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) Systema. A former instructor for the famous Degerberg Academy of Martial Arts in Chicago, Al's unique and unparalleled knife skills, in particular, have seen him teaching famous martial artists such as Lee Wedlake, Scott Glenn, and Martin Wheeler, along with workshops for the Lethal Force Institute. 

Here, we talk about:

- his path into martial arts training and teaching
- rare experiences working with FMA, Systema, and H'sing-i masters 
- the deep principles he has observed across multiple martial styles
- posture, connection, and attitudes to "reality-based" training

Al is also a prolific oil painter. See examples of his work at http://www.almcluckie.com