Fredrik Hjelm: “Andy Hug – My friend, my mentor and role model – in the ring, as well as in life – is not among us anymore. In my world, you will live eternally, Andy. Thank you for everything you gave me. Samurai Spirit Forever. Osu!”
Who is Fredrik Hjelm
K-1 TEAM ANDY HUG
UNITED WORLD MUAY THAI ASSOCIATION
U.S. CHAMPION – Super Heavy Weight
World Association of Kickboxing Organizations
2nd DEGREE BLACK BELT
Height: 198 cm
Weight: 110 kg.
Country: Sweden
Born: 1970
Record: 9-0 – 7 K.O.’s
Instructors:
Andy Hug – Seidokaikan – Tokyo, Japan
Benny “The Jet” Uruquidez – Jet’s Gym – Los Angeles, USA
Benny Hedlund – FOX Gym – Malmo, Sweden
Fredrik Hjelm talks about Andy Hug and K-1
In 1997 I went to Tokyo, to see what that could bring me. I started up my own personal trainer business, kickboxing, at a gym called “Kingdom” which is located in central Tokyo. “Tank” Abbott, among others; train here when he is in Japan to fight.
After a little while, a Swiss fighter by the name of Andy Hug got to hear of me being in Tokyo. He wanted me to come to try out as a K-1 fighter.
Andy is a very tough fighter who started his career with Kyokushin Karate. He competed in full contact Karate for about 15 years before he switched styles to kickboxing.
Andy has among others fought Dolph Lundgren in full contact, which he won. (Note: Later on after this article was published, Dolph Lundgren contacted “Fighter Magazine” and denied that he ever fought Andy Hug. – Neither piece of information has been confirmed.)
Andy’s first high-level K-1 fight was against Branco Cikatic from Croatia in 1993. Andy also won this unusually bloody fight.
In November 1997, Andy lost a disputed K-1 final against Dutch fighter Ernesto Hoost but is still a popular fighter many thanks to his spectacular kick techniques. The axe kicks in combination with low, middle, and high round kicks are something that has made him close to the Japanese public’s hearts. Even though he has to work hard to regain his lost title.
He is so popular now, that Andy Hug dolls are in the making, and also the Andy Hug video game. Andy makes appearances on national TV in Japan on a regular basis in different commercials. Among others, one where he kicks in a door – holding two buckets of noodles!
The amount of money you can make on commercials, game shows, and so on, is enormous. A popular fighter can make as much as a Hollywood movie star when they do commercials in Japan.
I have also appeared in a Japanese action film called “Steel Gun”, and also in a K-1 documentary. It was shown on national Japanese TV where I was described as a “very strong fighter from Sweden.” I was also portrayed in one of the biggest weekly magazines in Japan.
Already before I got the offer of K-1, I had decided to leave Japan to go to Los Angeles to become a personal trainer. I have had plenty of sleepless nights, though, to make up my mind whether it is going to be K-1 or California. I do have a feeling that success in the States can be as big as in Japan.
