Systema Instructor, David Orman
Central Florida Systema was founded by Dr. David Orman, the pioneer of Systema training in Central Florida. David established CFL Systema in 2004, becoming the first Instructor to bring this unique Russian martial art to the area. More than 2 decades later, CFL Systema remains the ONLY approved Systema school in the Greater Orlando area, carrying forward a direct connection to the most respected Systema lineage.
David’s martial arts journey began in 1985 and spans more than 4 decades of dedicated training, teaching, and exploration. His extensive background includes Karate, Kumdo, Kyusho, Aikido, Modern Arnis, Balintawak Escrima, Kali, Qi Gong, Tai Chi, Bagua, Krabi Krabong, and other internal and traditional martial arts. He holds black belts in Goshin Jutsu Karate, Aikido, Tai Chi, Kumdo and Toyama Ryu Batto Jitsu and 3 teaching certifications, including Systema, Krabi Krabong and The Approach, giving him an unusually broad perspective on striking, weapons, movement, internal training, self defense, and combative principles.
David continues to expand his knowledge through direct training with Systema’s co-founder Vladimir Vasiliev, and some of the most accomplished instructors in the Systema world. He has had the honor of training with Sergey Ozereliev, Konstantin Komerov, Valentin Talanov, David and Rick Merrell, Maxim Franz, Alex Popeskou, Emmanuel Manolakakis, Martin Wheeler, and many others.
This depth of experience is what makes training at Central Florida Systema different. Students are not simply learning techniques. They are benefiting from more than 40 years of martial arts experience, more than 2 decades of Systema instruction, and lessons drawn from direct exposure to an extraordinary range of martial traditions and internationally respected teachers.
David’s Background
• First Systema Instructor in the Greater Orlando area
• First to establish a Systema school in Greater Orlando, founding Central Florida Systema in 2004
• Trains directly with Vladimir Vasiliev, cofounder and one of the world’s foremost teachers of Systema
• Completed Systema Senior Instructor Martin Wheeler’s MasterClasses
• 13-year senior student of Systema Masters, David and Rick Merrell, the first Americans to be certified Systema Instructors under Mikhail Ryabko and Vladimir Vasiliev
• Black Belt in Aikido
• Black Belt in Goshin Jutsu Karate
• Black Belt in Kumdo
• Black Belt in Toyama Ryu Sword
• Black Belt/Sifu title in Pai Lum Tai Chi
• Certified Instructor in Krabi Krabong,
• Founder and Chief Instructor of FL Thai Warrior school (est. 2023)
• One of only 3 Americans to earn the title of Full Instructor in The Approach, a British self defense system taught to police, bodyguards and security at the Tour de France.
David’s experience crosses dramatically different martial traditions, from the fluidity and adaptability of Systema, to the internal principles of Qi Gong and Bagua, the throws and movement of Aikido, and the demanding weapons disciplines of Kumdo, Toyama Ryu, and Krabi Krabong. This breadth of training allows him to teach martial arts from a perspective developed through decades of serious study rather than through the lens of a single system.
David is also a well known Acupuncture Physician, Master Herbalist and Nutrition Expert. He brings 30+ years of clinical experience, having done over 40, 000 treatments during this time, into the Wellness aspect of Central Florida Systema.