"Dear Kokondo-ka" Paul Arelin terveiset 20-vuotiaalle suomalaiselle Kokondolla. Julkaistu Kokondon 20-vuotisjulkaisussa.
Celebrating twenty years of any endeavor is certainly a milestone to be regarded as very special. When I put Kokondo into the view of the public's eye, I envisioned a system that would maintain very important traditional standards, standards that espoused the Seven Codes of Bushido, ethics that would benefit Kokondo's practitioners in their everyday life and integrity that could be "felt" and "seen". The twenty year development of Kokondo in Finland has certainly followed this "vision".
When Pekka Oey brought Kokondo to Finland, little did I know how much of a giant step that would be in eventually spreading Kokondo around the region. I owe a debt of gratitude to him.
Under the subsequent leadership of Sensei Toropainen, the reach of our system has grown wider and, thanks to him, our art has been introduced, not just to Finland but also to Belgium, and even Norway has had, at least, an introduction to some of its practitioners. It is our understanding that the UK will be next.
Across the sea from Honbu the "hotbed" of Kokondo, is definitely Finland, where some of the strongest and most spirited Kokondo-ka exist. Black Belts like Senseis Atte Jokinen, Kimmo Kokkonen, Marko Patronen, Joakim Nieminen and, of course, Vesa Toropainen have had a very strong and positive influence on all the members. Among many others also Harri Kivinen and Tommi Grönberg are also commited to a strong Kokondo. Jarmo Österman has, through Budoka Magazine greatly contributed to the Finnish Martial Arts Community. Invitations to United States- to me, Senseis Dan and Scott Cohen, Rob Robert, International Liaison Master Steve Dunne, have been warmly received and reciprocated.
While it takes strong leadership and spirit to extend and maintain the art and its philosophies, it also takes students that can absorb our philosophies and keep them as they should be not "dictates" but ideals; not "tricks" but techniques; not flashy moves, but good and effective self defense and strong training ethics.. The students and senseis of Finland are certainly made up of all the "right stuff"; philosophies already mentioned -but also the power to stay with a system that will not be influenced by change for the sake of change. The strength to stick with Kokondo ideals and techniques, perfect them as much as possible and follow the instruction given with fervor is, I believe, part of what has brought Finland's Kokondo practitioners to this twenty year milestone.
I have no doubt that, under the guidance and influence of the present day leadership, Kokondo, in another twenty years from now, will still look like the Kokondo of today, just a lot stronger in scope. And, everyone following under this leadership's influence will be the future of Kokondo. Part of the reason for success is that for young and old, the benefits of Kokondo under your senseis are endless. Finland's Kokondo-ka seem to know this and each and everyone of you should take great pride in that fact.
I salute and congratulate all Finland's Kokondo-ka for this great achievement and, in particular Sensei Vesa Toropainen for helping to bring us this far!
Thank you..
Paul Arel
IKA Director/Chairman
Teksti: Paul Arel