Emma Jokiaho joined the long list of Finnish boxers with EC medalists this week, when he advanced to the semi-finals in the 52 kg category in the competitions held in Montenegro and thus ensured himself at least a bronze medal.
Jokiaho, who just turned 26 years old, has quickly risen to the top echelons of national boxing and is a real diamond in the rough. Jokiaho has only been boxing seriously for a few years, but has been able to learn from the top of his sport.
Mira Potkonen Coached European champion, Olympic medalist and World Cup medalist Maarit Teuronen took Jokiaho into his coaching more than three years ago, and the securing of the medal did not surprise him.
– No, especially after I saw the rating chart. Once before, as a coach, I have said that we will come home with a medal. And now I said that Emma will come home with the medal, Teuronen said.
“I thought I was going to die”
Emma Jokiaho is a good example of the benefits of versatile sports. He played volleyball for ten years in Alajärvi Ankkurei, but stopped four years ago. Jokiaho also tried several different sports, from powerlifting to freestyle wrestling, until he ended up in fitness boxing. The sport absorbed him completely.
Jokiaho was even so enthusiastic about the sport that he was advised to contact the Tampere Weightlifting Club. TVS is known for its investment in women’s boxing, the club was coached by Olympic coach Maarit Teuronen at the time, and trained among other things Mira Potkonen, Eveliina Taimi and Riikka Niemi. Jokiahok also wanted to go there.
Both Teuronen and Jokiaho remember the first training together well.
– When Emma called me that she wanted to come to my training to train, she was really unsure on the phone, she was terribly nervous, Teuronen recalled.
– Then he came, and there they found such a potential boxer! The speed and hitting, the will to do, it was absolutely brilliant.
Jokiaho himself found himself wondering once or twice during the exercises what the hell he was doing there. The first exercises were a shock for him.
– I thought I was going to die. I was so tired, those workouts were terrible. I’ve usually always trained hard, but the intensity and excitement was so huge. But after that I felt like I had given my all, Jokiaho, reached by phone from Montenegro, laughed.
Volleyball has helped Jokiaho a lot in boxing, even though they are two completely different sports. Volleyball has brought him elasticity, speed, sharpness, explosiveness and a hard hitting hand.
– I remember when Emma came to do technique in training, the players said, oh my god, how she hits! Teuronen laughed.
According to Teuronen, Jokiaho is a fast player who likes to hit. He is also analytical after the matches, but there is enough speed and dangerous situations in the ring. As a boxer, Jokiaho is still raw, so tomorrow is enough in all areas. However, there is plenty of potential as long as he gets more match experience.
A leap into the unknown because of boxing
Jokiaho moved from Alajärvi to Tampere purely for boxing. She left her family, loved ones and her dream job as a sports masseuse, exercise counselor and personal trainer and jumped into the unknown. However, Jokiaho quickly found work near the training hall and has recently been able to run his own business as well.
– Frankly speaking, I had nothing else in Tampere other than the fact that I wanted to do this one thing in my life and invest in sports, even though I had no experience in the sport before, Jokiaho said.
Teuros too was horrified by his guardian’s daring trick, but at the same time he admired Jokiaho’s spiritual edge. Mental toughness has also helped a lot in the ring, but sometimes Jokiaho’s will to train was so great that Teuronen had to put the brakes on.
– I thought it was great that I got into a tough school right away. We’re not kidding, we’re being serious. I have been able to live this life the way I wanted, and I haven’t regretted a single day, Jokiaho stated.
Jokiaho admitted that he feels downright utopian that he is currently boxing in the European Championships. A lot has happened to him in a short time, but he is grateful for the opportunity he got. Jokiaho reminded that women’s boxing is small in Finland, so she wants to join others in taking the sport forward and show her skills.
Achieving the EC medal was a big deal for Jokiaho and a reward for the work done, but the prize medal came as a surprise to him. Jokiaho was lucky in the drawing, because he went straight to the second round. There he was met by a familiar spar from the Italian camp, Hungary Hanna Lakotarwhich Jokiaho won.
– I’m quite hard to get excited, so I usually don’t find out too much about such things. I usually want to start a match with a clean slate. Only then, when the match was over, did the girls scream at me that the medal was secured. I was in an alley.
Friday’s semi-final opponent is Bulgaria Venelina Poptoleva is an unknown competitor to Jokiaho, but he has gone through the tactics with the team’s coach. He will probably also get a tip from his native Finland, Teuroso. However, Jokiaho intends to go into the match with a simple tactic.
– Let’s go with what has been trained so far. Then I’ll show my best skills in the ring.
Teuronen still supportive and safe
Maarit Teuronen left coaching at the same time as Mira Potkonen ended her career. Jokiaho currently works as a coach Askar Sarsenbayevbut relations with Teuronen are still warm.
The two often go for coffee and talk a lot about boxing as well as everything outside of it. Teuronen is Jokiaho’s spiritual support and help, sometimes he even gives training tips. Teuronen considers it especially important that Jokiaho gets to pour out his heart and worries to him, because the tough fighter is also very friendly and emotional.
– Under no circumstances does an athlete need to be tough all the time. Then we will be unyielding in the ring, he stated.
However, the experienced coach reminds us that in elite sports, everything is the sum of many things. Talent alone does not necessarily get you to the top, but other areas must be in order as well. Teuronen believes, however, that Jokiaho has the potential to achieve a few more medals in his career if everything goes well. If Jokiaho needs his help, Teuronen will be happy to help.
– When we started that road with Emma, I want to support and help as much as I can. And it makes me want to be there in the background, too. That if you could grind a little more…, Teuronen admitted.
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