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As in many European countries, Finland's martial
arts community is strongly oriented towards
competition, including almost all of the
traditional styles. Most Finnish Kokondo-ka do
not compete in karate tournaments, nor do they
practice any aspect of sport karate. The emphasis
of Kokondo in Finland, as in the United States,
is traditional karate for self-defense. However,
Finland Kokondo does sponsor a small group of
competitors who recently participated in the
Finnish National Karate Championships in Helsinki
on Sunday, April 18, 1999. Finland's Kokondo
Director Vesa Toropainen proudly reported that
all of the individuals from Kokondo competed with
excellent spirit and technique, and several also
placed very highly in their respective divisions.
Since the late 1970's and through the 1980's,
Kokondo Sensei Pekka Oey was internationally
known in full contact karate circles as one of
Europe's top competitors. In the 1990's, this
small group of competitors sponsored by Kokondo
have remained active as part of the Finnish
National Karate Team which competes in
international tournaments. These traditional
tournaments are run very strictly and sanctioned
by the World Karate Federation (WKF), formerly
known as WUKO, the World Union of Karate-do
Organization. The Finnish Karate Federation, an
active WKF member, ran this recent Helsinki
tournament which included many traditional
Okinawan and Japanese stylists competing in kata
and jiyu-kumite (free sparring.)
Jussi Immonen, a Kokondo-ka currently ranked 5th
in the world for Kumite in his WUKO division, was
unable to participate in this tournament due to
an injury. Among the Kokondo competitors at this
event were:
 Mirika Lahde- 2nd Place,
Women's Division, Under 55 kilos
Saku Rantenen- 3rd Place,
Men's Division, Under 75 Kilos
Kimmo Obiora- 1st Place,
Men's Division, Under 70 Kilos
Sammu Jokiaho- 2nd Place,
Men's Division, Under 70 Kilos
With his girlfriend Henna, Sammu recently visited
his family in Boston, MA, where they trained with
Sammu's sister Saara at the Brandeis Kokondo
Academy. Saara, who formerly trained in Vantaa,
Finland, is now a member of the Brandeis dojo
while she attends Lexington High School in
Lexington, MA. She holds ranks in Jukido Jujitsu
and Kokondo Karate.
Several of Finland Kokondo's senior sensei,
including Atte Jokinen and Vesa Toropainen, were
on hand to support the competitors. We extend our
congratulations to these hard working individuals
and look forward to meeting them in the future.
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