Russian Martial Art

The Adam Vounoridis
Sydney Australia Systema Seminar

5 hours Sunday 20th July, 2008

SYSTEMA GROUND WORK

Introduction

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

I have a small Systema school in Sydney, Australia ( www.RussianMartialArt.com.au ). In February we were fortunate enough to have Vladimir send his Senior Instructor Maxim Franz to us for a two day Systema seminar. After that seminar and through a few discussions with Max and communications with Vladimir it was recommended to me that It would be a good idea to train with Adam a little.

As a result I talked to Adam and the idea and topic for this seminar was born.

The Seminar

The Seminar was organised as a one day five hour training seaaion. The topic for that seminar was SYSTEMA GROUND WORK.

We had 15 people attend and it was a great day for everyone. Everybody at the seminar had trained in Systema before.

Adam started the day with some nice warm ups, running, Systema push-up and various rolls forward, backward, body contact and control drills, threading drills, the bicycle, numerous stick drills on the ground, etc. The boys and girls were well warmed up by then.

We then moved on to support and control drills, flow drills, catch and release drills, and many more Systema ground movement drills.

As time moved on we progressed from drill to drill. We moved form the simple to more complex work. Adam moved us from interesting and challenging drills up to the more combat based drills. Drills incorporating strikes and kicks, two on one drills followed by three on one drills followed by four on one drills.

The training was hard, tiring and relentless as well as being very, very rewarding. The people that did not have much Ground Work experience now had a basis to move forward. The people that had experience certainly had their eyes opened wider.

Adam did a great job. The seminar was friendly, well constructed and also gruelling. A great day for all who attended.


Final Note and Thanks

There are a few people I have to thank for this seminar..

Firstly, I would like to thank Vladimir Vasiliev and Maxim Franz for their help and training guidance and for recommending this topic based seminar from Adam.

Secondly, I have to thank all of the Sydney people who attended the seminar. It is not easy to spend five hours on the ground fighting and still find time to laugh, joke and have a good time. Thank you.

And finally, I want to thank Adam Vounoridis for such a well constructed and beautifully delivered seminar. Thank you for the time and effort you put into the seminar, and good natured and unselfish way in which you delivered the seminar.

Systema is certainly moving forward in Australia and this seminar has definitely moved us a few more steps in the right direction. Thank you again to all.


Kind regards,

Peter Aftanas.

Please visit our Sydney - Australian website:  www.RussianMartialArt.com.au

Adam Vounoridis website:    www.MelbourneSystema.com.au