Sometimes doing Systema feels like taking one step forward and two steps back. I feel like this especially during the ‘know yourself’ seminars series of Arend Dubbelboer. During the excellent seminars Arend offers new insight in the ‘basics’ of Systema, leaving me and some other participants asking ourselves if we will ever get this down.
I started wondering whether this was something specific for Systema, this process of returning to the basics and finding out you still don’t master them. Those who know me, know I did not do any other martial art before I started Systema, so I am unable to compare. I did do a lot of rock-climbing though and started to wonder if things were the same there.
At first I figured that it wasn’t because my weakest link in climbing was endurance and to some extend strength. When I would look at some other climbers of my level (back then at least) it was clear that most of the men could do with some training to increase their quality of movement, most of the women could do with extra strength. But the interesting thing happens when you look at the climbers who are doing a ‘project’. They pick a route that is just a little bit beyond their capabilities and start training for it. To do this you have to get intimately acquainted with the route and then you need to find a way to do all the moves as efficiently as possible. And that takes you back to basics. Not like the first time when someone explained to you how you should hold your hand or place your foot, but by further exploring the knowledge you already have and integrating it more deeply physically.
Same with Systema. I find it a bit more frustrating then climbing, because it is harder to monitor progress (climbing routes are graded). With Systema it is also easier to fool yourself by compensating with strength and other tricks. So maybe going back to basics might feel like taking two steps back, but if you can walk backwards, I’m sure you’ll do fine walking forwards as well.