Originally posted by jbkenpo
After watch Gou speak so highly of this system I finally decide to view some of the vids I have. I saw some strange stuff (in a good way) and some unique concepts and other concepts presented in a different way.
One thing that I have to say is that this stuff is not new. It's not something that has been hidden away and kept secret. In fact when you actually try it you say to yourself,
"I knew that." It's that d@mn simple but people almost can't accept that it is. I never would have thought I could put a fingerlock on a guy with my shoulder from a push. I have seen it done. Heck, don't even make me go into the
"scarecrow walk" Vlad had me do. D@mn embarassing and d@mn effective.
The problem is the videos don't do it justice. You have to feel it to really believe. In fact, most people when they see it on video dismiss it. They think people are co operating. They do in a manner. If I don't co operate with the technique I can choose to have my leg broken or my fingers snapped. I usually co operate. Heh.
There are about 10 tennents to the systems that Vlad uses. One of them is not to be concerned how you look. Why? Because you look goofy sometimes. I admit that Kenpoists are one style of martial artists that look kewl when they move. However I often hear,
"Paul Mills (Just an example, don't get excited now) moves like the old man(Ed Parker)." That's great but in Systema I hear,
"So-and so is effective like Vlad or Misha." To me this is great. I will never move like Ed Parker. I am not a 200 lbs Hawaiian. I have to take Ed Parker's systema and after learning it I have to tailor it to me. The thing is, that a lot of Kenpoists never really do this, they end up looking like like whoever taught them. Now I am learning how I am effective for myself right away through concepts. Instead of using a set technique to teach this we have been doing it with static events. You almost have no choice but to move as only you would and let's face it, sometimes that's goofy. But if it works...well...
Let me say this, I don't think you can compare the two per say without having done both. The are like 2 different vehicles going to the same destination. But they both have an idea of being concept and principle oriented.
) I would have let the tapes set up on my shelf for another 6 months.
