Judo: the sport with the previous honorary president Putin – opinion

Judo sees itself not only as a sport, but also as an attitude. Even three-year-old judoka practice rituals of respect: at the beginning of the training they sit in a row, remain silent and bow. Two fighters also greet each other at eye level and say goodbye with dignity. In Japanese, judo means “the gentle way”. The founder of the sport, Kanō Jigorō, understood it in the late 19th century as the art of winning by yielding. The physically stronger person should not have an advantage, but rather the person who responds best to their partner. And throws him off balance the moment the other isn’t standing firmly on both feet. Or you hurl the opponent in a high arc onto the ground on which you have previously thrown yourself backwards. This requires concentration, communication, powers of observation and approachability – if you want to keep the other at a distance and intimidate with outstretched arms, you are doing something wrong. Children who cannot control their aggression learn self-control and social interaction in judo; Introverts learn how to win without being threatening. It is only logical that the World Judo Federation has now suspended the honorary presidency of Dan holder Vladimir Putin.