Palmetto Systema
Systema training in South Carolina’s Coastal
and Low Country areas.
Systema - Russian Martial Art
We practice Russian combatives known as Systema, which emphasizes training on four core fundamentals: breathwork, relaxation, freedom of movement, and structure. With the development of these fundamentals, the practitioner learns to manage fear, develops a strong body, mind and spirit, and becomes a skilled warrior.
Please be advised… Systema is NOT SPORT. Nothing against competitive martial sports – but that is not what we do. While MMA is arguably the most realistic hand-to-hand combat sport to exist in many centuries, it is still sport.
If you toss a knife or stick into the ring, the fighters would change their tactics, and if they haven't trained for such scenarios, they would be floundering. You would not (as examples) trade jabs or go for a takedown when your opponent is armed with a knife. And what if there is more than one attacker?
Systema develops skills and abilities that are applicable to all combative scenarios - hand-to-hand, weapons, ground fighting and multiple opponents. These skills and abilities are embedded within the practitioner's operating system and become immediately accessible without memorization of techniques.
Please be advised… Systema is NOT SPORT. Nothing against competitive martial sports – but that is not what we do. While MMA is arguably the most realistic hand-to-hand combat sport to exist in many centuries, it is still sport.
If you toss a knife or stick into the ring, the fighters would change their tactics, and if they haven't trained for such scenarios, they would be floundering. You would not (as examples) trade jabs or go for a takedown when your opponent is armed with a knife. And what if there is more than one attacker?
Systema develops skills and abilities that are applicable to all combative scenarios - hand-to-hand, weapons, ground fighting and multiple opponents. These skills and abilities are embedded within the practitioner's operating system and become immediately accessible without memorization of techniques.
In fact, one of the objectives of Systema training is the replacement of your “operating system” – i.e. how you look at life, how you interact with others and your environment, how you understand yourself. These are necessary elements to effectively apply all the concepts of Systema in the way they were designed. Those that look at Systema as only a physical collection of combatives movements will never truly excel at Systema. One must develop the body, mind and spirit to begin to grasp what Systema really is – and how to apply it.
By blending physical exercises and comabtive drills with unique breathwork practices, the psyche and nervous system are "re-wired" - hence the replacement of the practitioner's operating system and the creation of a skilled warrior.
My book The Breath Is the Work offers a comprehensive guide that describes how to achieve this replacement, providing ample references and sources that validate the efficacy of the practices.
To learn more about Systema, go here: Systema Philosophy and HistoryVisit the Systema HQ main web site: Systema HQ