REVIEW - Maxim Franz Sydney- Australia Systema Seminar

[Peter Aftanas]

The Maxim Franz Sydney Systema Seminar
7 hours Saturday 23rd and 7 hours Sunday 24th February, 2008



Introduction

My name is Peter Aftanas, and this is the first time that I have posted on this Forum.

I have been training in Systema with a small group of people in Sydney since early 2005. In the beginning we did not know much about what we were doing but tried as best as we could.

As various instructors came to town from time to time, I went and trained with them and each brought their own flavour of Systema. As time went on I gradually began to understand the enormity of Systema. I began to learn that Systema was not JUST a good way to win a confrontation it was much, much, much more.

In the beginning through my almost constant trawling for Systema information I discovered that there was an Australian Systema Instructor, David Quaile. David lives about 2,000km north of Sydney. I called David and over the next few months slowly got to know him. Eventually after about nine months I bought him a plane ticket and flew him down to Sydney for a seminar with the boys (10 of us). That seminar was definitely a turning point for me and solidified my passion for Systema.

After a further year or so David started to push me to start a “proper” training group in a “proper” facility. Well the training group has grown since then. We now meet four times a week and we move forward the best way that we can. I am not an Instructor but I am definitely heading in that direction.

Since that first seminar I have trained with various instructors and have put on 8 major seminars in Sydney the last one being our first International Systema Seminar conducted by Vladimir's Head Instructor Maxim Franz.


How It All Began

I have a good friend in Australia, a friend that has a passion for Systema much like myself, Chris Misek. Chris also knows David Quaile. One day last year Chris called me to let me know that he had contacted Vlad about who we should bring to Sydney for a seminar. Vlad recommended Maxim Franz his Head Instructor.

That is how Max's trip was born. After a few interesting discussions with Chris and David about how “simple” it would be to organise an international seminar I started e-mailing Vladimir, Valerie and Max and began organising the seminar and Max's trip.


The Seminar

The Seminar was organised as a two day event 7 hour per day. We had 22 people attend and it was great training. Everyone at the seminar had had some Systema training so it was a great opportunity for Max to take us up to the next level.


The First Day - Saturday 23rd February

Max started the first day by having us hold in a static push-up held for approximately 5 or 6 minutes then incorporating various stretches and body movements then finally straight into 20 slow push ups, situps, squats etc. The emphasis was of course on performing the exercises slowly with correct form and breathing.

We then moved to rolls both forward and backward and various types of ways to fall to the ground and their combat applications etc.

Then on to take downs where Max demonstrated ways of controlling your partner's body, head and neck, etc. Max constantly emphasise that we should “take care of our partner” and “don't destroy you partner” and “remember your partner is helping you, don't break each other”.

As the hours rolled on we moved from drill to drill. Many variations and types of take downs, dealing with attacks to the head, how to attack the throat, how to move the body to avoid injury from strikes, how to attack the arms and hands, how to escape from holds of various types, how to escape / evade and attack at the same time, how to kick, how to control kicks and strikes, short work, long work, wave work, then more exercises, how to use the knees, how to break form, how to keep form, how to be softer, how to be soft and hard at the same time, etc, etc, etc.

This was the first day and I don't think there was not a dry shirt in the room.


The Second Day – Sunday 24th February

The second day started much like the first. Stretching, push ups, situps, etc. Lots of concentration on breathing and relaxation. Lots of demonstrations.

The drills consisted of more movement and striking drills, drills for controlling the opponent's hands, arm, legs, etc., defence against front kick, groin kick, round house kick, defence against body strikes, striking drills for the head and neck, some pain compliance work, knife work, knife movement drills, knife attack drills, stabbing drills, knife escape drills, ground work, one on one walk evasion work, one on one walk evasion with strike work, two on one walk evasion and strike work.

There were drills where you were knocked down, you rolled, then you got up. These were executed both from forward and backwards rolls. There were attack movement / evade counter attack drills of various types, attack knock down and finish them on the ground drills, as well as strikes taking and delivering, etc, etc, etc.

This brought us to the end of the second day. Two day 14 hour of training, a great seminar. The next two days were spent showing Max Sydney. There was surfing, site seeing, eating and much too much drinking.

Max had constant help and advice for me with the training, teaching, marketing etc. He was greatly encouraging about the growth of Systema in Sydney as well as Australia. He has enormous enthusiasm and passion for Systema it was great to see. Max is a wonderfully and genuine ambassador for Systema.

I had advertised this seminar as:

The Russian Sydney Systema Seminar
1st Time In Australia - The Russians Teaching Systema The Russian Way

Well the Russian Way is certainly more intense than our way. We have already changed our training style.


Final Note and Thanks

Firstly, I would like to thank Vladimir Vasiliev for his wisdom and foresight in sending Maxim Franz to Australia for this great action packed seminar. I would also like to thank, Valerie for all of her help, advice and the support material.

Secondly, I have to thank Max for a truly great seminar and for being such a nice guy (when he is not hitting you). Thank you for all of the constant advice, encouragement and all of the stories.

And lastly, I would also like to thank David Quaile and Chris Misek for their help and support with the seminar and all things Systema.

Systema is in its infancy here in Australia, this seminar by Maxim Franz has, I believe, started the ball rolling with some momentum. Thank you to all that came to the seminar and thank you, Vladimir, Valerie and of course Max.


Kind regards,

Peter Aftanas.

Please visit our Sydney - Australian website: [url]www.RussianMartialArt.com.au[/url]
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Please visit our website at: www.RussianMartialArt.com.au

[Jack Gardner]

Sounds like it was a great seminar. Good luck with your training group.

[Chris Misek]

It was a great week.
Wow,where to begin?
Like Peter mentioned,it was the groups first international seminar.Momentum has slowly bulit-there have been seminars with our wonderfull instructors here in Australia-Dave Quaile,Adam Vounoridis and Ian Ayres.
But,before even all that began,it was a "holiday visit" and a little session in a Sydney park with Dimitry Kirillov.
Then,Milos Perun,Kyle Hastings.Milos was here on holidays and kindly met and trained with us in a city park for few hours.
Kyle is a practicioner from England (instructor certificate from Mikhail) who worked here for a few weeks,we had few sessions with him.
Things slowly,but surely took shape.

Peter is very gracious in publicly thanking me for the seminar.In all truth and honesty,he did large majority of work.
Thanks so much Peter,again,you are driving force of Systema and you are doing things the right way.Also big thanks to Dave Quaile for his much needed guidance,his wisdom and experience.

Maksym put on wonderfull seminar.He is instructor of top calibre.His actual skills are top notch,but,he is also a very very good teacher and a commited teacher who works hard.He is typical Russian instructor,firstly,he is so humble,he works extremely hard,has good sense of humour,but at same time is very honest and frank-straight to point.
To put it in a nutshell,Maksym is a great guy who really knows systema and teaches it extremely well.I think many admired the way in which he continually stressed point that this was not a showcase of "Maksym Franz",he told us he was instructor for Vladimir Vasiliev and was representing the school.
You did Vladimir and the school in Toronto proud Max.

There are so so many people to thank.But since this was first "big" event Ill try to put all down:
Justin,Tim and Igor:For your help taking part in demos,all showed great courage and "softness" .Igor also took 3 hours off away from his office when Peter and I took Max sightseeing to join us for some food,beer and good talk.

Dave Quaile:I already mentioned Dave and Peter,but Dave was only other certified instructor at that event and helped a lot of the new guys tremendously.

Vladimir and Valerie Vasiliev:For their help-choosing Max and also their help and advise throughout.

Deidre Aftanas:Peter's wife.Lots of behind scenes work that is sooo important.Also thanks to young Drew and Tara for running the "shop" and selling Vladimir's merchandise.

Bob:Bob is a professional cameraman and has become important part of group.He has taped several events.His work provides great resource-great training tool-to see your movement on film.

Seminar participants:We had people come in from north and south of Sydney,Victoria,Qld and Alvin came in from Perth,4500kms away.Great bunch of people,no ego;s,all worked hard and everybody helped each other to learn.Thanks for coming.

Also-thank you and recognition to guys I mentioned at beginning of my post,Mikhail Vasiljevich and forum guys-especially "old timers" and all who contribute with good posts.You may not reaslise,but a lot of stuff IS listened to and taken on board by us.

I would recommend Maksym to any systema training group or school,you will not be disappointed.
Mak's,if you read this...
I hope we see you again over here.You are always welcome.Thanks for everything.I hope we can share a bit of Slivovice and good Scottish whiskey again someday

Now,Alex Kostic,Sydney in early April.
Cheers,
Chris.

[Tim Cleary]

It certainly was...

Firstly, Peter, welcome to the forum - I hope you'll stick around (especially as I won't be around as much to put in 'face time' for a while).

It was great to have Max out, lovely to meet his fists (there's a rumour there's a person behind the hands, but I'm not sure it's true..)

Some little things that Max pointed out that stuck in my mind:

When you fall, you fall.. For a backwards fall or roll, I tend to just basically do a pistol and it turns out this doesn't keep my face out of trouble... falling backwards does, and it helps to bring up some 'hidden' fear to work on as well.. Same for the front...

Still on the ground, for rolling backwards, put your knees as close to your shoulders as possible - after 17 or 18 years of doing backwards rolls one way, I was given an easier, safer way to do them... Since the seminar, I've also been playing with actually having the knee and shoulder in contact and threading the legs instead of trying to make the roll happen - much easier..

Also, just the simple physics of extending one leg during the roll makes things safer and more controlled straight away..

I was given some very challenging work during the couple of demonstrations I helped with - Justin was the main 'crash test dummy' and I heartily thank him for it.. A couple of light strikes to the right parts of my face and all sorts of things came up to work with... I had to take some time out to stop bleeding and crying at a couple of points - amazing to see how much 'stuff' is stuck in the face & head & neck..

I'm still processing the seminar, I think it'll take a while - there were some incredible hints & tips - I won't forget Max asking Igor what the English name was for an agricultural machine in relation to working with strikes to the face & head... "you just pretend to be a [russian for 'combine harvester' or 'incredibly violent threshing machine']"... Seems simple but I certainly wouldn't want to be around when those fists are fantasizing about fields of wheat...

The last & most important thing that I got out of these 2 days: Look inside yourself... It always seems like the glib answer, but it really is true...


Tim..
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Breathe in, Breathe out...

[Andrew Seyderhelm]

Hi Everyone!

long time no post. I just wanted to chip and say a big hello, my name is Andrew Seyderhelm, I have been running a training group in Brisbane and also the www.systemaaustralia.com web site for a couple of years now.

I have also trained with Dave Quaille and others, and attended the Summit of Masters a few years ago (along with a bit of extra training at Vlads school). Since then I have organised 3 senior instructors to come to Australia: Dave Merrell, Kevin Secours and Alex Kostic. Later this year I am bringing Kevin out again for 2 seminars in November.

Sadly my contact with Chris and Peter has been minimal and I just want to say a big hello and ask that we all keep in touch and grow strong bonds of Systema here in Australia. I also hope in the future to meet all the Sydney guys and share all our insights and learning in Systema.

I missed hearing about the Sydney seminar sadly, which highlights something Adam Vounoridis in Melbourne and I have been discussing. The need for us Aussies to stay in touch and inform each other of our seminar plans to maximise attendance and avoid "double ups" on seminars.

Here's to the growing communtiy in Australia and to all staying in touch and sharing our experiences! Keep up the good work

Andrew Seyderhelm

[Chris Misek]

Sorry to have to add to this again,but I would feel bad if I didnt-I forgot another person we would like to say hi to and thank also for contributing and thats Dimitri Trufanov from Chicago.
Cheers Dima!