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Kuusamo Camp, Finland 2008
by Richard Price
This year approximately 40 people attended Kuusamo Camp from the North and South of Finland and Scotland. Similar to the previous Senior National in Scotland, the theme of the course was demonstration. Initially this appeared alien to some who were expecting the usual concentrated energetic workout.
We looked at the importance of students being able to self-devise displays, taking on board a lot of the thinking, which is so often the sole domain of the instructor. In fact Billy drew attention to one clear difference between someone who is a martial artist and someone who trains in the martial arts being the ability to apply thought/study to the skills we are training in order to develop and grow new practise and training opportunities. These opportunities would then be transferable to a wider audience.
After a nervous start by many, the demonstrations came thick and fast with a myriad of different styles, techniques and approaches. Considerations of demonstration timing, entrance and exit strategies, audience type, audience involvement, marketing Shoto Budo through its dynamic practise and humour were all discussed and trained under the umbrella of self defence, health and well-being ensuring a practise which, got many a rusty brain cell working to capacity. As in Scotland there were countless smiling faces at this course but unlike Scotland, Billy had brought an engraved trophy bearing the words, "Shoto Budo Demonstration Champions", and as many as ten teams of mixed grades set about designing, planning and practising for a five minute display to be judged by the Meijin and 5th Dan group.
The trophy was awarded to a young team from Kuusamo who put on a skilful, humorous and very real demonstration of self-defence techniques for an audience of 18-28 year olds. It was rightfully awarded and many stood with sheer delight on their faces as the techniques were performed at speed and then in slow motion for all to enjoy the detail.
Those who had expected a tough physical workout soon began to realise how tough a mental one this was and one particular man spoke out to say that his attitude had changed dramatically from feeling the practise to be inappropriate for a national course to recognising it as one of his most important practices to date.
For those who also wanted a Kuusamo style drilling, the practise surrounding the grading proved to be intensive for all involved and for those who achieved new grades the test seemed to verge on the extreme!
Markus and Mika who have both recently visited us in Scotland were awarded Second Dan and First Dan respectfully and the test also provided Mika with a pretty blood stained suit and Markus with a black eye worthy of a panda!
One of the more spectacular achievements saw a young fifteen year old man named Antti perform a diving roll over an adult male who was almost standing upright at the time. Another highlight was a lovely demonstration of two "old" men defending themselves with walking sticks in ingenious ways. The Fifth Dan group treated the course again with a humorous demonstration in the vein of the "Drunken Master" demo from Spring School but this time they enacted specialist warriors from across the globe coming to unsuccessfully defeat a "Thor" like Finnish giant, (Juha!) and finding out that twelve limbs are better than four!
Other demonstrations communicated a wide array of ideas from power to flying, resulting in a course where there never seemed a dull moment.
As ever, the social events, which surrounded the course, were a major part of the enjoyment. Richard, Susan, Hugh, Kimmo, Juha and Billy all set off on snowmobiles on the Friday evening for a speedy trundle through the Ruka Safari area and, as usual returned with child like grins. Billy commented after this that on so many occasions he was thinking, "Come on …go faster…faster!" And then he would suddenly hit a bit dip or hollow very near a tree and quickly think, " mmm… maybe this is just fast enough!"
Our host Kimmo provided us with great hospitality and friendship and added further by fuelling us with the many stories of Finland, which often made us, laugh heartily and he also finally provided us with the definitive version of where the myth/story about him wrestling with bears originated. (This story will be incorporated into the forthcoming book of Shoto Budo Stories).
Sauna, The Singing Swan, national bird of Finland and packs of wild reindeer strolling past the excellent log cabin accommodation in a winter wonderland landscape also added to the uniqueness of the Finnish experience.
One of the things, which inspire me most about training in Finland, is the standard of practise. I know we have achieved great standards in Scotland over recent years and truly it is a joy to watch. When I see juniors who rise to the adult ranks in Finland with such dedication to training and with the ability to perform skills, which many of us still only dream of it fills me with enthusiasm to see those I instruct aspire to or surpass these skills.
Once again the camp coming to an end was disappointing as even though the challenge is never easy on your body and mind, leaving the tranquillity of Kuusamo is rarely easy on your spirit.
Sincere thanks to Kimmo and Kirsa, Juha Salmi and Yrki and Kisa for so many great conversations and happy memories and especially to Juha for not losing it with me after this!
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