For the second year in a row, Anders-sensei has been nominated to the Traditional Practitioner of the Year Award at the Swedish Martial Arts Gala! Those of us who know him feel more pride than surprise.
In their presentation of Anders-sensei, the Swedish Budo & Martial Arts Federation writes, among other things:
“… he has become a living legend in Shorinji Kempo. Such finesse, such authority and focus. A true dignitary within his martial art.”
The entire presentation is available in Swedish here, but we have taken the liberty of translating it here:
Anders Pettersson is the highest graded Swedish Shorinji Kempo practitioner of all time, and he’s had a good 2014. His soft, beautiful techniques are easily recognisable and do not only impress in the eastern parts of the world.
Anders Pettersson is nominated in the Traditional Practitioner of the Year Award at tomorrow’s Swedish Martial Arts Gala.
This is what he has to say about the nomination:
“I’m happy to see Shorinji Kempo being highlighted in this context, and I’m very much honored to be nominated among such skilled practitioners. They are no push-overs.”
Somebody else describing Anders:
The timid man från Värmland is not only a skilled athlete, club president and instructor. Anders has always been of great help for our federation too, but when I saw him teach last year I realised why he has become a living legend in Shorinji Kempo. Such finesse, such authority and focus. A true dignitary within his martial art. // Jonathan Broberg, Swedish Budo & Martial Arts Federation