Disappear / disparaître
Article on the workshop by Vladimir Vassiliev, in Nantes, October 21 and 22, 2017
On
By Pierre Berçot, instructor.
On the weekend of October 21–22, 2017, Systema Atlantique had the pleasure of inviting Vladimir Vassiliev (Systema HQ Toronto) for a seminar on the following theme: "Biomechanics, movement, and sensation." A promising and fascinating theme that, as far as I was concerned, presented a real pedagogical challenge. Sensation leading to movement, movement stemming from biomechanics — a set of Russian dolls, in a way, even if it is not quite that simple.
Vladimir Vassiliev and Sergei, instructor from Systema-Kiev
© Systema Atlantique
It must be said that once again, the master — Vlad — treated us to an all-levels workshop of the highest quality, where each exercise offered numerous layers of interpretation and plenty to keep our minds spinning for some time. Starting from a simple wrist movement, Vlad unfolded a program covering the entire theme while giving us a glimpse of the full breadth of his art. Twisting, gripping, relaxation, selective tension, footwork, striking, old school, new school... In short, a true distillation of Vassiliev Systema as we love it: simple, unpretentious, enriching, shared in good humor — and above all, with the master's remarkable availability. No matter the number of attendees — 125 participants! — this man has the ability to be everywhere at once, giving particular attention to each person.
Accustomed to his "relax yourself," "move," "breathe," and "don't be tense" — staples of his pedagogical arsenal — it was above all the notion of "disappear" (disparaître) that struck me most this time. How to remove any hold, any grip for your partner, but also for yourself and your mind. To be empty, to simply disappear, with a knife pointed at the solar plexus and perhaps with a sidestep as the only movement. Simple but not easy at all, if we start from the principle that simplicity is not banality or the ordinary, but on the contrary a stripping away — something essential freed from the superfluous.
Starting from simple exercises involving gaze, pushes, and disarms, Vlad attempted to guide us down the path of letting go with genuine honesty. Regardless of the many critics of the Vassiliev method when it comes to pedagogy or otherwise, sensation can certainly be explained, but above all it must be experienced. With his words and his explanations, he illuminated us. The demonstrations were short, recurring, structured, and largely performed by workshop participants, which allowed us to receive corrections in real time.
This was therefore not a one-man show, not a succession of spectacular demos where Vlad would have dazzled us with his performances. No applause and those moments of solitude that follow the master's demonstration when it is time to get to work.
The moments of brilliance were more intimate; moving through the room from group to group, he would appear out of nowhere, treat us to a few passes and exchanges, and then disappear again...
A heartfelt thank-you to Yan and his team for organizing this seminar with the rigor and professionalism that characterize the Systema Atlantique section. Banner, coffee, tea, croissants, and bread rolls were served at breakfast; and to close the workshop, a brioche nantaise the size of a wheel of Comté cheese (the Franc-Comtois in me obliges the comparison) — one could hardly believe it. These annual gatherings are an opportunity for long-time practitioners to reunite, and for everyone to observe that Systema is growing with more and more sections and aspiring instructors. Proof that the practice of Systema is diversifying — and that it is not about to disappear.
© Systema Atlantique