GIVE YOURSELF A MISSION

by Emmanuel Manolakakis

Do you have a mission when you arrive to class for train? If you don’t, you are missing the opportunity to build on the fundamentals of SYSTEMA. You see, the Special Forces are trained to understand missions. So why not train in the same fashion. Special Forces are always asked one question - did you accomplish your mission?

So, I ask yourself - did you accomplish your mission.

Training Mission

Start to see your fighting abilities as weapons. Your purpose in training is to add weapons to your arsenal. Start by analyzing yourself. What are your strengths? What are your weaknesses? If you’re unsure, ask your teacher or training partners.

Now the hard part, forget about your strengths and focus on your weaknesses. Your strengths do you limited good, since it’s already ‘yours’. Before getting to class, pick a weakness and focus your efforts to overcome it. Once you have decided on the mission; be diligent and stay focused all class. I realize sometimes it can be difficult. I guess that is why the Special Forces are so coveted.

Here are some ideas that you can use to get started in developing your great arsenal.

• Ability to utilize and defend
• Punch & kick
• Grabs, locks, holds
• Elbow & knee
• Hip & shoulders
• Chest, back & stomach
• Movement & body weight
• Weapons – conventional & unconventional
• Multiple opponents
• Left side versus Right side
• Rolls and falls
• Fight injured or with and injury
• Understand the various injuries

Remember to periodically change your mission and do not focus a lot of time on any one mission. The changes do not have to be huge but they do need to happen. I personally have 4 missions I rotate constantly.

After class, make sure to take time to analyze the results. Did you fail or succeed in accomplishing you mission? Why or why not? Make sure to take the time to ask yourself these questions or you will be doomed to make the same mistakes over and over again and never build that great arsenal.

Be tough on yourself and focus on the mission!

Russian Martial Art Training Articles

by Emmanuel Manolakakis

The Seven Principles of Systema Breathing
Consider your partner
Laugh at Yourself
Stick to it!
Five Monkeys
Shoulders To Consider
Youth And Systema
Check Your Gauges
The Distance
Multiple Attackers
Working the Wall
Rolls & Falls
Non-Contact Training
Training The Legs
The Squat
Get Focused
Give Yourself A Mission
Precision
Keeping Your Vision In Check

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