Lexington Systema

Adult and teen classes will continue meeting at Lexington Systema on Saturdays from 1-3 and Wednesday nights from 7-9.  We encourage you to come visit us at 60 Cloverleaf Ln.  We encourage you to contact us for detailed directions, as some people have had difficulty finding us.  Watch this page closely for upcoming announcements on summer women’s self-defense classes and kids classes!

NC Systema will be holding a seminar on outdoor training on May 25-26th.  Spaces are very limited; visit the event page on Facebook for registration information.

And finally, we will be hosting a 5 week self-defense class for senior citizens through the Maury River Senior Center in Buena Vista.  We welcome all participants over the age of 50, as well as their younger family members.  People of all levels of fitness and ability are encouraged to attend.  Pre-registration is required, please contact the Senior Center via their website, or by calling them at (540) 261-7474. 

First, as a reminder, we will not meet for classes tomorrow, Saturday April 20th.  We will resume our normal schedule Wednesday from 7-9.

Second, beginning today, discount certificates are available at 3wzdeals.com.  These certificates are good for 2 months of training for the price of one.  If you’ve been interested in checking out Systema, this is a great chance to give it a try!

Why are so many of the drills in Systema so slow?

• Much of Systema is taught by a progressive sequence of drills that emphasize proper movement, breathing, posture, and relaxation.  These are all things that need to be learned, initially, in slower drills.  You may have heard the quote before that slow is smooth, and smooth is fast.  To be fast, you must be smooth, and to learn to be smooth, you must practice slowly.  Your speed, and the speed of the drills, will increase as you improve.

Can Systema benefit me outside of a violent confrontation?

• Yes, in many ways.  The physical skills can help with almost any active pursuit.  You will become more comfortable and efficient in your movement, and learn to avoid unnecessary tension.  You will find that you start to move more intuitively and smoothly; for instance, you will find it much easier to move through large crowds of people because you will be able to make the small adjustments in your movement necessary to take advantage of small gaps in the crowd.
• In addition, the psychological skills you gain can help every aspect of life.  You will learn to breathe and relax in stressful situations instead of becoming tense and anxious.  You will began to control and eliminate fear, freeing yourself from the constant tension and worry so many people are prone to. 

How long does it take to become proficient at Systema?

• This varies widely between individuals, and also depends on what you define as “proficient.”  In general though, you can expect to see substantial progress in your ability to defend yourself within the first 3-4 months.

As always, if there are questions you would like to see answered, please leave a comment and we will address the question in a future FAQ.

April 10th (Today) – Adult class, 7-9 pm

April 13th (Saturday) – Adult class, 1-3 pm.  We may be outdoors if the weather is nice.

April 17th (Wednesday) – Adult class, 7-9 pm.

April 20th (Saturday) – NO CLASS! I got talked into a half marathon…

April 24th (Wednesday) – Adult class, 7-9 pm.

All classes, unless otherwise specifically noted, are held at 60 Cloverleaf Ln. in Lexington, VA.

Chances are, unless you already study Systema, you have never heard of it.  Systema is a unique Russian martial art with roots reaching back hundreds of years.  Systema differs from the more commonly known martial arts in a number of ways.  Hopefully this post will help you understand a bit more about the way we train at Lexington Systema Group. 

Systema is a martial art based on practical application.  As such, we don’t have pre-determined forms or kata, uniforms, or a ranking structure.  Systema is designed to help you learn to utilize your natural movements in an effective and efficient way.  Because everyone’s body is different, everyone will move differently, so no two Systema practitioners will look alike, nor is that something we strive for.

Systema also has no pre-set techniques or patterns of movement in response to specific attacks.  Systema realizes that every situation is different, and every person is different, and as a result, the appropriate response to each situation will be different as well.   Systema practice is based on the four pillars of form, movement, breathing, and relaxation.  Everything we do in Systema utilizes those principles to construct a unique and effective response to each situation.

Systema trains for real-world confrontations.  We do not assume that every attack or situation will be a one-on-one, face-to-face situation.  We train to respond to multiple attackers, to armed attackers, and to attacks in unusual situations, such as in confined spaces or in your car.  We practice fighting both standing up and on the ground, and in the transition from standing to the ground.  The principles of Systema can be applied effectively to all of these situations.

Finally, the principles of Systema can be used by anyone.  It doesn’t matter how old you are, how fit or unfit you are, or if you have a disability.  Systema can be used effectively by people of all ages, shapes, and sizes.  Even children can learn Systema!

For more information, or to learn about classes at Lexington Systema, you are always welcome to contact us via the link on the right sidebar, or by posting a comment here.  More information about our adult and kids classes is also available through the links to the right.