Why did the Japanese Prime Minister call Mr. Putin a “true judo fighter”?

President Vladimir Putin during a training session with members of the Russian national judo team. Photo: Sputnik/ Aleksey Nikolskyi

In the documentary "World Order 2018" Prime Minister Shinzo Abe tells a detail about the Russian leader's visit to Japan last year.

"When a person comes to Kodokan (the world's main judo school in Tokyo), it can be immediately determined whether that person is a judo fighter or not," said the Japanese Prime Minister.

"Before stepping onto the tatami mat, every judo athlete bows in greeting. Even though he is a head of state, the President of a country, when he arrived at Kodokan, Mr. Putin also performed this ritual move."

"There is no doubt that Russian President Putin is a true judo fighter," the Japanese Prime Minister commented.