This week, a very special episode of Systema For Life, in which we talk to renowed Systema Master and Founder of Systema HQ , Toronto, Vladimir Vasiliev.

This interview was conducted on behalf of the leading international martial arts magazine, Black Belt. An edited version appears in print, in the April/May edition of the magazine (get yours now!). This episode represents the entire, unedited interview.

Vladimir needs no introduction - known throughout the Systema world, and a living legend of the global martial arts community.
No surprise, then, that this is his third cover article in Black Belt to date.

The topic was training for combat versus competition. In this, we covered a lot of ground. Including:

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• Vladimir's background in boxing, karate, and Russian military combatives
  
• tension, telegraphy, and visibility in combat
  
• the benefits and pitfalls of sporting competition: confidence vs ego
  
• real-life accounts of Systema in action