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News 2006
Season started with a victory in patterns in the World Cup |
In patterns there were as many as 40 competitors in my division and in sparring middleweight was the biggest division of all: 64 competitors. Patterns competition took place on Friday and the level was really high. Instead of usual two patterns we only did one optional pattern and the referees voted with flags. Beforehand I was a bit afraid that the Choong Jang tul I chose wouldn’t be a mach for more spectacular Juche. There were many guys with good legs and they were able to show their best sides with Juche. Anyhow it seems that the strength of my hand techniques was enough to convince the referees, because after the final I had the honour to celebrate as the winner in the World Cup.
the first World Cup two years ago. It was a very even mach which I won 3-2. The same happened on second round against the Pole and on third against the Russian. All my three first opponents had really good legs, they all did Juche and I beat them all just barely 3-2. On fourth round I met Moritz Lange from Germany. He did Choong Jang like me, I won 4-1. So I had made my way to the final, as had Kim Slydahl of NTN Norway. Once again strong hand techniques met spectacular legs. The performance in the final was probably my best of the day. I managed to put my concentration together and the rhythm started to feel better too as well as relaxation after the excitement of the preliminary rounds. My coach Mikko Allinniemi tried to convince me before the final that I’m stronger, but I was still afraid that the referees give more credit to Kim’s incredible balance and control of legs. Therefore I haven’t felt such a joy for winning a patterns competition as I did now, when the referees raised the flags 4-1 for me. The season is yet in the beginning but it was great to see that the condition is good already now. On the other hand I saw that the opponents are really tough and these fellows will for sure get even better when we get closer to spring and the World Championships. This means training on my behalf and I’ll be working hard to get my legs and techniques on top condition by spring. 
In sparring the 64 competitors were divided in two pools and these pools still in two groups of 16 fighters. In the first round I met Wim Vermeir from Belgium. He kicked pretty heavily, as Mikko had suspected. After a bit of uncertainty in the beginning I got the thing going moderately and didn’t have too much trouble in winning the fight. On second round I faced Bob Hanusey of the USA, who had won his first fight with sudden death against the English. In between the fights I had to wait very long and hold my thoughts together. This was actually good practice and I managed to block out the satisfaction from the patterns very well. The fight itself went pretty much in my command till the last moments of the three minute round. My opponent was moving around pretty well, but didn’t get too much done. It also seemed like Bob’s condition would have been more on test because of his style. During the last 15 seconds or so he managed to throw a couple of flying punches and might even have succeeded with one or two. While waiting the decision Mikko and I prepared for an extra round. We didn’t believe that Hanusey would win, he even had three warnings that reduce one point. Disappointment was huge when Bob was announced to be the winner. I felt that the job was left badly unfinished, as the fights were over before I got myself tested properly. On the next round I would have got to test the winner of the division, Marcos Favalli from Argentina. This competition gave us lots to think about, for those kind of fights should be won. The preparation, however, went well and I could hold my head together, which is positive. This is of very little consolation, as after the hard work of Summer and Autumn the fights were over before they even got properly started. As Jari Lahtinen put it : Back to the good old lathe...
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