Training Without a Partner - from Vladimir

[Michael Yatsko]

How I overcome the absense of partner is I ask my brother, who studies Karate, to help me. But he got into a car accident last week, and is at hospital now with his leg broken. I have to deal with this somehow. So I began training my younger sister. I teach her how to defend herself and survive under any circumstances, and she is my partner for now. Having a 13-years old girl as a training partner for 22 years old guy has its drawbacks, but it is better than nothing . Anyway we both benefit from our training. Another way is to swing a punch bag, and then try to avoid it and punch when possible, while staying as close as you can, so that the punch bag hits you if you do wrong. But be carefull!
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And Justice for all...
At most forums I am known as DarkWolf

[Michael Yatsko]

[Sharon Friedman]

Thanks for all the posts,

When I train alone every morning, I start with breathing intently and using different purposes in mind. I do the eight count of inhale, hold, exhale hold and many more you can read about in the forum or make whatever suits you best. Than comes the range of motion set where I try to move each joint to the every angle dynamically and in waves but the secret to staying interested is intention. You have to do more than the move and be with a clean heart. Try to integrate whatever motion/energy comes from you in that instant in a self preservation and joyous notion. From my experience that brings out the best in you and I've read something along theses lines only more eloquent in the Systema guide book. I also do some strength exercises combined with balance and strikes training. I don't have anyone to hit me in the morning so I use a twelve pounds construction hammer for strength and as a means to experience some good solid strikes
I stand on the bus rides and practice walking in crowds which is especially educational in Israel and I have a Systema partner I get to train with only three times a month if we are lucky. I keep a journal of what I gain in practice and it is a real solidifier of ideas and a source of pride to me.
If you have the learning mindset and an open heart every waking moment and a few dreams too, are a lesson that lasts a lifetime.

Again thanks for all the lessons, the book, the DVDs and the brotherhood.

Cheers, Sharon Friedman.
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"And the day came when the risk to remain tight in a bud was more painful than the risk it took to blossom." Anais Nin
Systema Israel http://systemablog.blog.com

[Norbert G. Matausch]

Hi all,
my Systema training partners are currently unavailable due to business schedules, so I came up with an exercise for training movement and form. First, I simply scattered cans, bottles, bags and magazines in our living room. Then I walked around, playfully, relaxed and in good form, carefully avoiding contact with any of the obstacles. I like this exercise a lot, it frees my movement and therefore, my mind.

Sunny greetings from Bavaria
Norbert

[RLH]

Hello everyone,
I have found it to be very beneficial to be spontaneous in training throughout the day when training alone because when you sit and plan out the task at hand you can become complaisant towards putting yourself in really compromising positions. When we train in class at the Huntersville school with Dean Stewart he always says die to it. So what I do when I am alone is start out in the worst case scenario first and then work back from there. However I do enjoy my little balance drill where I take 4-6-and 8 inch pieces of a 2x4 and throw them onto the floor and pretend that they are the only things that I can step on or I'll fall into the lava, lake of acid or anything else that I can think off to keep my balance. Oh yeah and I do my squats on them even if they're spred wide apart or if I only have the one leg to use because there isn't a step for the other.
But I have gone as far as to walk on the ledge of a few steep walls and buildings and I'll climb down the sides of the stairwell instead of walking down the steps. It's cool.

Everybody, be good.

[Andrew Walton]

It's interesting how just after reading through this thread, I find myself finding more ways to train in every day situations. For instance: I live on the top (3rd) floor of my apartment building. Now, most of the time when I walk down the stairs, I go down with every step. I take one step down, and drop, completely relaxing and squatting as far down as I can without letting my butt touch the floor, while also keeping my back straight. Walking up the stairs, I try to change up how I place my feet, and I try to spin around while walking up the stairs, or switch to walking backwards without missing a beat. I also try to switch up my breathing. (walking up the whole flight of stairs in one breath, breathing out my air and trying to make it all the way down, and so on).

Also, I walk the same way to work and back every day. The parking lots for my building and the building next to it are touching, but there's about a three feet difference in height, with a fence and some thorny growths (I guess they're supposed to be there, they look kind of ugly to me) on the higher side. When I go up one side, I try to go inbetween one of these plants and the fence, and move my body so I don't touch either one. if I walk on the other side, there's a bike rack, with wide gaps in between where you're supposed to put your front tire. Now, I'm kind of a bigger guy, so I view this as a challenge. Just last night i was thinking of how I could go through that small space without touching any of the bars, etc...

Even when I walk to work I practice my breathing, and balance on the edge of the sidewalk, or I'll close one eye and try to balance, and so on.

I guess I'm kind of being redundant here, but if you're open minded about it, you can find opportunities to train, learn your body and develop a sense of your own movements everywhere you go. All you have to do is not worry about looking foolish to others.
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"For everyone who exalts himself will be humbled, but the one who humbles himself will be exalted.”

Luke 14:11

[Wil Boyce]

Are there currently any videos available anywhere that directly deal with training Systema solo? I'm pretty much isolated from any opportunity for instruction, until I move to Colorado next year.

Any suggestions (other than the great ones already on the thread)?

Thanks,
Wil
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"Never pick a fight with an ugly person, they've got nothing to lose." -- Robin Williams

"Jesus wept."
John 11:35

[Saleem Halipoto]

Martin Wheeler mentioned somewhere on this forum that he is producing a video on solo training, it should be pretty interesting. I'm not sure when it will be available but I'm sure Martin will let us know when he has some reliable dates.

[Lie Wei]

Thanks for your post Mr. Vladimir, cause I in my country Indonesia, don't have any partner, so I train my self... and I found that what you posted is so useful to me.......
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Lie Wei