NAME: Heikki Martikainen
KSI RANK: Katalungan Guro / Chief at Arms
Trains at: Everywhere! The world is my playground! I have Advanced Martial Arts and Fitness in Perth, Western Australia as my base, it is also KSI HQ in Australia.
Has trained Kali Sikaran since: I started back in 1996 in what was called EKAEF/WKAEF, later IKAEF, and eventually became Kali Sikaran.
First FMA instructor: Guro Emin Sabrovic, Latosa Escrima (1995)
Started to train Kali Sikaran because: I have always been interested in blade training and since Punong Guro Johan Skålberg is one of the best knife fighters I have ever had the pleasure to meet I have stayed with his style of training.
Favourite part of Kali Sikaran: The versatile system offers a variety of things that I like, but bladework is my favourite…
Strives to be better in: Right now I focus on exploring Doble Baston (double sticks) and the way the training with sticks is translated into other parts of the system.
I choose to train KSI because: The system offers me an intellectual challenge, both as a student of FMA as well as an instructor. The depth behind the system, the neverending combining of concepts and the comeradory are the key things that make me love what we have in Kali Sikaran. I’m also heavily involved in the progression of the system and the impact I have made in peoples life thanks to what I have learned from Johan Skålberg and Kali Sikaran makes me feel obliged to continue sharing the love…
Teaching philosophy: My goal is to make my students better than me in half the time it has taken me to get there. Ask the tough questions, get the answers (with a whip or a carrot) and act on the answers.
Future plans in KSI training: I have a bunch of great students I’d like to bring up to Kadua Guro and Madunong Guro level (blackbelt levels). The challenge lies in that the guys are spread around the world. But together we will do it.
Future plans in general: To spread Kali Sikaran in Australia. We have so much to offer and with assistance of Mike Waite we will make people realize how great our method of training and teaching is compared to many traditional martial arts. We have Kali Sikaran at three different locations at this time, all in line with Johan Skålbergs infectous plan for Global Domination.
Additional ranks in other martial arts: 5 Dan (Master) Lakan Lima, Kombatan Arnis Presas Style
4 Dan Renshi, Shinsei Kai Kempo
3 Dan Karate
2 Dan Ju Jitsu
2 Dan Kempo
1 Dan Judo
1 Dan Kobujutsu
1 Dan Iaido
Brown Belt in Brazilian Jiu Jitsu (BJJ) under Lars Wallin
Biggest martial arts Role model/inspiration(s): There are many people that inspired me. Among them I like to mention:
Johan Skålberg for his skills in FMA, for beeing the person he is and living the life he lives.
Gene LeBell for being an old school tough guy who’s still going strong.
Tom Sotis for his No-BS-Straight-To-The-Core methodology and teaching.
Georges StPierre for being a fenomenal athlete, a world class fighter and still being a super humble person.
Competition experience: I’ve competed in (and won) numerous national and international competitions in many styles. I stopped competing in 2005 after winning Baltic Cup in Ju Jutsu. The year before I won the European Open in Ju Jutsu in Germany and was awarded the ”Best Fighter” and ”Best Technique” of the competition. Now I’m more focused on making my students as good fighters as they can be, which is at least as rewarding as competing one self. Among my students are many national and international winners and I’m very proud of them all.
Favourite quote/motto: Best quote: At a trainingcamp in the Philippines, Grandmaster Zimba had a short speach at the beginning of the camp: ”If you train hard, you will be good”. The last day of camp he spoke again: ”If you train more you will be better”. He summed it all up in two sentences…
Other interesting facts: ”Heikki doesn’t sing!”
