samurai
What Does A Samurai Do When He Loses His Job?
I just finished watching the George Clooney movie “Up In The Air” and somehow I asked myself what a samurai would do if he were to lose his job.
Well, first of all I believe there is this fascination for samurai in general.
So, what actually is a samurai?
Samurai is a term for the so-called military nobility during pre-industrial Japan (yes, there was such a thing!).
By the end of the 12th century, only 10% of the total population were considered samurai who served in the middle and upper echelons of the warrior class.
Samurai followed the Bushido or “Way of the warrior” and basically they were loyal to their master unto death.
But what happens to a samurai who loses his job resp. master?
He becomes a so-called “Ronin” whose main motivation is no longer honor and duty, but money and survival.
A modern-day depiction was put on display in the 1998 Robert De Niro movie “Ronin“, also starring Jean Reno.
Several former special forces and intelligence service agents team up to steal a mysterious suitcase while dealing with shifting loyalties and alliances.
The movie’s trademark is the jaw-dropping car chases like this one:
In Memoriam, Andy Hug, K-1 Fighter Extraordinaire From Switzerland
Did you read my post of October 7 with the title “Switzerland Is The Place For Cheese, Chocolate, Skiing, Watches And ….Wrestling?” You can read it here again.
Well, then you already know that there really is a lot more to this picturesque European country than most people know.
But then again, because you visit TheMartialArtsReporter.com on a daily base you are not like most people anyway!
Considering the size of the country and its relatively small population, it’s amazing how many great athletes Switzerland has produced.
Skiing and tennis immediately pop into my mind.
I wouldn’t necessarily think of karate and kickboxing. Would you?
One Swiss karateka, who absolutely deserves to be mentioned and remembered, is Andy Hug.
He left us way too early. In 2000, that is.
Andy Hug started with karate at the age of eleven.
By the time he was only 15, Andy was already a Swiss Oyama Cup winner.
And only two years later, he was on the national Kyokushinkai karate team!
During the early 80s Andy Hug was winning tournaments throughout Europe.
In 1987, he was even the first non-Japanese ever to reach the finals of Kyokushinkai world championship and only lost due to a controversial point decision.
Andy Hug continued to fight in Japan, where the fans certainly appreciated his diverse fighting style.
Thereafter he switched to Seidokai and the launch to his professional K-1 fighting career was set.
During the mid 90s, Andy Hug fought against some of the greatest K-1 fighters such Ernesto Hoost, Sam Greco, Peter Aerts, Mike Bernardo, Mirko “Cro Cop” Filipović, Maurice Smith, Bart Vale, just to name a few.
He was known for his devastating axe kick and his low heel spin kick which left numerous more than just stunned.
His kickboxing record was an astonishing 37 wins, 9 losses and 1 draw.
Andy Hug left such an impression that he was only K-1 fighter ever to be rewarded an honorary samurai title by its founder, Kazuyoshi Ishii.
Sadly, Andy Hug died of leukemia shortly before reaching the age of 36.
After his cremation, Andy Hug’s ashes were deposited in the cemetery of the Hoshuin temple in former Japanese capital city of Kyoto.
Andy Hug, K-1 Fighter Extraordinaire From Switzerland, May He Rest In Peace.
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