Sharon's Systema blog

A small note on flattening the blade on the body. Note if you are taking a step to avoid harm you may be placing all your mass on the other leg and actually pivoting rather than walking. Pay attention to the other leg and let it relax under you so your body remains relaxed, you remain alive and you can actually move rather than pivot.

Work on multi-directional stabs such as upwards and in so your tension is brought to the surface.

Have your partner walk using a regular pace and you walk around him as he walks. First pay attention to your alignment and make sure you are choosing your steps instead of following or dragging your body in orbit. Now place the knife in it's sheath or in your pocket and keep walking. Draw the knife from time to time and work to make it invisible to your partner who in turn will simply walk away from you when he feels the drawn knife or come swiftly to bear hug you. Do this several times and switch roles from time to time to give the head and body time to evaluate and digest. Continue and now pay attention to the distance between you. Your partner who is the walker without a knife will keep a distance in which you cannot stab him without throwing the knife and you have to learn to merge with his path without distancing him. This is awareness and relaxation. You can also do this using many people or with kids using a water gun or a soft pen.

Keep breathing and your movement will not stop.

Take a knife and draw in the air the numbers from 1-20. Pause and relax and do the same drill starting each number from the end point of the previous work. Find a way to move the least and to move without uneasy turns. If you have a partner to watch and guess the numbers it can help.

take a not too sharp a knife or a pencil and stab your partner swiftly. When you work slowly many times you will lie to yourself and let it sink a bit before you move. You need to be aware of your movement all the time (breathing) and choose your action in a way that doesn't  come into the blade. Move to a sharp blade if you are comfortable enough and know your partner and work slowly on this same drill. Work with your back to the wall to learn to move away without tensing the part that is targeted. Work as your partner moves the tip of the blade or the edge into your body or arm after the first contact and check what works for you to control the movement.

Move your body away as the person with the knife comes at you and leave your arm behind (where your body was just now). Use it to drape the flat of the blade on your body and check where it works for you to place your arm and how to work differently from different places as it will not always work as you want it to. Make a note to pay attention when you are in a safe distance where the partner has to step toward you or to throw the knife to reach you and where he only has to reach with his body (twist/turn) or raise the arm to reach you. Make sure you pay attention when and where you control this distance and how it changes all the time. Avoid measuring according to the distance between you and somebody because it makes you dependent and you are leaning on his location. Place yourself in space.

Have your partner lie down on the ground. Lie on top of him with a knife in hand and start to roll over him in any way you want using your body and legs to move and keeping both hands free. As you become more comfortable add slashes and cuts that are part of your body movement and if you stop moving your partner will slap or hit you in any way he can to help you keep moving as you work. Remember the person or persons that keep moving after an encounter are alive.

Place one hand on the ground and have your friend place his hand on yours. Keep your attention on your alignment and slowly get up and once you stand lift your hand as high as you can. Your partner will resist you in a constant way downward and than you switch. Note how the tension in your body changes as you move and work so you stay as relaxed as possible and free to move.
Next do this as your partner resists with sudden pulls and pushes and you have to keep from tensing up and move your body to avoid getting hit. The same can be done with a knife or two where you redirect and move and from time to time move fast to teach greater freedom of movement and awareness. Check that you decide where you want to go and avoid becoming a reacting machine. Keep your freedom within.

Take your blade and tie the handle to a cord about thirty centimeters long. Hold the end in one hand and flat out your palm and backhand against the blades flat a few times. Now lift it in your hand a little bit and move the rope so the blade follows the natural lines of that you created and move accordingly to avoid harm. Do the same for the forearms and arms and play with this while sitting, flat on the ground, standing and walking. This works great for your awareness and sensitivity weather your eyes are open or closed and do take care not to injure yourself. Put a bit of tape on the edge or use a dull knife until you can handle the real thing. Remember there is no replacement to the real thing so seek an instructor or friends to work with you and make all of us better.

Here is my work knife: Model 760

Take a knife and gently push it into your body. Relax your hips and roll to avoid the stab and as you go down hit the partner or where it should be to defend yourself. Get back up and check where your eyes are pointing and repeat. If you have a partner to do this with it will be better so if you don't have a systema partner have your wife or kid push a pen into your flesh and if you don't move relaxed have her line you in blue or red (do avoid hitting the wife and child, a tickle is just as good in this case since you have to place your hand relaxed to land the desired result)

Another solo or partner drill is to take a stick and sweep it through your legs. Lift the leg closer to it and move your body to blend with it and to control it. Remember that if you stay in place you are following his lead and not avoiding the fist. Remember to land soft on hard on this one or learn through the work...

Take a knife you use daily like a kitchen knife or your belt knife and hold it in your hand. Keep the arm in one line (while relaxed) and start to move it in circles around your body. Use your fingers and wrist to keep the blade facing along the movement and do this without looking at the blade. Do this overhead and at your back and this will help in your relaxation and in making the knife work for you. Remember to do this also in grips you are not used to. If you always keep the knife facing forward than switch the grip from time to time so you will learn to use the tool in any way possible. You don't know how you will have a chance to pick it up next time.