The Russian Junior Judo Team arrived for training at the Martial Arts Academy. The athletes are already fully immersed in the training process as part of their preparation for the World Judo Championships among athletes under 18, slated to take place in Peru.
Senior coach Flora Mkhitaryan spoke in detail about how the athletes are preparing for the competition.
"We are preparing for the world championship that will be held in Peru. We have the national team lineup with the age up to 18 here. We also have regions that expressed the desire to take part in this training camp. And they also help the team and receive vast experience themselves because the best athletes are here. We had the European championship staged in Bulgaria. Both girls and boys showed decent results. The girls have one gold, three silver, and two bronze medals. Fundamentally they have all the chances either to equal this result or to improve it," Flora said.
She shared details of the training process.
"We have a warm-up as a must at the start — this is running, flexing of joints. And then we have the uchikomi in judo —this is the start of making the move but without completing this time, without a throw. This is a kind of a technical warm-up before wrestling," she said.
In addition, she spoke about the conditions at the Martial Arts Academy.
"Conditions are very good here. The tatami is the best one we have in Russia, and probably even globally. A good conditioning hall with all the gear athletes need. Everything needed for workouts. One should only do his or her utmost and work," Flora added.
She also noted that judokas from different Russian regions participate in the training process and gain experience. One of them, Ramazan Kurbanmagomedov, who came to Sirius for the first time, shared his impressions.
"The training camp here is at the highest level. You can gain a lot of experience here. The best conditions for athletes, including food. Everything is at the highest level, everything is there. Everything is very well organized here. There is a gym, where there are dumbbells, our rooms - everything is excellent," she said.
She noted that the Academy training camp will be of great benefit to him in preparing for the Russian Championship.