While I can understand the argument against the "way of the soldier," as well as the argument for "the way of the king," (although I haven't read anything on Systema at all), but I think that sometimes it is better to have been a soldier before becoming a king...
In Yiliquan, beginning students are taught to move certain ways, throw techniques certain ways, and initially perform a little robotically. That is due, mainly, to their lack of experience in addition to moving their bodies in odd ways for the very first time. In short order (usually within the first two months or so - there is a lot of material covered at all stages of Yili training), they are doing situational training, including "what if" situations... "What if" you are off angle? "What if" the opponent doesn't play by the rules? Etc. In learning how to deal with unexpected eventualities early on, it makes a person much more skilled later (they have had more time to learn to deal with it, and become much more fluidly responsive compared to students from other schools with similar training time under their belts).
We teach gun and knife defenses (and they are not the typical X block against a high downward ice pick stab, either) pretty early, too. They usually follow on right after the student has learned how to hold their ground in a stable position, and they have developed a few of their strikes so they don't need to be corrected constantly on their body position.
Systema intrigues me. It is just too bad there are no schools in my area.
Gambarimasu.
:asian: