The teachers who carry the work.
East Anglia Systema is led by Gareth Ashby in Cambridge, with international seminar instruction by Andy Cefai. Twice a year we host senior international instructors from the wider Systema community.
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Gareth Ashby
Gareth founded AESC Systema in Cambridge and has been its senior instructor for many years. He holds rank under Systema HQ Toronto and has trained directly with Mikhail Ryabko and Vladimir Vasiliev. His class style is calm, considered, and rigorously breath-led.
Gareth's full biography, written in his own voice, will appear here once he has signed it off.
Bio status, draft pending sign-off
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Andy Cefai
Andy is cofounder of Systema Japan, a regular guest instructor at Systema HQ in Toronto, and a longtime instructor in Singapore. He leads the international seminar arm of East Anglia Systema and underwrites the Onishi and Vasiliev seminars in 2026 and 2027.
His Cambridge work is in service to Gareth's school. His seminar work is in service to the wider lineage.
Biography in progress
International guest instructors.
Two of the most respected instructors in the global Systema community are visiting Cambridge in consecutive years. Both seminars are open to all levels.
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Ryo Onishi
Ryo Onishi is one of the most respected senior Systema instructors active today. His seminars are known for their depth on breath, structure, and slow work under pressure.
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Vladimir Vasiliev
Vladimir Vasiliev cofounded Systema HQ in Toronto with Mikhail Ryabko and is the senior international face of the art. He travels rarely. A Cambridge visit in 2027 is the closest most UK students will come to the source.