Vladimir Putin is widely recognized as a formidable political figure, yet many may not be aware of his significant engagement with sports over the years. From practicing martial arts to playing ice hockey, he has cultivated an image of toughness, discipline, and determination—portraying himself not just as a leader, but as someone who embodies that role.

Let’s start with judo. Putin picked it up as a kid growing up in Leningrad, jumped in at eleven, and pretty much never looked back. He didn’t just dabble—he won national championships, wrote books about judo, even put out training videos. He climbed all the way to an eighth dan black belt, which isn’t something you stumble into. For him, martial arts have always been more than a hobby. They’re about showing strength and national pride, an

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