This episode sees the return of Ryo Onishi (Systema Japan) to the podcast, with an engaging discussion of developing real power in Systema. As usual, Ryo brings practicality and a healthy perspective to a topic that can easily drift into the es

Episode 143: Edgars Cakuls

Jun 3rd, 2022 41m 6s

This episode, a fascinating discussion with Systema veteran and Head Instructor of Systema NYC, Edgars Cakuls.In this second appearance on the show, Edgars reflects on ideas and concepts shared during his recent 2-day, outdoor seminar in Durham

Episode 142: On Optimization

Apr 29th, 2022

Hullo, Friends. After an 8-week sabbatical, Systema For Life returns this month with a broad discussion on the subject of focus, attention, and the attempt to "optimize" your daily training and life routines. I'm joined once again by coach and

Episode 141: On Internal and External Work, with Jan Bloem

Feb 25th, 2022 1h 10m

This week, another fascinating conversation with prolific movement scientist, neuroscientist, and martial artist Jan Bloem.As we learned during our first conversation last year (see episode 124), Jan has studied the art and science of movement

Episode 140: Tim Anderson

Dec 17th, 2021 54m 8s

This week, a deep dive into the world of Original Strength - a system of natural movement and neurological "resetting" created by company founder, personal trainer, and physical educator Tim Anderson. Tim's simple (but effective) OS system is a

Episode 139: Gabe Stern

Oct 1st, 2021 1h 19m

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 an

Episode 138: Greg McKeown

Sep 17th, 2021 54m 21s

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 (20

Episode 137: Al McLuckie

Sep 3rd, 2021 59m 21s

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)

Episode 136: Martin Wheeler (Special Episode)

Aug 20th, 2021 32m 32s

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:- insight

Episode 135: On Discerning the Truth

Aug 6th, 2021 1h 15m

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) storie

Episode 134: Menamy Mitanes

Jul 23rd, 2021 1h 14m

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 po

Episode 133: Taran Rosenthal

Jun 25th, 2021 1h 14m

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 - whi

Episode 132: Systema Thinking, with Tyson Yunkaporta

Jun 11th, 2021 1h 11m

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 Unive

Episode 131: On Self Talk (with Howard Jacobson)

May 28th, 2021 1h 2m

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 o

Episode 130: On Creativity, with Patrick E. McLean

May 14th, 2021 1h 12m

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,

Episode 129: Realities of Combat, with Martin Wheeler

Apr 30th, 2021 1h 12m

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 se

Episode 128: Systemanomics, with Rik Chakraborti

Apr 16th, 2021 1h 8m

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

Episode 127: On Not Being An A**hole

Mar 19th, 2021 53m 44s

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

Episode 126: Dr Casey Means

Mar 5th, 2021 57m 27s

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, an

Episode 125: Gene Smithson

Feb 19th, 2021 1h

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 becau

Episode 124: Jan Bloem

Feb 5th, 2021 1h 38m

This week, a fascinating conversation with neuroscientist, self defense expert, and prolific martial artist Jan Bloem. Jan has studied the art and science of movement and combat at the highest levels, in the fields of kinesiology and psychomoto

Episode 123: Matt Hill

Jan 22nd, 2021 1h 8m

This week, an uplifting and inspiring chat with UK-based Systema Instructor Matt Hill. Matt is a former British Army Paratrooper Captain, and founder of the Matt Hill Systema Academy, based in Wiltshire (western England). An accomplished leader

Episode 122: Best of the Podcast 2020-2021

Jan 1st, 2021 1h 20m

Well here we are - we made it to the end of 2020 - some of us limping to the finish, but across the line, nonetheless. Among all the challenges and problems we faced this year, I was grateful for the enjoyable and thought-provoking conversatio

Episode 121: Rafe Kelley

Dec 25th, 2020 1h 33m

Merry Christmas, to all who celebrate it!This week, an energetic conversation with Rafe Kelley - martial artist, movement expert, natural parkour pioneer, and founder of Evolve.Move.Play. Rafe is legendary in natural movement circles, and seeme

Episode 120: Ben Ford

Dec 11th, 2020 1h 23m

This week, a profound exploration of abstract strategy - and specfically Colonel John Boyd's OODA loop concept - with former Commando and professional technology strategist Ben Ford. If you are interested in any aspect of good decision-making u