Finnish man from Japan paved the way for Estonia 

Written by Helen Soeorg

Sakala, Viljandi's daily, July 20, 2010 

Fifth time at the festival: Kauko Uusoksa has taken part in notafe for five times. On four occasions he has lead workshops on qigong and martial arts, one time he was assisting his teacher from Japan. 
 
Kauko Uusoksa, trainer of movement arts, was the tutor of qigong and martial arts workshop at notafe. This is not the only thing connecting him with Estonia.  

On the day of the Baltic Chain (August 23, 1989) Uusoksa was in Tallinn, on the Toompea Hill, holding a camera. His teacher of martial arts, Japanese, who later wrote a book called The Singing Revolution, was standing right next to Marju Lauristin (grand old lady of Estonian regained independence). And as that wouldn't be enough: these two men brought a portable copy-machine through Soviet customs control for Estonian Popular Front.

Uusoksa considers Estonians and Finns to be the same people. He likes being in Estonia very much. He hasn't lived here, though, but he has lived in Japan. 

Kauko Uusoksa, in the 1970s Estonians had it hard even to imagine that someone would simply decide to go to Japan to learn martial arts. Was it a usual thing for a Westerner at that time?  

When I went to Japan for the first time, in 1977, I didn't meet many foreigners. Going there now - foreigners are everywhere. Not many from Finland, though.

First time I came back from Japan, in 1978, and said something in Japanese I got reactions like what's wrong with you? have you changed your medication? (Laughing.)

Therefore, no, it was not usual, at least not in Finland. 

How did you make a living in Japan? 

Japanese teacher I had in Finland said that he's going to give me a place to live. So that was for free. This teacher also had a restaurant called Finlandia where Finnish reindeer meat was served. Sometimes I helped there and earned some money. But it was never enough to save. 

What other jobs have you had? 

It would be easier to ask what haven't I done. (Laughing.)

In Japan I was teaching English and modelling - with my blond hair, blue eyes and slim body I was something exceptional. I did kimono ads among other things; kimonos were extremely expensive at that time and much money was invested in this ad. Our poster was put on the wall of one apartment house - it covered a whole wall. Many people came to me saying: “You are that guy on the wall!” That was very amusing.

I also was a hair model. There was a woman who had won a hairdresser competition and her prize was a ticket to an international competition in Belgium. Everybody is European there, you see. So she needed to practice on some Western hair. I got paid really well for that. I mainly slept and she did my hair.

So being a foreigner, young and ready for everything, I had the most interesting time. 

You started doing yoga at the age of 12 and martial arts at 17. How did you discover these things for yourself? 

My great-grandfather had special powers: he could heal people, stop bleeding for example, and also put a curse on someone. I was very fascinated with this sort of things.

We lived in the countryside and there were eight children in our family. As many kids I also massaged my parents and walked on their backs. My aunt who lived near to us asked me to knead her back. For that she gave me one Finnish mark. So with 6 years I was a bit of a professional.

Once when I was 12 I found a book in a library speaking about health and yoga. I read it and it all seemed so unbelievable. That's when I started with yoga. 

When did you earn your first black belt in martial arts? 

I got it in 1974, I was 18. I had practiced for about a year. 

How was that possible? 

My teacher was Japanese and Japanese system is completely different from the Western one. In the West people think: he's got the black belt, he is a master. In Japan this means that you have trained long enough. Therefore the black belt is saying: well-well, now you can really start training. 

Do masters and teaches of martial arts use their skills in everyday life? 

It depends on a person. I sometimes work in security business, like securing concerts. Thus I bump in to these situations occasionally.

But the first thing my teacher told me was the energy of attack. When you're in martial arts you become sensitive towards all kinds of energies. When walking on a street and feeling negative energy, energy of attack, crossing the street would be the best thing to do.

We don't train fighting, hitting, throwing and twisting for self defence - all this can be used for self defence and attack, of course - but for forming a character. Real fighter must grow with all his soul, heart and spirit in qigong's philosophy. The more you practice, the calmer and more relaxed you become. 

Give an example, please, about using your skills. 

While working in harbour I saw some twenty men boarding a ship in Tallinn, it was around the Christmas time, they were drunk and started to fight with each other. I approached them and used my voice and presence. Men stopped the fight and did everything I told them to do. (Laughing.) 

Is there anything else you would like to learn? 

I believe that until you live you want to learn something, and I hope that I still have time to do it.

I have practiced martial arts for so many years that they are already growing inside of me. I am 54 years old and I don't learn how to jump higher or hit faster anymore, but rather what's behind these things. Many people begin with martial arts in order to be stronger and faster. But when they grow older they start to be fascinated with the truth behind all this. I am sure that I still have much to learn and enough space to grow into. 

What do you believe in? 

I believe in everything that works. When I have asked something from god and got it, I ask this god again. When my prayer remains unfulfilled I have to change god. (Laughing.) 
 

QIGONG

Qigong is important part of traditional Chinese culture consisting of many various Chinese movement systems. 

Qigong was born in ancient China and the purposes of practicing vary in different Chinese schools: followers of Confucius do qigong in order to educate the mind and the body, taoists and buddhists to overcome worldliness, Chinese doctors use it to cure illnesses and maintain good health.

Qigong is a system of psychosomatic exercises which create balance of the body, the breathing and the mind. When these three are in balance a very special state of doing qigong is reached.

There are many forms of qigong. Those can differ in elements and combinations but every form of qigong aims at balancing the body, the breathing and the mind.