Systema has a relatively short history in the UK, at least compared to karate, judo and similar arts.

Systema UK was founded with the aim of promoting the practice of all aspects of Systema.

Systema UK is a representative of the Federation of Russian Martial Art under the direction
of Colonel Mikhail Ryabko and is an affiliate of Mr Vladimir Vasiliev’s School of Russian Martial Art

Systema UK is a professional organisation. As well as regular classes we run
workshops and seminars and host visits from leading teachers.

We maintain very close links with the top teachers as well as fraternal links with many other Systema groups and practitioners world-wide.

ROBERT POYTON

Robert was born in 1963 in West Ham, London. He has been well known in the UK as a Tai Chi Chuan teacher, with many years experience in a family style of that art. His teachers included Vincent Chu, Gin Soon Chu, John Ding and Jim Uglow. In addition he has trained with many teachers and friends, including Yap Cheng Hai, Ji Jian Cheng, George Xu, Erle Montaigue, Chen Xiaowang, Rick Moneymaker, Peter Consterdine, Dave Turton, Rob Murray, David Nicholson and others.

On seeing a copy of Vladimir Vasiliev's Hand to Hand Combat video Robert contacted Vladimir with a view to further training. Since then he has visited Vladimir's Toronto school several times and has also travelled to Moscow to train with Mikhail Ryabko. He now trains and teaches solely Systema, which he describes as "an art that encompasses all aspects of living".

Robert was Editor of Tai Chi & Alternative Health magazine and Tai Chi International magazine. He has had articles published in Combat, Martial Arts Illustrated, Men's Health, Maxim, Yoga & Health, Steve Grayston's Martial Arts and others. In 1998 he was featured in the Ultimate Book of Martial Arts (Anness Publishing).