Finland 2007

Over time, many, including myself, have benefited from this relationship both in practise of martial arts and the cementing of international friendships. Senior figures in Finland nowadays such as Yki Luukkanen, Kimmo Niikonnen, Juha Salmi and Peter Nysten frequently visit us in Scotland bringing with them strong students and also their expertise and skills which, repeatedly educate, entertain and enlighten our own karateka.

Around ten years ago, through this exchange I had the pleasure of meeting Kimmo Niikonnen, both in Scotland and at their Finnish Winter Camp in Kuusamo in Northern Finland. Kimmo is in my opinion not just an excellent martial artist and ambassador for Shoto Budo in Finland, he is also a talented artist and the Development Manager of a large and very successful company in Finland called Rukasafaris, which provides an impressive array of country activities for large parties visiting his country on holiday. His love of art, his experience of life, his genuine respect for his students and peers and his sheer physical energy, (which would make the Energiser Bunny pale), all combine to make Kimmo the very special man that he is to many who know him.

In April 2007 I once again went with Billy to Finland giving me the rare but richly rewarding experience of training in Kuusamo, spending time with Kimmo and his students and further cementing my own friendships with many other karateka in the tradition which Billy and Pekka had originally pioneered. For many of our students in Scotland who may never go to Finland, I decided to diarise some of this experience to provide a flavour of the place, people and special qualities, which make this partnership so unique.

Our plane lands in a small airport in the north of Finland where we are met by the familiar smiling face of Kimmo as we wait for our bags to be unloaded onto the conveyor belt which circles endlessly around a stuffed reindeer. I look across at Billy who is carrying only some Scottish Whisky to give as a gift and an expression of all too familiar resignation comes across his face as we realise that everyone has now left the airport, the conveyor belt is now empty and our cases are not in sight.

I hear that Hugh Russell is so familiar with this possibility when he makes this trip that his hand luggage is almost the same volume as his hold luggage! I briefly consider that our cases went off to Gran Canaria for the sun in protest and were at that point circling around a stuffed lizard display on an otherwise empty conveyor belt!

Of course the humour wares off pretty quickly and as we approach the dojo the following morning in a light snow shower, the thought of training in my baggy jeans and tea shirt and Billy in his blue shirt and dark trousers brings into focus how much I really value my karate kit, towel and wash bag!

Miraculously though the Finnish elves have been working all night long and there, at the sports centre, with only slightly dampened contents we are reunited with our stray Samsonites.

I have been here before…. The sports centre, the beautiful log cabins, the saunas…. But the last time I saw only snow and tree tops. This time the site of tarmac roads and forest floors and temperatures some 15 degrees warmer act as a salutary reminder of the effects of climate change.

Hand shaking, back patting and warm welcomes soon give way to the serious business of course content. Following the production of our recent DVD – "A Modelled Approach to the Taikyoku Katas", Billy chooses to give our hosts a taste of its content and in his own inimitable fashion it is not long before he has us practising well beyond the scope of the DVD.

Spending time with Billy, as many will know can be a brain scrambling experience. The intensive period of contact with him afforded by this trip brought, for me, ever increasing realisation that we have a modern day master in our midst.

His multi-layered and multi-facetted approach to martial arts is none like I have ever encountered and the ramifications of that in respect of both mental and physical health as well as spiritual well-being continue to surpass my own high expectations.

Many years ago a kata practise seemed to me such a detached way to approach karate but not so in Finland.

Rigorous opportunities to train isometrics, dynamic tension, balance, stamina and body condition added to a practise which explored the skilful use of the movement within kata; linear, centrifugal, fulcrums and levers as well as the examination of appropriate structure alongside effective orientation.

Many found the training to be more tiring than usual, perhaps as a result of the amount of cerebral activity required.

Billy, patiently translated by Kimmo, spoke about how the masters would be able to revisit even the most elementary of practises and still deliver a plethora of new learning and beyond a shadow of a doubt he achieved this over the two days.

There seems to be a law in Finland, however, that does not permit training after 4pm… (Was somebody pulling our leg Kimmo?)

This meant we had to cram in a lot of learning and an impressive array of students grading to the next level in their personal development.

This odd anomaly gave us some quality time in the company of our most hospitable friends. Marcus and Leena, two of these friends, both spoke of their real enjoyment in Scotland and commented on how well they were received. They were in fact inspired to come here to work and to study on the strength of our international relationship.

I drew the line however at eating reindeer though from more than just my vegetarian reasoning, especially when I was told that the one with the red nose was on the menu that evening!

Spending a morning scooting about at speeds of up to 70 kph on a Skidoo in a snow covered vast landscape was the icing on the social cake whilst the icing on the practise cake had to be young Leena doing her First Dan grading.

Arguably one of the most impressive and inspiring performances at that level I have had the pleasure to witness. A student of Kimmo, he looked on with pride and even a little sadness at the fact that this talented young woman would soon be leaving Kuusamo.

And so another excellent trip was now complete as Billy and I headed homeward conversing all the way about the strong possibility of him producing a modern day master text. What a buzz to be a part, not just of this special international relationship but also of all the exciting developments which Shoto Budo is set to make.

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