Encounter with Systema: An interview with Vladimir Vasiliev

This Interview with Vladimir Vasiliev was recorded at the seminar in Tokyo, hosted by Andy Cefai and Ryo Onishi.

Question: When did you encounter Systema for the first time?

Vladimir Vasiliev (VV): It’s in the early 80s that I met Mikhail Ryabko.

Question: You were serving in the military at that time. What kind of martial arts were you training in?

VV: I was mostly training for a close quarter combat. Those martial arts have good points but Mikhail showed me a completely different approach.

Question: Do you remember your first impression of Mikhail?

VV: I watched him with a skeptical eye. He didn’t look like a fighter.

. . .

Later in the interview, Andy Cefai, who hosted the Tokyo seminar, put a question to Vladimir.

Question: Andy Cefai, a Systema instructor and head of Systema Japan. Andy, go ahead.

Andy (A): You advised me “Look more inside of yourself”. For instance you told me “When somebody is trying to punch you, you shouldn’t look at the opponent or analyze his movement. At that time you should look inside of yourself. Then you know yourself and you move based on yourself. You can break new ground with such an approach.” Could you give me more details on that?

VV: When you look at the opponent during practice, it means you want to show something as an instructor. The more you try to show, the more fragile you are. Instead, try to work while looking inside of yourself. Then you can bring a positive change for everybody.

Andy (A): I understand. Not looking at the opponent but at yourself.

This is an extract of a longer interview.
Read the full interview at USAdojo.com

The article was published by Hiden Budo and Bujitsu Magazine, It was translated from Japanese by Tarota Inagaki