Do I Need to Speak Russian to Learn Systema?

Systema Colorado — Longmont, CO Brad Scornavacco  ·  Systema Explained  ·  Systema Colorado No. Not a single word. It’s a reasonable question — Systema is a Russian art, many of its most prominent instructors are Russian, and much of the foundational video material features Russian-speaking teachers. If you’ve watched any of that material, you’ve probably Read More …

Is High-Stress Adrenalized Training Good for You?

Systema Colorado — Longmont, CO Brad Scornavacco  ·  Systema Explained  ·  Systema Colorado There’s a school of thought in martial arts and tactical training that says the only way to prepare for real violence is to train under real stress — high adrenaline, elevated heart rate, genuine fear. The idea is that if you’ve never Read More …

Weapons Training in Systema — What to Expect

Systema Colorado — Longmont, CO Brad Scornavacco  ·  Systema Explained  ·  Systema Colorado In most martial arts, weapons training is something you work toward — an advanced topic introduced after years of empty-hand training. In Systema, weapons work is integral to training from the beginning. Not because Systema is focused on weapons, but because working Read More …

Is Systema a Religious Practice?

Systema Colorado — Longmont, CO Brad Scornavacco  ·  Systema Explained  ·  Systema Colorado Systema has a spiritual dimension, as do all things — that’s worth acknowledging directly rather than glossing over. Many of its most prominent Russian practitioners, including its founders, are members of the Russian Orthodox Church, and that tradition informs certain aspects of Read More …

Why Haven’t I Heard of Systema Before?

Systema Colorado — Longmont, CO Brad Scornavacco  ·  Systema Explained   It’s one of the most common things people say when they first encounter Systema: I’ve trained in martial arts for years, I thought I knew what was out there — how have I never heard of this? The answer is historical, and it’s more Read More …

Can Systema Work Against Multiple Attackers?

Systema Colorado — Longmont, CO Brad Scornavacco  ·  Systema Explained  ·  Systema Colorado Most martial arts avoid this question. When pressed, instructors will admit that their system wasn’t really designed for multiple attackers — that the one-on-one sparring, the techniques, the training environment all assume a single opponent. The honest ones will tell you that Read More …

What Is Sparring Like in Systema?

Systema Colorado — Longmont, CO Brad Scornavacco  ·  Systema Explained  ·  Systema Colorado Sparring is one of the most misunderstood aspects of Systema — partly because the word itself carries so much baggage from other martial arts. When most people hear “sparring,” they picture protective gear, point systems, referees, and two people trying to score Read More …

Why Are There No Belts in Systema?

Brad Scornavacco  ·  Systema Explained  ·  Systema Colorado If you’ve trained in traditional martial arts, the belt system is one of the first things you encounter. White belt. Yellow. Orange. Green. Brown. Black. The colors mark your progress, signal your rank to everyone in the room, and give you something visible to work toward. Systema Read More …

How Long Does It Take to Learn Systema?

Brad Scornavacco  ·  Systema Explained  ·  Systema Colorado It’s one of the first questions new students ask, and the answer is almost always surprising: most people can apply what they learn in Systema after their very first class. That’s not a marketing claim. It follows directly from how Systema works — and understanding why changes Read More …

How Systema Differs from Karate, Taekwondo & Jiu-Jitsu

Brad Scornavacco  ·  Systema Explained  ·  Longmont, CO Most people who find Systema come from somewhere else. They’ve trained in Karate, or Taekwondo, or Jiu-Jitsu, or Kung Fu. They’ve put in real time and developed real skill. And then they encounter Systema — and something shifts. The question they almost always ask is: what’s actually Read More …