News 2007

1st national team selection camp
News 2007 >>

The first national team selection camp took place at Tampere November 10th-11th. During that weekend almost 40 practitioners interested in competing were seen at Nääshalli. People came from all parts of the country.

This camp was the opening of the new coaching team. The whole group - head coach Pekka Varis, Jori Aaltonen, Ari Lehtinen and Jari Lahtinen - took active role in conducting trainings. Tasks and responsibilities were divided between the members of the coaching team and the athletes got a chance to train sparring, patterns, special techniques and power test due to their own desires.

On Saturday we trained twice two hours and on Sunday twice 1,5 hours. In the starting training of the camp we did a lot of kicks and quite much basic stuff, which gave the coaches the chance to check the level and needs of the participants. Kicking muscles were pretty much tested as we threw our feet across the air, to partner's hands and kicking targets. In the second training of the day the group was divided into sparring and patterns groups according to athletes' personal wishes. I went in some hot sparring action lead by Pekka Varis and Ari Lehtinen. We did versatile exercises with partner, used kicking pads and sparred. Jori Aaltonen and Jari Lahtinen conducted the patterns training.

Sunday's first training was quite similar to the second one of Saturday's. This time those willing could also train special and power in guidance of Ari. I gave full throttle in the sparring again under the eye of Pekka. The concept of the practice was close to previous day with some variations. Sunday's second training was a small "competition", which was meant to bring more realistic, competition like, touch into athletes' performances. I consider this to be an excellent move, which I heard recieving positive feedback from others as well. E.g. special techniques specialist Sami Koskela gave thanks to the competition-like feeling, which brough pressure into the situation. This plays a big role in a delicate event such as special techs.

During the recent years I've got used to high quality national team camps and it was great to see that although the coaching group is new the level of the trainings seem to have maintained their quality. Bigger group also has the possibility to divide tasks and give more personal feedback to the athletes. So far it looks good at least on this area, once again developement mostly depends on one man ;-) 

Next time the national team selection group gets together in Helsinki December 15th-16th.