STYLE IN FINLAND
In 1973 Tatsuo Kudo came to Finland as exchange student. After arrival Kudo starts to teach the Style in Finalnd being then 2 kyu in Shorinjiryu and 1. dan in Wadoryu. Kudo practiced as Motomu Ikobos student in Sapporo .
Kim Isaksson and Jouko Turunen travelled in 1975 to Japan , Sapporo , to practice with Motomu Ikubo. During the visit Kim and Jouko asked help from Ikubo for practicing in Finland . Ikubo answered to the request by sending Yuji Matsuoi to Finland .
Yuji Matsuoi arrived on 1. April 1976 to Finland and signed an one-year-contract with the Helsinki Renshinkan. After three months the agreement was cancelled. In spite of the problems Yuji Matsuoi decided to stay in Finland .
During the 80´s Kim Isaksson, Jouko Turunen and Erik Raittinen contributed to the extension of the Style. During this time Raittinen was strongly active for the development of kata in Finland , and was at the same time also a very successful competitor.
During 1980/ 1990, after a long quiet period of time, Matsuoi became an instructor of many Shorinjiryu – Clubs. During 1990´s the traditional karate started to be practices more and more, and the so called “sports” was not any more interesting.
The son of the founder of Renshinkan, Isamu Tamotsu, Iwao Tamotsu arrived in summer 1996 to Finland . At the same time the Finnish Shorinjiryu clubs turned to practice under the headquarters. Soke Iwao Tamotsu has visited to teach Finnish Shorinjiryu Renshinkan karatekas in Finland in 1997, 1999, 2002 and2004.
While Matsuoi founded his own style, from the beginning of 2005 Soke Iwao Tamotsu 10. dan. Hanshi promoted Sensei Hannu Nietosvuori 4. dan to be the new principal teacher of Finland .