Globalkick Systema Training

This feature appeared in Combat magazine's column The Negotiator in March 2009. It has been edited for website convenience.

 

The Dynamic Equilibrium

By Aran Dharmeratnam

 

 

One of the concerns people can have when they take up a martial art is whether or not they can make their training work when they are under pressure in a dangerous, unpredictable situation. Will the tactics they have spent time learning be available to them when hostility obstructs their path? Even the more seasoned practitioners can find this type of concern entering their mind. Such concerns are understandable. Many appreciate that confrontation and conflict can induce various adverse effects and feelings that can kick in during a situation. That’s why we are going to take an introductory look at the Dynamic Equilibrium…

 

Balance within….

Now I use this term the Dynamic Equilibrium to describe a mode of being one can connect with in training and utilise in hostile situations. It actually refers to an ability that Russian close quarter masters have understood and valued for many years. And with this understanding, they developed various approaches to training that could help people connect with this mode. In short, the Dynamic Equilibrium is our ability to maintain inner balance, awareness and functional movement skills when the terrain is uneven; the opponents come from many different angles and the situation unpredictable and ever changing. It is our ability to maintain some kind of control and balance within, even when surrounded by many factors that are not within our control. Some people might view the Dynamic Equilibrium as simply the ability to prevent fear from obstructing oneself when faced with danger. And yes that is a big aspect of this mode of being. But it is not just about fear control; it is also a balance of qualities and attributes. It is about being able to move under pressure with tactical efficiency. It is about how we balance our physical approach so that we don’t over commit to one opponent and end up leaving ourselves exposed to others. This equilibrium of the psychological and physical levels of being prevents us from getting lost in the moment or overwhelmed by the moment.

 

We also have to accept that there may be times when we are not even able to have complete control over our physical movement. Or perhaps the environment around us might obstruct the control we have. One situation where we may momentarily lose some control over our physical body is when an external force projects us into the air. For this situation, consider the motorbike rider who is knocked off his bike and hurled to the ground. In a street scenario, it could be that one of the aggressors manages to push or shove the person to the ground. However, just because there has been a momentary loss of external balance, the person must still make sure that they recover and maintain focus. And for an example of a situation where the environment can affect one’s control over the body, consider a scenario where a person has to defend themselves on wet, slippery terrain. So the Dynamic Equilibrium is about having some inner balance, even at times when externally, the situation appears somewhat surreal, uninviting and chaotic.

 

Working with limitations…

In Systema, we will sometimes work with certain limitations in place that make a drill that much more challenging. The idea here is that the person carrying out the drill, through working with certain restrictions is, in essence, learning to work under pressure. Now in some drills the limitations or factors imposed are designed to make the drill that much more fatiguing; so that the person has to maintain a sense of calm and keep moving even when the body is tired. When the physical body is in a state of fatigue - timing, awareness and movement can be affected. Even relatively economical and accessible tactics can end up being carried out less effectively by the defending party. One drill that we sometimes use, involves one person sitting or lying on the floor and having to counter the controlled grab attempts of two training partners. The defending student is not allowed to use strikes initially. They must simply escape using movement. The other approach I like to use with my students, involves purposefully inducing fatigue prior to a drill or tactic being carried out. For example, during the training session, let’s say that we are exploring ways of escaping from certain holds. Once everyone is comfortable with various ways of freeing themselves or countering a hold (such as the bear hug); the person will have to carry out a number of exercises at good pace, such as push ups and squats. As soon as they have reached the required number of repetitions, they must get up and go straight into the self defence drill where they escape from the sudden rear grab. In this way they practise an escape while the body’s energy level has been taxed. This offers one way they can connect with the Dynamic Equilibrium.

 

Disorientated but not deterred….

When a person is under pressure and adrenaline flows, this in itself can make a person feel like their balance is somewhat compromised. In stressful situations, people can even feel disorientated. So another drill we will use in our training session provides students with the opportunity to practise getting use to the feeling of disorientation and learn how to work through it when applying tactics. For this drill, students start off by practising a number of rolls in different directions. Maybe they will have to pick up objects from the floor as they roll, such as a tennis ball. Then they must stand up and again escape or counter certain types of controlled attacks. Now it should be pointed out that the students are already taught to roll safely and carefully before carrying out such drills. So they understand how to carry out this work without causing injuries to themselves. Now the more experienced the person is at rolling, the less disorientated they will feel when they stand up for the second part of the drill. Nonetheless, in working with rolls and movement we are given a bridge through which to better understand the Dynamic Equilibrium. We are also given the chance to familiarise the body with some of the factors that can emerge during a confrontation.

 

With the breath…

There is one more thing I would like to add about the feeling of being disorientated. It is a feeling that often occurs when the person has been carrying out movement without appropriate breathing. Under pressure, people sometimes have a habit of holding their breath. Blood pressure can rise and our awareness mechanism can feel overloaded. Of course, when it comes to accessing the dynamic equilibrium, our breath can become like the captain who manages to steer the ship through troubled, stormy conditions. There are many other aspects to Systema training to help one connect with the Dynamic Equilibrium including interesting external balancing drills for concentration and control. There are also methods of overcoming impact and specific training for challenging environments. Hopefully we can return to the Dynamic Equilibrium in another feature and I will introduce some of the other unique ways it can be explored.

 

Aran provides one-to-one Systema training in Central London and group training in Stamford, Lincs. His clients include: professionals, senior executives from the financial, legal and media sector,martial artists, as well as those working within the security industry.

To book a training session contact:

Email: aran@globalkick.com