On Monday, December 16, Head of the Donetsk People’s Republic Denis Pushilin met with the Vice President of the JKS International Karate Federation JKS, Takenori Tanaka (8th dan, Japan). The meeting was also attended by deputies of the DPR People’s Council, DPR Sports and Traditional Karate Federation President Yuri Martynov, and President of the National Karate Association of Russia Alexey Dolgov (6th dan, Moscow). The meeting was held in the format of live communication.
“Tanaka-sensei, let me welcome you to the Donetsk People’s Republic. Your visit is very important to us. The support you provide to our athletes is important. As you know, most recently they have performed in your homeland, Japan. They showed quite good results: 13 medals, including 10 gold ones.
I hope that we will continue to receive your support, because we stand for the position when sport is put above politics. Especially when it concerns young athletes, when there is an opportunity to develop despite some political difficulties,” Denis Pushilin said.
For his part, Takenori Tanaka noted the skill and tenacity of Donetsk karatekas.
“Among those who attended the seminar in the Republic, there were five women and three men, and these eight people will very soon reach world level if they keep training. I could not choose the best of the three young fellows, they are 17 years old, as they were all good. And one girl is prepared to perform at international championships,” the sensei said.
During the conversation, Alexey Dolgov noted that athletes from the Donetsk People’s Republic regularly participate in international tournaments that take place in the Russian Federation.
“This is a good start for athletes,” Alexey Dolgov added.
Since Takenori Tanaka is also a master of calligraphy, at the meeting with the Head of the Republic he painted as a present a character meaning the word “peace”, and also left a wish for the residents of the Republic.
“This character is very important in Japan. It is the root of the word “peace” in Japanese. And the inscription reads: “let all those who are hostile come to their senses and choose peace.” The other character I painted means that when looking at you, I can say that you are a man of peace,” Takenori Tanaka explained.
According to Yuri Martynov, an official agreement was signed today, according to which the DPR Sports and Traditional Karate Federation becomes a full member of the large international organization Hagakure Gijyuku International Federation, the President of which is Takenori Tanaka.
Sensei, in turn, emphasized that a great deal of attention is paid to the development of sports in the Republic, which is very important.