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My coach Mikko Allinniemi
Mikko Allinniemi is my personal coach; we have worked together since year 2000. I had a two-year break in active training behind me because of studies and I had already given up the thought of competing again. When I had returned to training Taekwon-Do Mikko, whom I highly respected, surprised me asking about my willingness to reach for a place in the Finnish national team. I felt quite out of shape and my first reaction was to ask if he's really serious. When Mikko said he really means it, but it requires lots of work, I decided to give it a go. In the beginning we planned out my (our) willingness to commit, goals and recourses and then decided to get it going. Gradually coach-trainee relationship started to work, even though I didn't always take Mikko's talks about European Championship titles and things like that very seriously. In the beginning we actually worked probably the most with my self-confidence. The great thing about having Mikko as coach is that he can see the big picture and always seems to know what I need from him. Nowadays Mikko is actually not only a coach anymore, but also a kind of mentor and a very good friend.Name: Mikko Allinniemi
Date of birth: 140270
Grade: 5th degree
Started Taekwon-Do: 1987
Years in the national team: 12, 1994-2005
Best achievements: Several medals from European Championships in sparring -54 kg's and patterns, medals from EC's and World Championships in team events, several first places and other medals in international tournaments, Nordic Championship titles and numerous victories in Finnish Championships
Coaching/instructing: Several Taekwon-Do clubs around Finland and many times European Championships medallist Heli Karjalainen, two times World Champion Ismo Mäkinen, Joonas Helassalo among others
Other martial arts: escrima, Jeet Kune Do (concept), Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu / submission wrestling
Other hobbies: playing the piano, gymnastics, basketball
You have tried and still do several other martial arts too. Why is Taekwon-Do your number one art?
When I was young I had already for a long time dreamed of having some martial art as a hobby, but there was none in my hometown Vammala. Therefore my friend and I started training at Tampere. Based on his recommendation we chose WTF Taekwondo, but eventually the techniques, theory of power, philosophy beauty of movements and first of all the diversity of ITF Taekwon-Do got me hooked.
Why do you train other martial arts too, isn't Taekwon-Do enough?
Taekwon-Do is enough for sure, for it is a diverse and technical art. Without a doubt when being trained the right way, under the supervision of a good instructor/master, there's something to learn till the end of the world. However, I'm so interested in martial arts and fighting skills in general that I want to get to know several different arts. Unarmed combat and weapons techniques fascinate me, as well as the tactics of different fighting arts and styles. By using time one can find real pearls from the vast amount of martial arts. Among others the Philippine arts, their effectiveness, aggressiveness and flowing techniques have always fascinated me. In fact, they have been a part of my training ever since I got the first spark in 1998. The philosophy of the arts I train, however, differs significantly from Taekwon-Do's philosophy and not all of them are suitable for upbringing purposes, let alone juniors. Anyway, I've noticed that training other arts has helped me to improve also in Taekwon-Do and my students have benefited from them as well. Diversity, experience, thoughts, learning different skills, and critical stance towards all techniques usually grow when you visit new places and areas. Already from gymnastics alone I have received lots of ideas and thoughts for training coordination and strength.So you also train gymnastics?
Yes. I value gymnastics very high and I've given it a big role in my own training programme. I've had the privilege to train at Tampere with the help from Finnish top gymnasts. And now that I have the chance, big thanks go to the gymnastics coach of Sisu-team Joni Koivunen as well as to the top athletes of the Finnish gymnastics national team Riku Koivunen, Petja Mikkonen and Janne Simola.You have more years in the Finnish national ITF Taekwon-Do team than anyone else. What is the best moment of your competition career at the moment? What about the worse?
The worst moments must be the few times I've missed Championships because of injuries and maybe also the fact that I wasn't chosen in the 2006 national team despite the fact that I was in good condition. Good moments have naturally been winning many medals and tournaments, though on the other hand I've noticed that the greatest things in my competition career have been the friends, experiences and skills it has brought me. For some reason I've also felt more sentimental about and maybe even enjoyed more the victories of my trainees.
You've seen the top competitors of Taekwon-Do in two decades. Who of the patterns champions have impressed you the most? What about the ones in sparring?
In patterns the top names of their times were for example Mark Hutton from Scotland and Canadian Mike Morningstar, but the one that probably has made the most impression in me is Li Yong Il from DPRK. From the fighters I could mention always tough Paul Germain, talented Tapilatu siblings/cousins, charismatic Pierre Guenette, fast David Kerr and stylish Hwang Su Il. It's also been great to see the fabulous competition career of Thomaz Barada.
And of course I can also say with great proud, that I believe that all the time improving Ismo Mäkinen is the name people will remember from patterns and in the future also from sparring.
How about coaches, teachers and other persons in the background?
The secret behind the success of ITF Taekwon-Do has always been technically competent masters, instructors and coaches. The interest of Choi Hong Hi, Park Jung Tea and other masters towards the theory of power, speed and technique made the development of the whole art possible. I consider myself really lucky, for I have had the chance to participate many different seminars and camps around the world and I know personally many good Taekwon-Do masters and coaches. I've also had the privilege of visiting their dojangs. Already the cooperation with the Dutchman Sabum Willy van de Mortel, whom I highly respect, has been great. In this connection I also want to mention the pioneers of Taekwon-Do here in Finland. For example Sabums Lieke, Kukkonen and Keinänen have done good work in building the foundation for Finnish Taekwon-Do ever since their early degrees.
Do you have any "idols"?
I admire multi talents, like for example Leonardo da Vinci, who was at the same time an architect, musician, doctor, mathematician, sculptor, engineer, inventor, drawer and painter. I don't have any particular idols in Taekwon-Do, however. Surely I admire many people's abilities and achievements.
You are always interested in self-defence. Taekwon-Do competition, however, is pretty far from a real struggle for one's life. Isn't competing and competition training just a waste of time that could be used better for training self-defence instead of nonsense?
The unfortunate fact is that the answer is yes. When you train for competition you must train lots of techniques that have use only in winning competitions or for example getting a point in sparring. On the other hand competition career usually only lasts for a relatively short time and the benefits it brings are considerable. From the point of view of self-defence competition career might be helpful in getting used to contact and developing tactical eye, but most of all the benefits would be mental. One might think that when you find the self-confidence and will to win before competition, this capability would be useful in self-protection, controlling your own fears and handling pressure as well.
I always try to make sure that my students train the kind of technique that doesn't serve only competing, but is also functional when it comes to actual fighting and self-defence.
You also have your own company and you conduct lots of courses outside Taekwon-Do?
The courses I give are always planned especially for the needs of each and every group's needs, and they don't actually relate to Taekwon-Do. Surely sometimes clubs, communities and companies order Taekwon-Do and other martial arts demonstrations, but self-defence and security are mainly an entirely separated area of their own. Most of the courses are closed, but sometimes I also take some of my students with me.
You are known as a hard training athlete who has to get to torture yourself physically in trainings, even though your leg would be broken and you'd have a cast on your arm. Where do you get this will from, isn't too much too much?
Martial arts and training have always been among the biggest passions in my life and they are a part of my every day life. And for sure situations like mentioned above have sometimes happened. You really shouldn't kick sandbag when you have a fibreglass cast on your leg... it leaves marks on the bag and the floor, you know. While being young people always want to test their limits and act driven by a fire of passion inside of them. In my case I've learned to understand the meaning of rest and breaks in physical development somewhat late. Motivated athletes have the tendency of training too much and the task for a good instructor/coach is to pull the brake when necessary and make sure that the amount and quality of trainings stay in suitable level. There also must be efficient quality trainings carried out after resting. Usually skill and technique suffer first from too hard training, but by time also physical development stops.Are you still going to carry on with your respectful competition career and what are your objectives? How about when it comes to coaching and teaching?
Thanks for calling it respectful! The hunt for individual World Championship medal is still on and if everything goes well, my aim is to participate the WC's 2007 in Canada in top condition. I've also marked the European Championships in Slovakia in my programme, but of course everything depends on how my training proceeds. It also requires staying healthy and avoiding injuries.
When it comes to coaching and teaching the amount of work has increased a lot, but it's been great to see that there's demand and motivated practitioners. I also plan to put more emphasis on teaching and development work in near future.
Then a couple of questions about your trainee. Describe Ismo Mäkinen as an athlete. How is he like to coach?
Ismo is very talented, conscientious and intelligent athlete. It's been easy to work and proceed with him. The cooperation with Ismo has been very motivating and lots of fun. The biggest challenges have probably been on the mental side, for self-confidence and trust in one's capabilities aren't always the strongest sides in us Finnish athletes. However, it's been great to see the polite and humble Ismo rise in the Taekwon-Do elite of the world. Both skill- and physical training as whole have been successful and they've brought good results. On the strength and muscle condition side big thanks go to Ismo's physical coach Pasi Keskumäki, whose contribution has been a significant aid. It has also made it possible for me to concentrate my use of time on the technical and tactical side.
How did it feel like when your trainee won the title of World Champion for the first time?
Well, I guess I wept, even though I tried hard not to. The accomplishment was historical and I think it's great it was Ismo and no one else who became the first ever Finnish World Champion in Taekwon-Do.
What made it possible to achieve this result?
The simple answer is that Ismo is talented and he has done lots of work. A remarkable factor has also been his ability to train alone. Most of taekwondoins always train in groups, but in my opinion one of the characteristics of a successful athlete is the ability to concentrate and keep up good motivation also when training alone. This is a thing Ismo has understood well and in his case it has meant steady development independent of any group or where he's been living. It's not necessarily about training amounts, but the habit of keeping up the high quality and standard in trainings Ismo already early adopted. It has also been important, that all different areas have been taken forward patiently, maintaining the quality. Every time progress has been gained level and technique have been increased in a suitable proportion.
A great thing is also that I see that Ismo's progress is still clearly not finished yet. I believe he can achieve such results that many think are even impossible.
What are you concentrating on at the moment in Ismo's training?
This is a thing we evaluate together regularly in the beginning and in the end of the season, and also in important points during the season, after tests and big competitions if needed. At the moment we work on speed, flexibility and technique. Tactics play an important role this season as well, but the more exact contents of all those areas are a secret… which Ismo might shed some light on every now and then here on the website too?
What do you think are Ismo's chances this season?
Since there are 50-70 countries and 400-800 competitors in the Taekwon-Do (International Taekwon-Do Federation) World Championships, the level is high and success difficult to achieve. There are also evermore professionals among the competitors, which also brings the level even higher. In Ismo's case I believe we'll see very good performances this season, for I know he's technically, tactically, physically and for sure also mentally in better shape than ever. It's great that I can say this, and it's because he has worked seriously with long-term goals - without forgetting the thinking. It also requires top talent to do well in two different aspects of TKD, but since there's enough skill and desire I believe that apart from a medal in both, sparring and patterns, also winning the World Championship title is still possible. And if the training season is complete, the preparing period for WC's is successful and the competition itself goes well, I believe he'll be one of the strongest candidates when the best male competitor of the World Championships is being chosen!
For me, however, it's already enough that Ismo does a good preparation, competes with the right attitude and does his best.
Thank you very much, Mikko!
Thank you thank you! It's nice that this website project has at last engaged and great to be on show in the gallery of the new website of a two-time World Champion. I hope we'll get many sponsors for this season, so that we can achieve good results in the future too!
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