Is Systema the “Luckiest” Martial Art?

by David Orman, CFL Orlando Systema

Dr. Richard Wiseman spent ten years studying why some people consistently seem luckier than others. His research, published in one of my favorite books, The Luck Factor, found that luck is often less about chance and more about state of mind. People who described themselves as lucky tended to be more relaxed, open, and aware of their surroundings. Those who considered themselves unlucky were significantly more anxious, more narrowly focused, and far more likely to overlook opportunities right in front of them. His conclusion was simple yet profound: tension narrows perception, while relaxation expands it.

If that sounds familiar, it should. Go to a Systema class. Any Systema class and count how many times you hear the word “relax” or one of its synonyms.

Clearing tension/promoting relaxation is one of the 4 foundational principles of Systema. Our goal is learning to remove unnecessary tension from both the body and the mind (and the opponent). Rather than meeting stress with more force, Systema teaches practitioners to breathe, relax, and remain aware under pressure. Whether facing an attack, solving a problem, or navigating daily life, the goal is the same: stay calm enough to perceive what others miss. In many ways, Systema trains the very qualities Wiseman identified as common among “lucky” people.

This doesn’t mean Systema creates magical luck. It means it develops the conditions that allow opportunity to be recognized and acted upon. A relaxed person notices the opening in a conversation, the subtle movement before an attack, the business opportunity others overlook, or the chance encounter that changes the course of a career. While tension produces tunnel vision, relaxation broadens awareness. The result is enhanced perception leading to better decisions. It is seeing what others miss.

Perhaps that is one of Systema’s greatest hidden benefits. Beyond self-defense, strength, or resilience, it teaches a way of moving through life with greater awareness and less unnecessary tension. If Dr. Wiseman is correct that relaxed, attentive people experience more “luck,” then Systema may very well be one of the luckiest martial arts in the world, not because it changes fate, but because it changes the person experiencing it.