Kalin historia Suomessa

Escrima was introduced first time in Finland by Jay Dobrin BIFF-Escrima. Dobrin came to Finland with Jujutsu Master Richard Morris.

Godfathers of Finnish FMA are Yuji Matsui and Kaj Westersund

Dan Inosanto/Cass Magda taught Kali-Silat-JKD in Turku. Hosted by Hannu Hiltunen, Filipino Martial Arts Turku.

Cass Magda and Nino Bernado taught Kali in Turku. Hosted by Hannu Hiltunen, Filipino Martial Arts Turku.

Larry Hartsell taught Close Quarter Combat in Turku. Hosted by Hannu Hiltunen, Filipino Martial Arts Turku.

Helsinki 1990/91: Suomen Shaoling Kung-Fu club added Kali to the club’s catalogue run by Peter Gibson and James Stewart. They have Kali certificate from Bob Breen.

Cass Magda taught Kali-Silat-JKD in Turku. Hosted by Hannu Hiltunen, Filipino Martial Arts Turku.

Bob Breen in Helsinki. Hosted by Shaolin Kung-Fu, Peter Gibson and James Stewart.

Larry Hartsell taught Close Quarter Combat in Turku. Hosted by Hannu Hiltunen, Filipino Martial Arts Turku.

Cass Magda taught Kali-Silat-JKD in Turku. Hosted by Hannu Hiltunen, Filipino Martial Arts Turku.

Kristo Aaltonen, Jari Tuovinen, Loko Löfgren and Mikael Falck left Budoclub Genbu-Kai and founded together Taistelutaito Akatemia Kampongin (in Helsinki). Later Pasi Pölönen also came to teach in Kampong club. Style was Inosanton Kali and the club was running two years till 1994.

EAKAF (European Arnis Kali Escrima Federation) European Championship in North-Ireland. Mikko Häkkinen came 2^nd in Men Light Middleweight and Pipsa Laakso came 3^rd in Women Lightweight. Both are from Shaolin Kung-Fu club.

Pasi Pölönen start Combat Academy of Finland Kali charter in (Helsinki, Vuosaari and Rajatorpassa ) till 1996.

Kristo Aaltonen beging teaching in CAF.

Bob Breen in Helsinki. Hosted by Shaolin Kung-Fu, Peter Gibson and James Stewart.

First stick gathering in Helsinki. Knife and soft stick sparring between Helsinki and Turku Kali trainees. 5 men from each group participating.

Bob Breen in Helsinki. Hosted by Shaolin Kung-Fu, Peter Gibson and James Stewart.

Cass Magda taught Kali/Silat in Helsinki. Hosted by Kristo Aaltonen. Magda was interviewed on the Jyrki TV-show (3 min clip)

Two Bill McGrath's seminars in Finland/Turku. Hosted by Kaj Westersund. Theme: Single stick subsystem.

2. Stick gathering in Helsinki. 5 men from Turku group, 3 men and two women from Helsinki group participating.

First Escrima book in Finland published by Kaj Westersund/Panwels/Halminen.

Bob Breen in Helsinki. Hosted by Shaolin Kung-Fu, Peter Gibson and James Stewart. Breen was interviewed on Finnish TV program (7 min clip).

Bill McGrath's seminar in Finland/Turku. Hosted by Kaj Westersund

Kristo Aaltonen and Jussi Mattila attended Leo Giron's seminar in Germany/Mannheim. Leo Giron was assisted by Tony Somera. Theme: Single stick Largo Mano, De Fondo. Also Kristo and Jussi trained for a week privately under the tuition of Bob Dubljanin in Mannheim.

Bob Breen in Helsinki. Hosted by Shaolin Kung-Fu, Peter Gibson and James Stewart.

Bill McGrath's seminar in Finland/Turku. Theme: Double stick "Dirty Dozen", 12 attacks, disarms and knife/single stick sparring.

An escrima club was opened and teaching based on BIFF escrima and some Pekiti Tirsia in Tampere (200 km NW of Helsinki).

September martial arts club Seigiken opened in Jyväskylä. FMA-systems represent by B.I.F.F. Escrima. Teacher was Janne Muhonen with seven training partners.

Bob Breen in Helsinki. Hosted by Shaolin Kung-Fu, Peter Gibson and James Stewart.

Sweden/Stockholm, Uli Weidle's weekend seminar. Attends were Kirsi and Juha Saarinen from Tampere.

Bill McGrath's seminar in Finland/Helsinki. Theme: Single stick Abcedario and Abcedario de Mano.

GM Jurg Ziegler from Switzerland taught Kombatan -style (founder Ernesto Presas ) during Sinmoo Hapkido seminar in Pori (250 km west of Helsinki).

November martial arts club Seigiken started training also system called Pekiti-Tirsia Kali in Jyväskylä. Club teacher is Janne Muhonen.

Helsinki, Kali group moves training place from Combat Academy to Kisahalli/Töölö

Guro Kristo Aaltonen from Helsinki retires from practicing Kali. Sad news!

Jukka-Pekka Nieminen visited The Philippines/Cebu for three weeks. Training privately Balintawak Arnis style under the tuition of Henry Jayme. Jayme taught Balintawak Single stick, Combat Judo+knife fighting and Tat Kun Taon.

Bill McGrath's seminar in Finland/Turku. Theme: Single stick 64 attacks & florette.

Jay Dobrin's seminar in Turku.

The Dogbrothers gathering 4 minutes clip has been show on the AXN tv -show on FinnishTelevision. The clip looks more like a rock video than a documentary but at least it's something on TV.

Risto Hietala started new school in Oulu (600km North of Helsinki ) which teaches Inosanto Blend Kali among some other Martial Arts (Wing Chun, Jun Fan, Silat, Muay hai ). He was introduced to this System –96 while visiting Dallas, TX. After five years training in local WuHsinKuen Academy of Martial Arts he was promoted as an Apprentice instructor and was allowed to begin to teach under Sifu Jon Rister. Sifu Jon Rister has been studying under Raymond Crow who was certified by Guro Dan Inosanto.

Jussi Mattila attended a two week Grand Tuhon Leo Gaje's Knife Fighting Training Camp in the Philippines/Cebu with Tom Sotis and AMOK knife fighters. GT Gaje's assistants were Baldwin Garrucho and Rommel Tortal.

Rami Vainionpää and Tomi Harell trained Kombatan in Ernesto Presas seminar in Switzerland.

First stick wrestling "competition" in Helsinki at Itsepuolustuskoulu Maunula. 8 men and three women participating in this event. Just pure fun! In the stick wrestling two sticks are held together by two competitors. A point is given when you release the opponent's hold from the stick. The released stick is taking to the side. After that both hands are on the last stick and the wrestling continues. There's a two minute period. Kicking, striking, head butts and grappling are not allowed. If the wresting goes to ground, the wrestlers are lifted up to a standing position by the referee.

Kari Rastas started the Pekiti-Tirsia Kali group in Vihti (50 km N.W. of Helsinki).

First Kombatan course started in Pori. Run by Rami Vainionpää.

WuHsinKuen Oulu ry organize one week Jun Fan Kung Fu & Kali/Eskrima seminar in Oulu. Teacher was Jon Rister (Sifu Francis Fongin certified instructor). Also Risto Hietala graduated as Associate Instructor.

Grand Tuhon Leo Gaje kept a three day camp in Sweden/Stockholm. Theme: a single/double knife work and a single stick. Attends were Kirsi Saarinen, Juha Saarinen, Jarkko Lievonen and Jussi Mattila.

Espoo, Escrima Consept training by Peter Olsson from Sweden. Host was Espoon Krav Maga.

Helsinki, Escrima Consept training by Steve Tappin from England. Host was Helsinki Wing Tsun in Combat Academy of Finland.

WuHsinKuen Oulu ry organize one week Jun Fan Kung Fu & Kali/Eskrima seminar in Oulu. Teacher was Jon Rister (Sifu Francis Fong certified instructor).

Jay Dobrin teaching BIFF escrima for a week. First in Jyväskylä and then in Turku.

Reutlingen, Germany: Grand Tuhon Gaje and Uli Weidle kept 9 day training camp. Theme: Kali Workout, single stick, Dumog, Malay Sibat and a knife. Attends were Jarkko Lievonen and Jussi Mattila.

Turku, Bernd Giller from Germany taught Pekiti-Tirsia Kali. Theme was Espada y Daga set 1 Attacks (knife in Sak-Sak ) over a weekend.

Pori, Granmaster Ernesto Presas taught Kombatan escrima almost a week. Rami Vainionpää and Tomi Harell received 4 Dan rank in Kombatan.

Grandmaster Juerg Ziegler seminar in Pori / Host: Kombatan-Finland

Ibiza, Spain: GT Gaje 10 Day Pekiti-Tirsia Camp. Jussi and Jake were at the camp.

Helsinki (Tapanilan Erä), Jeff Espinous (International Kali Arnis Eskrima Federationin - Instructor) taught Sikaran kickboxing and empty hand vs. knife over a weekend.

Helsinki, Escrima Consept training by Steve Tappin (England) and Olsson (Sweden). Host was Helsinki Wing Tsun in Combat Academy of Finland

Reutlingen, Germany: Uli Weidle taught Pekiti-Tirsia Kali knife 3 days Camp.

Stockholm: Uli Weidle taught Pekiti-Tirsia Kali over the weekend.

Helsinki: Uli Weidle first time in Finland for the weekend seminar.

Stockholm: GT Gaje taught Pekiti-Tirsia Kali for 3 day camp. Theme: Capsula Method.

Reutlingen, Germany: Uli Weidle taught PT Kali in More Than Techniques training camp (6 days).

Reutlingen, Germany: Uli Weidle taught Pekiti-Tirsia Kali knife 3 days Camp.

Stockholm: Uli Weidle taught Pekiti-Tirsia Kali over the weekend.

Pekiti-Tirsia Europe two week Training Camp in the Philippines (Manila, Antipolo and San Juan). Over 20 participants all over Europe (Finland, Sweden, Spain, Holland and Germany). Team Finland: Renny Merihaara, Jyri Rintala, Jarkko Lievonen and Jussi Mattila.

Johan Skålberg (SWE) from IKAEF kept seminar in Helsinki Tapanilan Erä.

Helsinki: Uli Weidle second time in Finland for the weekend seminar.

Helsinki: Uli Weidle third time in Finland for the weekend seminar in June. Theme: Malayu Sibat (long spear).

Praha : Uli Weidle three day camp.

Helsinki: Uli Weidle three day camp in April.

April: Grandmaster Ernesto A. Presas seminar in Pori / Host: Kombatan-Finland
Grandmaster Ernesto A. Presas awarded Rami Vainionpaa and Tomi Harell the rank of master (5. Dan)

May: Grandmaster Ernesto A. Presas seminar in Sweden / Host: Grandmaster Johan Skålberg. Finnish team: Tomi Harell & Jouko Kivelä, Kombatan-Finland.

Tampere: Sixt Wetzler from Germany one week in July.

Tomi Harell , Kombatan-Finland was teaching in East European Kombatan Community summercamp in Latvia.

IKAEF summecamp in Germany (participants from Finland :Finnish IKAEF students from Tapanilan Erä)

August: Special training in Pori (Madunong Guro Holger Wipfler / Kali Sikaran, Saksa & Master Herman Mochalin / Kombatan, Latvia ) Host:Kombatan-Finland

Reutlingen, Germany: Grand Tuhon Leo Gaje three day camp in October. Theme Daga Pakasol.

Team Finland: Jussi Mattila, Jarkko Lievonen, Sasu Piispa ja Petri Vaittinen.

Rami Vainionpää, Kombatan-Finland was teaching in seminar in Portugal / Host: Guro Pedro Silva, Kombatan-Portugal

November: Kombatan & Kali Sikaran seminar in Pori.
(Instructors: Madunong Guro Heikki Martikainen / Kali Sikaran, Sweden sekä Tomi Harell / Kombatan, Finland)

February: Solo baston freestyle training in Pori. Participants from Australia, Finland and Latvia. Instructor senior master Andy Elliott / Kombatan Australia. Host: Kombatan Finland

March: Pekiti-Tirsia Kali camp in Philippines Manila and Bantangas (Planet Dive beach resort) for ten days. Participants from Germany, Sweden, Czech Republic, Switzerland and Jussi Mattila from Finland.

April: Grandmaster Juerg Ziegler seminar in Pori / Host: Kombatan-Finland

Kombatan / IPMAF two weeks Training Camp in the Philippines (Presas beach resort, Hinigaran, Negros islands). Over 70 participants all over world. Team Finland: Tiia Vuorinen, Milla Ranta, Veli-Matti Uusikartano, Toni Niemi, Jouko Kivela and Tomi Harell

Tomi Harell and Jouko Kivela training privately Kombatan 8 days under the Senior master Michael Ermac in Philippines.

May: Uli Weidle three day camp in Helsinki. Theme Pangamut (Thrusting knee, slap/elbow/hack combo)

June: IPMAF Summercamp in Yyteri Beach, Pori. Instructor Guro Pedro Da Silva from Portugal. Host Kombatan Finland

July: Tomi Harell from Kombatan-Finland was teaching in East European Kombatan Community summercamp in Apgulde, Latvia.

One week Pekiti-Tirsia training camp by Roland Roppelt in Tampere.

August: Grandmaster Ernesto A. Presas (IPMAF) seminar in Poland. Participants from Finland: Ville Kosola, Jari Kosola and Rami Alamaa.

November: The first Finnish IPMAF stickfighting and anyo competition in Pori, Finland. Host: Kombatan-Finland.

March: Roland Roppelt in Tampere over a weekend.

May: Grand Tuhon Leo Gaje in first time in Finland (Helsinki) three day camp. Theme was Knife, Gunolgy, Pangamut and Dumog.

August: Kit Acenas from Manila Pekiti-Tirsia group over a weekend in Helsinki.