Sharon's Systema blog

Take a stick and hold it in a comfortable distance between the hands. Now with both hands bring the hands apart as if you are working to lengthen the stick and bring all the tension to the hands and fingers and work to keep the neck and shoulders free to move. Do this a few times in different heights and with palms facing either up or down and after this tense in any directions you choose and as you keep the tension move one hand in or out using the fingers and the palm as you keep the tension on the same level smooth. Do this using both hands and remember that if you look down or into your hands to monitor them you are learning to ignore the information they are sending you all the time and ignoring the many benefits of seeing people and other animals come and go. The other thing to note is that if you look down you tense the neck and it affects your entire body. Learn to give support and to work as you give support and you will be able to control more than yourself over time. For example if you can both give the impression of being held at the neck as your arm supports your breathing you will be more able to deploy  a firearm or to escape the hold when it is appropriate. Sometimes it is better to do the work without a crowd but for this you have to stay calm and keep breathing.

1. Feeling your heart rate: you can start by sitting and placing a finger on your neck where a big exposed vain is and relaxing. Slowly extend the area where you feel the pulse and connect the points where you feel the pulse until you can feel the pulse throughout the body even while doing the work.

2. Feeling your blood pressure: The small blood vassals are easier to monitor at start so feel the blood rushing through your ears and fingers where capillaries are full and note to yourself how full are they. Continue to the face and hands where you are aided by the location of many skin sensors and through this process you will gain an awareness to your blood pressure.

3. Feel your temperature: To feel your temperature you need to remember that the body temperature is usually a little higher than that of the limbs and extremities such as ears and fingers. Once you have this in mind place a hand on your heart and feel the temperature shift. Feel the air moving on your fingers and note to yourself beyond simple annoyance if you are hot or cold and are you producing more heat than the air is taking from you. Note the connection between all these factors and once you pay attention control will follow.

The wave or whip starts with the breath in the body and moves either to the target or to the limbs or tool and than to the target. The body usually moves slower than the limbs so it is like the handle of a whip or a sword. You can use this difference in movement to change a movement that is already underway. It is good to be able to not complete a move and be less readable and controllable. For example if you are lifting something heavy like a 5K hammer to break a plaster wall and notice a person on the other side after the swing is already strong you may not be able to stop the hammer but you can move the body which is more free and do less harm. If you are carrying a person in your hands and your leg is caught in a branch or wire and you fall forward you can still turn your body to protect the injured with your body.

Take a simple long stick and swing it without stop. Start walking and make the stick move following your steps and check if this works for you.

A very simple note about working with a partner. Place both hands at your back and evade as your partner works with his fists on you. Look at all the open air around his fists and all the open ground around his feet. Change places and as you work with your fists look at all the things around you as well as your partner. Vladimir writes in the Systema guidebook to look up to open your horizons and it will be a great release from fear and restriction when you start to see the big picture.

When you work, you need to be inside yourself and choose where you want to be. If you chase someone or choose your position in relation to someone, than you are controlled and not controlling.