Putin, Abe see Japanese martial arts show in Moscow
MOSCOW. Nov 8 (Interfax) - Russian President Vladimir Putin on Saturday watched a Japanese martial arts show in Moscow.
The event, held at the Luzhniki sports compound, was part of the Russia-Japan Martial Arts Exchange Year. The athletes represented the Nippon Budokan martial arts center.
Sumo students showed not only special wrestling techniques but also an amazing cross split.
Putin was also able to see araki-ryu kempo and aikido performances and a show in kendo, a martial art that uses protective armor and bamboo swords, and is popular in Russia.
The highlight of the event was a show in shojitsu kenri kata ichi ryu kachu battojutsu, an ancient samurai martial art: four men in armor and helmets armed with real swords chopped up a paper imitation of an adversary.
Putin had lively discussions on parts of the show with the head of the Japanese delegation, Komura Masahiko, and Russian mixed martial artist Fedor Emelianenko and judoka Alexander Mikhailin, who were sitting near the Russian leader.
The Russian president left Luzhniki after the martial arts show. Himself a judoka, Putin did not see a judo show that came soon thereafter.
The Russian Sports Ministry and Moscow city government were sponsors of the show. The guests of honor included Russian Sports Minister Vitaly Mutko, Moscow Mayor Sergei Sobyanin and other officials.
The Russian president's office had reported earlier that on Friday evening Putin met with All Japan Judo Federation Vice President Yasuhiro Yamashita.
