This week, a dive into the world of martial arts, medicine and holistic health - with impassioned Systema student and Doctor of Chinese Medicine Gabriel Stern.On the medical side, Gabe was a trained EMT and ER nurse before becoming a student and clinician versed in Chinese healing modalities. On the martial arts side, he studied Eskrima and Pekiti Tirsia Kali for several years before venturing into Systema with Edgar Cakuls in NYC, and with us here at NC SYSTEMA. Always candid and radically honest, Gabe turns his dizzying intellect here upon:the convergence of Russian and Chinese health conceptscomparing Chinese meridians and anatomical fascial chainshow organ health relates to emotional states and personality typesavoiding the pitfalls of self-delusion - in both medicine and martial artsGabe trains and explains at NC SYSTEMA in Durham, NC, and has his own clinic focused on traditional and modern acupuncture and herbology for a variety of conditions. Find him at https://www.centermedicine.com

Systema For Life

Episode 139: Gabe Stern

This week, a rare hour with bestselling author, speaker, and leadership specialist Greg McKeown.  Greg is the author of the best-selling Essentialism: the Disciplined Pursuit of Less (2014), and the new New York Times bestseller, Effortless (2021). If you haven't read them, the relevance of Greg's central principles to Systema training are well worth exploring.Here, we discuss: the futility of trying to "do it all" minimum viable actions vs minimum effective doses of effort releasing, noticing, and removing the cataracts of distraction creating and maintaining an effortless state of action Sign up for Greg's newsletter and purchase his books here: https://gregmckeown.comListen to Greg's podcast, What's Essential, on your favourite podcatching app, here: https://gregmckeown.com/podcast/  

Episode 138: Greg McKeown

This week, an enlightening conversation with veteran Systema, Filipino Martial Arts Instructor Al McLuckie.   Al has over five decades of experience in arts ranging from Western Boxing and Kempo Karate, to Eskrima, Kali, Silat, and (of course) Systema. A former instructor for the famous Degerberg Academy of Martial Arts in Chicago, Al's unique and unparalleled knife skills, in particular, have seen him teaching famous martial artists such as Lee Wedlake, Scott Glenn, and Martin Wheeler, along with workshops for the Lethal Force Institute. Here, we talk about: - his path into martial arts training and teaching- rare experiences working with FMA, Systema, and H'sing-i masters - the deep principles he has observed across multiple martial styles- posture, connection, and attitudes to "reality-based" training Al is also a prolific oil painter. See examples of his work at http://www.almcluckie.com  

Episode 137: Al McLuckie

This week, a brief chat with Senior Systema Instructor Martin Wheeler, following his recent Redwoods Systema Camp in California, and foreshadowing his 4-day Masterclass events in Los Angeles and Raleigh/Durham, NC. Here, we chat about:- insights from teaching and training worldwide- the benefits of multi-day immersion training- the surprising effects of training outdoors- discomfort as a necessary path to awarenessBoth of Martin's Masterclass events - East Coast and West - are still open for registration. Click below for details.Masterclass Los Angeles (Oct 1-4 2021)The Academy Beverly HillsEast Coast Masterclass (Oct 21-24)Falls Lake (nr Raleigh), North Carolina 

Episode 136: Martin Wheeler (Special Episode)

This week, another engaging conversation with author, podcaster, and expert health and wellness coach, Howard Jacobson.  Here, we get into the tricky question of how to discern truth from falsehood, reality from creative (and compelling) stories. Using concrete examples in the fields of nutrition, exercise, and martial arts practice.  Touching upon: How we decide what is true (or true enough) The necessity and paradox of trust Resolving conflicting ideas What science, medicine, and Systema training have in common   Follow Howie's healthy exploits at www.plantyourself.com Mentioned in this episode:Burn, by Herman Pontzer, PhD:https://www.amazon.com/Burn-Research-Really-Calories-Healthy/dp/0525541527Reality-making: the Art of Distinguishing Truth from Falsehood:https://medium.com/the-understanding-project/reality-making-the-art-of-distinguishing-truth-from-falsehood-a30d5c3c3d7c 

Episode 135: On Discerning the Truth

After a short break (and an extended, three-week road trip across the USA), we return this week with Menamy Mitanes - Systema and BJJ Instructor at The Academy Beverly Hills and Systema Los Angeles. In this, Menamy's second appearance on the podcast, we delve beyond his personal story and get into the core training philosophies of the martial arts - about which Menamy is more than qualified to speak. With a pedigree that includes JKD and FMA (under Dan Inosanto), BJJ (under Rigan Machado), and Systema (under Martin Wheeler and Vladimir Vasiliev), Menamy is a truly prolific student and teacher of the martial arts. For context, this interview followed a weekend seminar Menamy taught in Greenville, South Carolina, attended by Glenn and several of the NC Systema Crew. Here, we get into:- core similarities (and differences) in approach: FMA, BJJ, and Systema - training for self defence versus training for competition- the dangers of "faith in tradition" and of "go hard or go home" approaches- why high-level external skill must (and can only) emerge from internal understanding Find out more about training with Menamy at www.systemalosangeles.com and www.theacademybeverlyhills.com, and follow Menamy on Facebook at www.facebook.com/SystemaLA Mentioned in this episode:Interview with George Saint-Pierre on the Lex Fridman podcast4-day East Coast Masterclass NC, with Martin Wheeler (Oct 21-24, 2021)

Episode 134: Menamy Mitanes

This week, an engaging romp into the worlds of Systema, alternative medicine, and meta-cognition, with deep thinker, podcaster, martial artist, and Chinese medical practitioner Taran Rosenthal. Taran has an incredible breadth of knowledge - which is apparent to anyone who talks with him about anything - yet his experience of Systema profoundly influenced his experience of daily life and parenthood. Here, we riff on all that and more. Including: - Discovering Systema as a means of self-regulation and self-exploration- Similarities and differences between Systema and TCM (Traditional Chinese Medicine) philsoophy- The assumptions of modern, western science and medicine- Living in relationship to the world If you enjoyed this, check out Taran's co-hosted podcast Apricot Jam, here: https://www.audible.com/pd/Podcast/B08K56GN39

Episode 133: Taran Rosenthal

This week, a mind-expanding walkabout through the realms of body, mind, and spirit, with Indigenous Australian author, scholar, arts critic, and martial artist Tyson Yunkaporta. Tyson is a Senior Lecturer in Indigenous Knowledge at Deakin University, and author of the extraordinary book Sand Talk: How Indigenous Knowledge Can Save the World. Originally aired on Tyson's own podcast, The Other Others, this episode delves into the confluence of Systema and Indigenous thinking, including: Physical practices to enhance thinking and awareness Blurring the boundaries between self and other Distributed cognition, and how we can use it Reconnecting with place, finding right story, and living a relational existence Mind-blowing stuff, for those interested in such things.  For a better context and understanding of half the stuff we "yarn" about here, be sure to purchase Sand Talk in hardcopy or audiobook format (narrated by the author). For more mind-expanding (and unapologetically triggering) yarns, check out Tyson's own podcast, The Other Others, on Spotify.

Episode 132: Systema Thinking, with Tyson Yunkaporta

This week, a conversation with health and wellness guru, Systema For Life regular, and possessor of relentlessly regular bowel movements. Here, we ponder the subject of self-talk, which one way or the other has become louder and more frequent over the last, lonely year. We're often told by therapists, leadership gurus, and cocky celebrities that self-talk is all-important - the difference between success and failure. But how important is self-talk, really? What role does it play in our health, our decisions, and our self-development?Here, we discuss: Positive and negative self-talk The problem of excessive thinking and rumination Cognitive (versus behavioural or body-based) solutions Progressive / attenuated experience as the antidote to fear and self-doubt Follow Howie at plantyourself.com, and buy his book (co-authored with Josh Lajaunie) Sick to Fit, on Amazon.com.

Episode 131: On Self Talk (with Howard Jacobson)

This week, a light-hearted romp into the world of martial arts, mind, and creativity, with Systema Instructor and fiction author Patrick E. McLean. Patrick is an accomplished martial artist with a pedigree that includes Judo, Jujitsu, Eskrima, AikiJujitsu, and Systema. He is also the author of more than 10 dramatic-comedic fiction books, including the award-winning How To Succeed in Evil, and the host of the How It's Written podcast. Here, we talk about aspects of creativity in life, work, and training. Including: Why creativity needs structure to roam free Practicing martial arts to increase your creative powers Barriers to creativity: fear and pride Advice for aspiring writers and artists Purchase Patrick's books on Amazon.comHow It's Written podcast 

Episode 130: On Creativity, with Patrick E. McLean

This week, a deep-dive into the myths, half-truths, and hard truths surrounding training for defence against edged weapons, with none other than Martin Wheeler - Senior Systema Instructor and Co-Founder of The Academy Beverly Hills. Here, we seek to include a wide range of perspectives on knife defence, in order to dispel confusion, inform your practice, and make sense of the frequent (and predictable) objections that inevitably arise whenever anyone puts out a knife-defence video clip. The hope being that next time someone starts to argue about knife defence online, you can avoid the pointless back-and-forth, and steer them here for a full discussion.  Included: Primitive states and "inevitable" responses Dangers of magical thinking and self-delusion Levels of ability and understanding in knife fighting Working with strength, skill, and power Mentioned in this episode: 4-day East Coast Masterclass NC (October 21-24)Live and Online Training with Martin at The Academy 

Episode 129: Realities of Combat, with Martin Wheeler

This week, a ponderous diversion into the world of behavioural economics, with Economics Professor and Systema practitioner Rik Chakraborti.  At first glance, you might not think that economics and martial arts have much in common. But in truth, both involve the resolution of internal conflicts, warring instincts and incentives, and a keen understanding of human behaviour.   Here, we get into: Rik's attraction to Systema as an operating system Varying motivations for training martial arts How our choices reveal our underlying preferences Cultivating habits for success in training and life Enjoy!

Episode 128: Systemanomics, with Rik Chakraborti

This episode sees the return of author, health and wellness coach, and host of the Plant Yourself podcast Howard Jacobson. Prompted by nothing and nobody in particular, we tackle the tricky subject of how not to be an a**hole - especially when you are trying to coach or change somebody for the better. Along the way, we touch upon: When and why good intentions go bad Clarifying your motivations Recognizing where the power lies (hint: it's not with you) The three golden rules of a**hole avoidance Howie's new book - co-authored with Peter Bregman - will out later this year. Mentioned in this episode: How Emotions Are Made by Lisa Feldman-Barrett The Bregman Leadership Podcast

Episode 127: On Not Being An A**hole

This week, an interesting departure into the field of nutrition and metabolism, with Stanford-educated physician, metabolic health expert, and Co-founder / Chief Medical Officer of Levels Health, Dr Casey Means. We know that diet, nutrition, and metabolism are critically important to overall health, regardless of other behaviours and considerations in life. As it has been said - you can't out-exercise a bad diet. You can't out-relax or out-meditate it, either. But given that there is such a glut of information out there on diet, nutrition, and metabolism, it can be hard to know who to believe, which metrics to trust, where to focus for the optimal result. Enter Casey Means and Levels - a unique biodfeedback system that measures real-time blood glucose levels in order to help you make connections between your lifestyle choices, your unique metabolism, and your overall health.  Here, we get into: Why metabolism is so important to overall health Why individuals process the same foods in different ways Why "a calorie is a calorie" is an incomplete and misleading model for human nutrition How sleep, stress, and movement affect metabolism Find out more about Levels - and read high-quality scientific articles on metabolic health - here: https://www.levelshealth.com/blogFollow Dr Casey Means on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/drcaseyskitchen/?hl=en

Episode 126: Dr Casey Means

This week sees the joyous return of veteran instructor, founder of Austin Systema & Tai Chi, and thoroughly decent human being, Gene Smithson.  Always an elightening guest, here Gene shares his insights on: how he has grown and developed because of the pandemic why the goal of good movement is joy the difference between training, manifesting, and being advice for staying happy and whole in tough times Train with Gene at https://www.austinsystema.com, and buy his execellent books and e-books Shot: Healing Hurt, BreathWork and Simple (Not Easy) on Amazon, here    

Episode 125: Gene Smithson

Join scientist, author, and Systema Instructor Glenn Murphy for weekly musings on all things Systema. Featuring interviews with top instructors from around the world, seminar reviews, topical discussions, and much, much more. Whether you're just dipping a skeptical toe into Systema, or you're an experienced practitioner with a few million pushups under your belt, there's something here for everyone. Many thanks to Vladimir Vasiliev and Russian Martial Art HQ Toronto for their approval and support of this podcast.

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Systema For Life

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