Systema encourages all practitioners todiscover their unique strength; its corephilosophy is poznai sebia, or “know yourself.”Attributes that may seem like disadvantages in afight are never considered such in Systematraining. A short practitioner can more easilyduck and weave around an opponent. A heavystudent may find the extra padding helpful whentaking strikes or meeting the ground. It is likewise for psychological components suchas intuition, sensitivity, and caution. While beingtough and stoic about pain is helpful in survivalsituations, being sensitive and responsive todanger is also an asset. Multiple scientificstudies demonstrate that women are moreintuitive and empathetic than men, andtherefore may sooner perceive a situation thatseems a little “off” or a person who may beemotionally unstable. It is that very intuition thatprotects us best. Systema training offersbenefits for all students, of course, but thephysical and psychological differences betweenmen and women give each of the sexes uniqueadvantages. Below are ten reasons why Systema is aparticularly good martial art for women. 1. WOMEN ARE NOT TAUGHT SEPARATELY Systema training is psychologicallychallenging; women have the additionalchallenge of being a small minority in class.But since most violent criminals (as well asvictims of violent crime) are men, it stands toreason that Systema classes are generally co-ed. The unfamiliar situation is always the

TEN REASONS SYSTEMA IS PERFECT FOR WOMENby Rachel Klingberg

the most frightening; practice takes the edgeoff fear and lends confidence to resolveconflict. Some forms of assault are morecommonly used against women (grabs andholds) or men (punches), but that is not to saythey only happen to one sex or the other –anyone can be grabbed, thrown, punched,kicked, stabbed, and yes, even sexual assaultalso happens to men and boys. Some women’s self-defense classes focusentirely on harnessing women’s aggression. Men in padded suits are treated as the enemyto be vanquished with explosive moves andangry shouts. Rather than amping up thenervous system, Systema’s fluid movementsboth calm and trick the opponent. There is notelegraphing in Systema; attacks are sudden,surprising, and seem to come from nowhere.Systema students learn defense against allforms of assault, but aggression againsttraining partners is not the Systema way.Classmates are comrades sharing a journey ofself-discovery. 2. SYSTEMA DOES NOT RELY ON SUPERIORSIZE OR STRENGTH Superior size, strength, speed, the ability toleap tall buildings in a single bound – all canbe advantages in a physical conflict, but fewwomen can rely on being bigger, stronger, orfaster than an assailant. Even for men, theseare unknown, unpredictable factors; it is thehallmark of a bully to never pick on someonehis own size

"Scientific studiesdemonstrate that women

are more intuitive andempathetic than men"

Systema does not advocate striving tobecome the biggest, fastest, strongestperson on earth for personal safety(although it does encourage physicalfitness and conditioning). In Systemapractice we assume that the opponent willhave every advantage, and drills oftenbegin from a situation of seriousdisadvantage rather than “squared off.” Systema proficiency is not dependent onsuperior physical qualities, much less“lighting fast reflexes.” Reflexes can beaffected by age, illness, physical condition,hunger, thirst, pain, injury, and a thousandother factors, but they are involuntary andcannot be conditioned or trained. Systema does not even assume you willhave the benefit of vision or for thatmatter, all four limbs in a survivalsituation, and blindfolded, handcuffed, andno-hands-or-legs drills are a regular partof training. Systema does rely on touch. The eyes can be fooled; it is nearlyimpossible to touch someone without theirperceiving it. Touch is more honest; it isalso more resilient - a loud explosion canleave a person deaf, temporarily orpermanently, whereas vision is lostwhenever we are in a dark room

Touch is more resilient and stable than vision orhearing and losing this sense, or being bornwithout it, is far rarer than being blind or deaf.For more on touch, see Point Three....... 3. SYSTEMA WORKS THROUGH INSTINCT ANDINTUITION Women’s intuition is often regarded as a myth, oreven a negative stereotype that women are more“touchy-feely” than men, but multiple studiessupport the notion that women are moreintuitive and empathetic than men – not thesame thing as being “emotional.”

Systema encourages all practitioners todiscover their unique strength; its corephilosophy is poznai sebia, or “know yourself.”Attributes that may seem like disadvantages in afight are never considered such in Systematraining. A short practitioner can more easilyduck and weave around an opponent. A heavystudent may find the extra padding helpful whentaking strikes or meeting the ground. It is likewise for psychological components suchas intuition, sensitivity, and caution. While beingtough and stoic about pain is helpful in survivalsituations, being sensitive and responsive todanger is also an asset. Multiple scientificstudies demonstrate that women are moreintuitive and empathetic than men, andtherefore may sooner perceive a situation thatseems a little “off” or a person who may beemotionally unstable. It is that very intuition thatprotects us best. Systema training offersbenefits for all students, of course, but thephysical and psychological differences betweenmen and women give each of the sexes uniqueadvantages. Below are ten reasons why Systema is aparticularly good martial art for women. 1. WOMEN ARE NOT TAUGHT SEPARATELY Systema training is psychologicallychallenging; women have the additionalchallenge of being a small minority in class.But since most violent criminals (as well asvictims of violent crime) are men, it stands toreason that Systema classes are generally co-ed. The unfamiliar situation is always the

TEN REASONS SYSTEMA IS PERFECT FOR WOMENby Rachel Klingberg

the most frightening; practice takes the edgeoff fear and lends confidence to resolveconflict. Some forms of assault are morecommonly used against women (grabs andholds) or men (punches), but that is not to saythey only happen to one sex or the other –anyone can be grabbed, thrown, punched,kicked, stabbed, and yes, even sexual assaultalso happens to men and boys. Some women’s self-defense classes focusentirely on harnessing women’s aggression. Men in padded suits are treated as the enemyto be vanquished with explosive moves andangry shouts. Rather than amping up thenervous system, Systema’s fluid movementsboth calm and trick the opponent. There is notelegraphing in Systema; attacks are sudden,surprising, and seem to come from nowhere.Systema students learn defense against allforms of assault, but aggression againsttraining partners is not the Systema way.Classmates are comrades sharing a journey ofself-discovery. 2. SYSTEMA DOES NOT RELY ON SUPERIORSIZE OR STRENGTH Superior size, strength, speed, the ability toleap tall buildings in a single bound – all canbe advantages in a physical conflict, but fewwomen can rely on being bigger, stronger, orfaster than an assailant. Even for men, theseare unknown, unpredictable factors; it is thehallmark of a bully to never pick on someonehis own size

"Scientific studiesdemonstrate that women

are more intuitive andempathetic than men"

Systema does not advocate striving tobecome the biggest, fastest, strongestperson on earth for personal safety(although it does encourage physicalfitness and conditioning). In Systemapractice we assume that the opponent willhave every advantage, and drills oftenbegin from a situation of seriousdisadvantage rather than “squared off.” Systema proficiency is not dependent onsuperior physical qualities, much less“lighting fast reflexes.” Reflexes can beaffected by age, illness, physical condition,hunger, thirst, pain, injury, and a thousandother factors, but they are involuntary andcannot be conditioned or trained. Systema does not even assume you willhave the benefit of vision or for thatmatter, all four limbs in a survivalsituation, and blindfolded, handcuffed, andno-hands-or-legs drills are a regular partof training. Systema does rely on touch. The eyes can be fooled; it is nearlyimpossible to touch someone without theirperceiving it. Touch is more honest; it isalso more resilient - a loud explosion canleave a person deaf, temporarily orpermanently, whereas vision is lostwhenever we are in a dark room

Touch is more resilient and stable than vision orhearing and losing this sense, or being bornwithout it, is far rarer than being blind or deaf.For more on touch, see Point Three....... 3. SYSTEMA WORKS THROUGH INSTINCT ANDINTUITION Women’s intuition is often regarded as a myth, oreven a negative stereotype that women are more“touchy-feely” than men, but multiple studiessupport the notion that women are moreintuitive and empathetic than men – not thesame thing as being “emotional.”

Intuition can save your life! Women may soonerperceive the very subtle cues that a person or asituation is not what it seems to be. It is that very intuition that protects us best. Andbeing the physically weaker sex, as well as theones who bear the young, women have evolved tobe more sensitive, aware, and cautious than men.Interestingly, women’s skin is also more sensitivethan men’s, which is 25% thicker. This isparticularly well-suited to Systema practice, inwhich maintaining contact and receiving feedbackabout the opponent’s next movement is anessential tactic. And as mentioned above, thesense of touch is generally more honest andreliable than eyesight, which is volatile and candeceive us. 4. SYSTEMA IS AN HOLISTIC APPROACH TOSURVIVAL Systema is not just for defense against physicalassault. Its philosophy of survival can be appliedto any challenging situation; from a migraineheadache to being lost in the wildernessPractitioners have used their skills to minimizeinjury from life’s ordinary hazards – slips, falls,construction mishaps, even car accidents. Systema self-defense is not limited to physicaldanger from assault or accident. Breathing,relaxation, fluid movement, and good posture arenecessary aspects of optimal wellness, in additionto being foundational principles of Systema. Evenwomen who are not particularly concerned withnor interested in self-defense can still benefitimmensely from Systema training for wellness aswell as its methods of conditioning for mental orphysical challenges. 5. WOMEN HAVE A LOWER CENTRE OF GRAVITY Systema does not have a stance; its fightingposition is also recommended for everyday life:simply unlock the knees, tuck your hips veryslightly, and drop your hips about two inchesdown; in other words, lower your center of gravity.This is especially important for anyone sufferingfrom back pain, as locking the knees can aggravateexisting conditions.

IN TOWER ELITE..........THERE CAN BE ONLY ONE!

Tower Elite is a real time PvPtower defense game. Each playerconstructs their own tower usingcomponents from their Armory.

Once your tower is built the battlebegins.

Win by destroying the enemy's toweror by forcing them to surrender!

If you feel you have what it takes,challenge others in PvP or practice

versus deadly AI opponents. PurchaseTEC or earn them in battle to upgrade

your components.

FEATURES-Singleplayer and Multiplayer modes

-Use strategy to destroy key enemycomponents

-Earn awards and achievements

-Powerful Components to destroyyour enemies!

CLICK HEREFOR DETAILS

It is impossible to move fluidly withlocked knees or with your center ofgravity over your toes. Most womenalready stand and walk in the Systemaway, because women’s center of gravity isslightly lower than men’s. It is a positionthat is natural to women, but one thatmost men must acquire through practiceand training. 6. WOMEN HAVE BETTER HIP MOBILITY Women hips give them an wider range ofmotion, especially in groundworkWomen’s hips and wider pelvic area are aconsiderable advantage in Systema. Kicksare easier to deliver and have a widerrange of motion, pivots and turns areeasier to execute, knee strikes aresneakier, and movement on the ground ismuch smoother. That is not to say men cannot learn to bejust as fluid, but simply that the physicaldifferences make it easier for women tomaintain relaxed, mobile hips.

And many women, with no former Systematraining, can perform beautifullycontrolled and fluid rolls. Some have hadyoga experience, others as just naturallycatlike and flexible. Once again the widerpelvis is an advantage for women, makingmovements on the ground easier as well asproviding an excellent range of motion forpowerful, dynamic legwork. 7. SYSTEMA STRIKES LEVEL THE PLAYINGFIELD In Systema class, strikes are just like anyother skill: not necessarily dependent onphysical attributes. But this is undoubtedlythe one item on this list that is impossibleto convey to anyone who has not felt thesoul-shocking thud of a woman’s well-delivered strike that stops you like a ton ofbricks. Women can learn to strike just as well asmen; having a bigger fist or stronger armdoes not make a strike more devastating.Precision and timing, a relaxed, whip-likedelivery, utilizing the opponent’s forwardmotion to increase the impact – nothingabout Systema strikes is dependent onhaving a large, strong arm.

Now if we accept that women can strike aseffectively as men, we must also acceptthat strikes “level the playing field.” Whenmen are at close range, they can moreeasily grab and hold a smaller opponent;on average men are 50% stronger thanwomen. But effective strikes can keep anopponent out of range, not indefinitely, ofcourse, but in survival situations, even oneminute can be a lifetime. A highly proficient, well-placed Systemastrike can certainly ring a few bells, andeven though one technique should not berelied up, striking skill can increase theodds of ending the conflict before it getsto close range. 8. NO BELTS, RANKS OR TOURNAMENTS The competitiveness of men can seemridiculous and unnecessary to women,even those who understand that it’s atleast partly motivated by biology.Fortunately, strong ego and Systema donot mix well. Competition other thanfriendly sparring is discouraged; arroganceis frowned upon. Very often the mostaccomplished veteran instructors are alsothe humblest.

"Women canlearn to strikejust as well as

men......precision,

timing anddelivery...."

Intuition can save your life! Women may soonerperceive the very subtle cues that a person or asituation is not what it seems to be. It is that very intuition that protects us best. Andbeing the physically weaker sex, as well as theones who bear the young, women have evolved tobe more sensitive, aware, and cautious than men.Interestingly, women’s skin is also more sensitivethan men’s, which is 25% thicker. This isparticularly well-suited to Systema practice, inwhich maintaining contact and receiving feedbackabout the opponent’s next movement is anessential tactic. And as mentioned above, thesense of touch is generally more honest andreliable than eyesight, which is volatile and candeceive us. 4. SYSTEMA IS AN HOLISTIC APPROACH TOSURVIVAL Systema is not just for defense against physicalassault. Its philosophy of survival can be appliedto any challenging situation; from a migraineheadache to being lost in the wildernessPractitioners have used their skills to minimizeinjury from life’s ordinary hazards – slips, falls,construction mishaps, even car accidents. Systema self-defense is not limited to physicaldanger from assault or accident. Breathing,relaxation, fluid movement, and good posture arenecessary aspects of optimal wellness, in additionto being foundational principles of Systema. Evenwomen who are not particularly concerned withnor interested in self-defense can still benefitimmensely from Systema training for wellness aswell as its methods of conditioning for mental orphysical challenges. 5. WOMEN HAVE A LOWER CENTRE OF GRAVITY Systema does not have a stance; its fightingposition is also recommended for everyday life:simply unlock the knees, tuck your hips veryslightly, and drop your hips about two inchesdown; in other words, lower your center of gravity.This is especially important for anyone sufferingfrom back pain, as locking the knees can aggravateexisting conditions.

IN TOWER ELITE..........THERE CAN BE ONLY ONE!

Tower Elite is a real time PvPtower defense game. Each playerconstructs their own tower usingcomponents from their Armory.

Once your tower is built the battlebegins.

Win by destroying the enemy's toweror by forcing them to surrender!

If you feel you have what it takes,challenge others in PvP or practice

versus deadly AI opponents. PurchaseTEC or earn them in battle to upgrade

your components.

FEATURES-Singleplayer and Multiplayer modes

-Use strategy to destroy key enemycomponents

-Earn awards and achievements

-Powerful Components to destroyyour enemies!

CLICK HEREFOR DETAILS

It is impossible to move fluidly withlocked knees or with your center ofgravity over your toes. Most womenalready stand and walk in the Systemaway, because women’s center of gravity isslightly lower than men’s. It is a positionthat is natural to women, but one thatmost men must acquire through practiceand training. 6. WOMEN HAVE BETTER HIP MOBILITY Women hips give them an wider range ofmotion, especially in groundworkWomen’s hips and wider pelvic area are aconsiderable advantage in Systema. Kicksare easier to deliver and have a widerrange of motion, pivots and turns areeasier to execute, knee strikes aresneakier, and movement on the ground ismuch smoother. That is not to say men cannot learn to bejust as fluid, but simply that the physicaldifferences make it easier for women tomaintain relaxed, mobile hips.

And many women, with no former Systematraining, can perform beautifullycontrolled and fluid rolls. Some have hadyoga experience, others as just naturallycatlike and flexible. Once again the widerpelvis is an advantage for women, makingmovements on the ground easier as well asproviding an excellent range of motion forpowerful, dynamic legwork. 7. SYSTEMA STRIKES LEVEL THE PLAYINGFIELD In Systema class, strikes are just like anyother skill: not necessarily dependent onphysical attributes. But this is undoubtedlythe one item on this list that is impossibleto convey to anyone who has not felt thesoul-shocking thud of a woman’s well-delivered strike that stops you like a ton ofbricks. Women can learn to strike just as well asmen; having a bigger fist or stronger armdoes not make a strike more devastating.Precision and timing, a relaxed, whip-likedelivery, utilizing the opponent’s forwardmotion to increase the impact – nothingabout Systema strikes is dependent onhaving a large, strong arm.

Now if we accept that women can strike aseffectively as men, we must also acceptthat strikes “level the playing field.” Whenmen are at close range, they can moreeasily grab and hold a smaller opponent;on average men are 50% stronger thanwomen. But effective strikes can keep anopponent out of range, not indefinitely, ofcourse, but in survival situations, even oneminute can be a lifetime. A highly proficient, well-placed Systemastrike can certainly ring a few bells, andeven though one technique should not berelied up, striking skill can increase theodds of ending the conflict before it getsto close range. 8. NO BELTS, RANKS OR TOURNAMENTS The competitiveness of men can seemridiculous and unnecessary to women,even those who understand that it’s atleast partly motivated by biology.Fortunately, strong ego and Systema donot mix well. Competition other thanfriendly sparring is discouraged; arroganceis frowned upon. Very often the mostaccomplished veteran instructors are alsothe humblest.

"Women canlearn to strikejust as well as

men......precision,

timing anddelivery...."

Many, if not most, are often relaxed and smiling,and the overall tone of Systema class tends to beplayful. There are no belts, ranks, or tournaments.Belts are meaningless in the context of self-defense, and competition blurs the very real goalof survival. Overcoming the competitive drivecan be challenging for men; not because men areinherently more competitive than women(studies show that in same-sex environments,men and women are equally competitive), butbecause men experience a burst of testosteronein “winning” situations, creating a feedback loopand biological impetus to seek the feeling ofwinning. This may be why men are more prone togambling addictions than women. The Systemaclass environment is compatible with the morecooperative nature of women. There is nowinning, only surviving, and our classmates arenot opponents but comrades. 9. THERE ARE NO CLOSED DOOR CLASSSESOR SECRET TRAINING Too often these closed-door classes are cloakedin mystery, with promises of ancient secrets tobe revealed if only you “make the cut.” Likewise,schools that divvy students into beginners,intermediate, and advanced, while generally well-intentioned, can have the same effect. Because women are a minority in nearly allmartial arts, the struggle to be “the first” or “theonly” woman in the advanced class can seem likea glass ceiling. Of course well-managed schoolsof any fighting style do not allow women to beexcluded from the inner ranks, but it’s reassuringto know that Systema has no inner ranks. Just observe any Systema party or post-workoutpub night: students of all levels sit together andconverse, and talk freely with even the mostsenior instructors. It would be unrealistic to saythat the thousands of Systema students acrossthe globe are one big family, and yet somehow,it’s not too far from the truth. A student of oneschool willgenerally be welcomed at another school as anhonored guest, and many Systema studentsenjoy visiting other schools while travelling TheSystema community is truly inclusive. For womenparticularly, who are a small minority, it’sespecially nice to be not only welcomed, butvery often appreciated because we are few.

10. CONFIDENCE = POISE AND BEAUTY There is no confidence like the knowledge thatyou can protect yourself. Confidence makes uswalk a little taller, look a little morecommanding, and therefore we are less likely tobe targets of a certain type of criminal whospends as long as 30 minutes picking a victimwho look easily subdued. Assaults can also be spontaneous, or come fromthose we know (statistically, the most likelyscenario) Confidence makes us more likely toprevail in challenging situations. Systema cannotmake anyone invincible, diligent training meanscontinuously striving to improve your wellnessand your ability to survive the hazards of life.Rising to meet training challenges, performingfavorite drills effortlessly, finally getting a trickymovement after months of practice, or just thesimple knowledge that you are studying self-defense – all will your increase confidence. Holding your own while sparring with someonetwice your size is a real confidence booster, andone that’s entirely possible with dedicatedtraining. (This is also true for men, of course.). Aconfident woman is strong, poised, and beautiful.Note that there is nothing wrong with wanting tolook attractive; too often it’s regarded as a“shallow” goal, but looking good does not meanwe forsake our inner qualities. The fluidmovements and straight posture of Systemamake us graceful, because movement looks easy.The confidence gained from rising to therigorous challenges of training, the calmness thatcomes with learning to breath and relax understress, the erect posture of good form - allaspects of training give the Systema woman thequeenly presence of one who know thatwomanly strength, while different from thestrength of men, is just as powerful, and just ashuman.

Rachel Klingberg has been a Systema

student at Fighthouse NYC since 2003,training extensively with Edgars Cakuls as

well as many other senior Systemainstructors and seasoned military

professionals.

PLEASE CLICK HERE FOR FULL BOOKING DETAILSWEBSITE