Black belt Putin offers to join Russian judo team

[Bill Mattocks]

http://af.reuters.com/article/oddlyEnoughNews/idAFTRE5BJ0U120091220

MOSCOW (Reuters) - Black belted Russian leader Vladimir Putin has offered to join the national judo team after showing off his martial arts skills to members of the squad.
The 57-year-old prime minister made the proposal at a special coaching session on Saturday aired on state television, adding to his carefully-crafted macho image.
Putin, who many observers believe is still paramount leader despite standing down as president last year, entered the hall of St Petersburg's School of Sport Mastery dressed in a white judogi and black belt, to applause from the assembled squad.
After bowing, the former KGB spy went onto the mats, throwing squad members half his age and even tackling the chief trainer, Olympic Gold medallist Ezio Gamba.

 

[Xue Sheng]

Putin holds a 6th dan

 

[SensibleManiac]

He even wrote a book on Judo that I hear is great!
Judo: History, Theory, Practice
http://www.amazon.ca/Judo-History-Practice-Vladimir-Putin/dp/1556434456

 

[Skippy]

http://af.reuters.com/article/oddlyEnoughNews/idAFTRE5BJ0U120091220

You know unlike George Bush who was nothing more than Daddy's spoiled little brat Putin is the real deal & I think it's a good thing to see a world leader involved in the martial arts!:mst:

 

[Skippy]

Kind of funny one of my best friends' is like the President of ... The Cult of George W. Bush. ...(Must be all that weed he smoked in the 1980's) Anyways he's paranoid about the so called evil Russians & Putin & he's just viewed this. Think it's ruined his day! Lolz!:shock:

 

[seasoned]

I feel all world leaders should take a martial art. Then, when trouble rears it's ugly head, let them fight it out to the best man standing. Sure would save a lot of money and many lives.

 

[Josh Oakley]

Yeah. That would work great. Our freedom in the hands of one man. One slip up on his part and we're part of a communist empire. That guy loses the next day to england and now we have a parliament. Then the next day the King falls to a Nazi and I'm in a concentration camp.




No thanks. War is ugly, but your alternative is revolting.

 

[Xue Sheng]

I feel all world leaders should take a martial art. Then, when trouble rears it's ugly head, let them fight it out to the best man standing. Sure would save a lot of money and many lives.

Welcome to the Klingon empire

Yeah. That would work great. Our freedom in the hands of one man. One slip up on his part and we're part of a communist empire. That guy loses the next day to england and now we have a parliament. Then the next day the King falls to a Nazi and I'm in a concentration camp.




No thanks. War is ugly, but your alternative is revolting.

I am willing to admit I am missing the point here but I do not think that was implied by what seasoned posted. My take was that there would be less arguments and fights if it was more likely that they would have to stand and fight for themselves. And losing does not necessarily mean a shift of power or government.... Just because I fought a guy and lost does not mean he is now my boss or in charge... it means I lost... I don't think we are talking Eminiar Seven here (to stay within the star trek references)... but then I could be wrong.

 

[SensibleManiac]

I feel all world leaders should take a martial art. Then, when trouble rears it's ugly head, let them fight it out to the best man standing. Sure would save a lot of money and many lives.

It would be great!

Unfortunately war is about gaining limited resources and large scale control and has nothing to do with (winning) anything (as in a competition) so it would never happen.

 

[Bruno@MT]

War is not about who's right but about who's left.

 

[terryl965]

I think that if he is good enough why not.

 

[tshadowchaser]

The fact that a world leader would openly compet is terrific. I applaud him for this offer

 

[Omar B]

I feel all world leaders should take a martial art. Then, when trouble rears it's ugly head, let them fight it out to the best man standing. Sure would save a lot of money and many lives.

Chuck Norris for President!... in a couple years.

 

[seasoned]

Welcome to the Klingon empire



I am willing to admit I am missing the point here but I do not think that was implied by what seasoned posted. My take was that there would be less arguments and fights if it was more likely that they would have to stand and fight for themselves. And losing does not necessarily mean a shift of power or government.... Just because I fought a guy and lost does not mean he is now my boss or in charge... it means I lost... I don't think we are talking Eminiar Seven here (to stay within the star trek references)... but then I could be wrong.

I knew, you would get it.

 

[seasoned]

Chuck Norris for President!... in a couple years.

Then we could finally put to rest this grappling versus stand up fighting.

 

[xfighter88]

You know unlike George Bush who was nothing more than Daddy's spoiled little brat Putin is the real deal & I think it's a good thing to see a world leader involved in the martial arts!:mst:

I don't see obama doing martial arts either.....president bashing aside, it is cool to see a world leader rocking out in martial arts competitions

 

[Makalakumu]

Who is going to say, "No, you can't be on the team." LOL!

 

[Msby]

I don't see obama doing martial arts either.....president bashing aside, it is cool to see a world leader rocking out in martial arts competitions

I heard Obama earned green belt in TKD during 4 years of training. Wouldn't mind seeing him start competing in some tournaments!

 

[Big Don]

Sounds way more fun than any of our recent presidents. Reagan chopped wood for fun...

 

[Brian R. VanCise]

I personally would love to see Putin compete against world class Judoka from other countries. Though of course this will in all probability never happen. Instead I imagine he will be a coach.