Edgars Cakuls (Head Instructor) is certified by Vladimir Vasiliev and Mikhail Ryabko, has over 37 years of martial arts experience and has been teaching Systema since 2003. He seeks insight of the true nature behind Systema, which leads him to travel extensively (in U.S., Canada, Japan, Europe and Russia) to train with Vladimir Vasiliev, Mikhail Ryabko, Martin Wheeler, Danill Ryabko, as well as other top senior Systema instructors. Edgars was a decorated martial artist in both Sambo in his teen years and Karate in his early twenties, and he has 10 years experience in Ng Mui Kung Fu. |
Greg Drozdek Ed.D. (Assistant Instructor) has been a student of Edgars Cakuls and a classroom teacher for the past twenty two years. Greg has thirty years of martial arts experience. He currently teaches children Martial Arts-Fitness at PS 20 on The Lower East Side. A dedicated teacher and administrator, Greg founded The Stanton Street Settlement in 1998, a free after-school program for immigrant children on The Lower East Side. He now runs New York Cares' Martial Arts Fitness Program at PS 20 and PS 2 in Chinatown. |
Funda Gul
|
Funda Gul (Assistant Instructor) is a Native of Ankara, Turkey. She has studied various movement disciplines beginning with Aikido in 2005 eventually earning her Black Belt. Funda has been Edgars’ student for about a decade and is certified as an instructor-in-training in Systema. She is also a certified instructor in Krishnamacharya lineage of Yoga. Additionally, Funda teaches Contact Improvisation at Movement Research and continues her movement studies in House Dance, Parkour, Parcon, Authentic Movement, Tai-Chi, Qi Gong, Capoeira Angola, Fighting Monkey, and Archery. Funda applies her martial arts skills into her movement teaching, in particular to Contact Improvisation. Her training in Yoga allows her to easily individualize the practice at hand according to students' needs and abilities. This approach helps Funda create an all-inclusive space for practicing movement. Also, her main inspiration for movement follows the idea of “Function creates the form,” the idea that she has discovered during her martial arts and yoga training. In addition to being a talented mover, Funda also holds a Ph.D. in Mathematics from Stevens Institute of Technology.
|