Nov 12, 2008

Vladimir Putin - The judokan president






One of Putin's favorite sports is the martial art of judo. Putin began training in sambo (a martial art that originated in the Soviet Union) at the age of 14, before switching to judo, which he continues to practice today. Putin won competitions in his hometown of Leningrad (now Saint Petersburg), including the senior championship of Leningrad. He is the President of the Yawara Dojo, the same Saint Petersburg dojo he practiced at when young. Putin co-authored a book on his favorite sport, published in Russian as Judo with Vladimir Putin and in English under the title Judo: History, Theory, Practice.

Though he is not the first world leader to practice judo, Putin is the first leader to move forward into the advanced levels. Currently, Putin holds a 6th dan (red/white belt) and is best known for his Harai Goshi (sweeping hip throw). Putin earned Master of Sports (Soviet and Russian sport title) in Judo in 1975 and in Sambo in 1973. After a state visit to Japan, Putin was invited to the Kodokan Institute where he showed the students and Japanese officials different judo techniques.

3 comments:

  1. Really discusting. In Chechenia he did not use his judokan "skills"

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  2. He is funny with an agenda of creating tension

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  3. He has a not very nice"" background working for the soviet-russian secret services, and that peculiar CV was really useful at the time to succed facing to the acoholic who was in the Kremlim before than him. Both are really "great" personalityes, specially dealing with the russian Maffia, which power and political influence. have grown too much thanks to them Yeltsin died but his liver looks to remain in some hidden and dark luxurious room of that wonderful place...Really dangerous people...

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