I\u2019ve been going to Kisahalli for 32 years. That is a huge stretch of physical culture tied to a place. The longest gap was six years, when I lived in Tampere and Tallinn.<\/p>\n
In 1993 Saku took up boxing and Ari and I went with him to spar. Saku took it as an opportunity to display their growing strength. We complimented each other between rounds. Once, I wore socks because I didn\u2019t own sports shoes. An older boxer who regularly coached younger, taunted me that I came from a rich family, because I could afford broken socks.<\/p>\n
Around 1997 we went there both with school sports classes and with friends. I remember loading a leg press far beyond what I should. Four days after Anu asked why I didn\u2019t get out of the car\u2026 I had to wait for them to go before crawling out.<\/p>\n
After conscript service around 2000, I returned to Kisis with physical activity forced to daily routine. I remember being afraid that, even out of uniform, I might somehow still be recognized as a conscript.<\/p>\n
In 2007 we went regularly with Kalle, who was working internationally as a model. We developed a solid routine. Pekka noted during an A4 photoshoot<\/a> that we had real gains.<\/p>\n In 2014 I focused on becoming a better rider, I observed squats and dead lifts supported posture and performance. It felt like targeted preparation. Movement in one context translated into another.<\/p>\n Around 2017 the social atmosphere developed. There were young asylum seekers, more languages, and visible diversity. I was involved with two, and sometimes three, kettlebell groups as an instructor. Kisis had become culture with Kristian, Paula, Mia and Annina.<\/p>\n I fear my dead lift peaked in 2019 when preparing for trans-siberian rail travel<\/a>. We trained with Arttu using 130kg sets… I think three reps.<\/p>\n