Wednesday, April 9, 2014

Vladimir Putin: Religion and Martial arts

Religion

Putin and wife Lyudmila in New York City at service for victims of September 11 attacks, 16 November 2001.
Putin's father was "a model communist, genuinely believing in its ideals while trying to put them into practice in his own life". With this dedication he became secretary of the Party cell in his workshop and then after taking night classes joined the factory's Party bureau.[22] Though his father was a "militant atheist",[331] Putin's mother "was a devoted Orthodox believer". Though she kept no icons at home, she attended church regularly, despite the government's persecution of the Russian Orthodox Church at that time. She ensured that Putin was secretly christened as a baby and she regularly took him to services. His father knew of this but turned a blind eye.[22]
According to Putin's own statements, his religious awakening followed the serious car crash of his wife in 1993, and was deepened by a life-threatening fire that burned down their dacha in August 1996.[331] Right before an official visit to Israel his mother gave him his baptismal cross telling him to get it blessed "I did as she said and then put the cross around my neck. I have never taken it off since."[22] When asked whether he believes in God during his interview with Time, he responded saying: "...There are things I believe, which should not in my position, at least, be shared with the public at large for everybody's consumption because that would look like self-advertising or a political striptease."[332]

Martial arts

Vladimir Putin
Vladimir Putin in Japan 3-5 September 2000-22.jpg
Putin on a tatami at the Kodokan Institute in Tokyo on 5 September 2000.
Height 1.70 m (5' 7")[333]
Teacher(s) Anatoly Rahlin, Hatsuo Royama
Rank Sambo:
Master of Sports,
     Champion of Leningrad
Judo:
         6th degree black belt,
     Champion of Leningrad
Kyokushin kaikan:
         6th dan black belt
Years active 1966–present
Occupation President of Russia
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.[334] Putin won competitions in his hometown of Leningrad (now Saint Petersburg), including the senior championships of Leningrad in both sambo and judo. 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 (2004).[335]
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)[336] 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. At a state visit to Japan, Putin was invited to the Kodokan Institute, the judo headquarters, where he showed different judo techniques to the students and Japanese officials.
Putin also holds a 6th dan black belt in Kyokushin kaikan karate. He was presented the black belt in December 2009 by Japanese champion Kyokushin Karate-Do master Hatsuo Royama.[337]
In 2013, Putin re-introduced the GTO physical fitness program to Russia[338] with the support of Steven Seagal.[339][340]

Other sports

Putin and Medvedev on skis at Krasnaya Polyana ski resort, March 2012
Putin often is seen on outdoor activities with Dmitry Medvedev, promoting sports and healthy way of life among Russians: they were seen alpine skiing in Krasnaya Polyana,[341] playing badminton, cycling and fishing.[342] Putin also started to learn ice skating and playing ice hockey after he promised to do so on a meeting with the Russia men's national junior ice hockey team who had won the 2011 World Junior Ice Hockey Championships.[343]
Putin also enjoys watching football and supports FC Zenit Saint Petersburg, the main team of his native city.[344]

Pets

His Labrador Koni wearing GLONASS-enabled collar
Main articles: Koni (dog) and Buffy (dog)
Putin owns a female black Labrador Retriever named Koni, given as a gift in 2000 by General of the Army and Russia's Minister of Emergency Situations Sergey Shoigu. Koni is often seen

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