Systema Instructors

Edgars Tsakouls
Fighthouse NYC
Edgars Tskakouls has 25+ years experience in various martial arts such as Sambo, Karate, and Kung Fu. He has been teaching Systema at Fighthouse since 2003. Edgars has trained extensively with Vladimir Vasiliev and Mikhail Ryabko, as well as many other senior Systema instructors. A native of Latvia, Edgars moved to the United States in 1991.

Valdis Hainley
Fighthouse NYC
Valdis Hainley has over 20 years of martial arts experience. He has trained in karate, wu-shu (Tao Gu-Shen), and hapkido. Val also studied psychology for two years in the Teachers College in Riga, Latvia. He was introduced to The System of Mikhail Ryabko in 2002 and has been training in it every since. Val says, "Though I believe that an individual stands beyond any method or system, he is, however, a part of a much greater System - the understanding of which may not even be possible and/or necessary and the realization of this simple fact gives a direction and purpose to our existence. And that is The System." Web site: systemacp.blog.com. Outdoor training with Val in Central Park on Sundays. E-mail valdis@savietis.com for details.

Frank Fileti
Fighthouse Long Island
Instructor Frank Fileti has over 15 years martial arts experience in boxing, Thai kickboxing, Kenpo and Systema. He has been a student of senior instructor Martin Wheeler for more than 10 years. Frank was certified to teach Systema by Vladimir Vasiliev, International Director and Founder of Systema Headquarters, in Colorado in 2004.

Oleg Polvinchick
Fighthouse Brooklyn
Oleg Polvinchik has over 23 years of martial arts experience. Oleg graduated from college with a masters degree. He majored in music, pedagogy, and philosophy. He has also studied Eastern philosophy, alternative medicine, and nutrition. Oleg was certified to teach Systema in 2006. In addition to Systema, he also teaches Combat Wing Chun Kung Fu.