In-depth conversation with David Merrill - veteran Systema practitioner, and the first American to be granted an Instructor qualification by Systema HQ Moscow. Here, we discuss Dave's early experiences in Systema, and how his concept of the style has changed over many years of training and teaching. Along the way, we also cover:

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• his (critical) motivation for learning Systema knife defense
  
• his first training trip to Siberia and Moscow
  
• his tough intitiation with Mikhail Ryabko
  
• returning to form, and the tension-free state
  
• the value of changing the way you think
  
  See a clip of David in action here: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2faL58tSGj0