually when I train people in the group classes or through private tuition, I can very quickly detect the state of awareness or level of relaxation they have connected with. I can then get a sense of the drills and specific aspects of training that will suit them at that moment; but often the students are encouraged to try and realise the drill or exercises that they need. In this way, the person has the chance to practise working with their awareness. Eventually it will become an accessible and efficient process.

In training, another way to access deeper states of awareness is by working at slower speeds. At slower speeds it becomes easier to understand effective body movement. If one constantly rushes through certain drills, awareness can suffer. Of course, for realism, we will still work at higher speeds with certain tactical drills but in a manner that doesn’t inhibit awareness. If a person feels that they have lost touch with the deeper state of awareness, then there are ways to reconnect. It is equally important that the person tries to get a decent amount of rest. Fatigue and stress are two factors that can jeopardise awareness or distract us from it. But as part of the restorative process to help the person reconnect with their awareness, there are, within some of the Russian martial arts, more specific exercises to harmonize the body’s awareness sphere and develop focus. And sometimes it is the most seemingly simplistic of exercises that can help recharge awareness. Quite often I will encourage many of the people who train with me to spend some time walking. What might seem like a fairly mundane form of exercise actually ties in well with some of Systema’s breathing drills.

One of things that was taught to me by Russian master Mikhail Ryabko was how to use certain striking tactics as a way to help the person reconnect with their awareness. These are not destructive strikes; they are used to help the person rebalance their awareness; if it has gone too inward. On the other hand, there are also strikes that help the person connect with theirinternal life.

 

Different states of awareness

Our ability to connect with deeper states of awareness also depends on discipline. With good control over mind and body, we will be more likely to access the state of awareness necessary for that particular moment or upcoming task. I should also briefly point out that there are different states of awareness that in time the Systema exponent learns to access for specific tasks or specific settings. But the real vehicle that allows one to adapt their awareness is the breath. And capabilities gained through effective breathing are something that the student will start to explore from their very first session.

 

Awareness is part of the journey

In Systema, awareness is a concept that will crop up at different stages of the training. Of course, awareness is something that can be honed regardless of style or disciplined studied. Certainly, on this journey, awareness will help you to see aspects of training that might otherwise go unnoticed. It can enable us to see what help, what opportunities and what allies come our way. It can also help us to be careful. There are many ways to connect with different states of awareness and this represents another interesting aspect of training to explore…

 

To find out more about London Systema training with Aran: Email: aran@globalkick.com

Tel: 07939 678 356