Narine has been practising judo since the age of six Putin's black belt appeal
By Patrick Jackson BBC News, Moscow
President Vladimir Putin's macho image makes him popular among many Russian men, but how is the country's most famous judo player rated by women, who are after all the majority of the population?
At Moscow's Shabolovka sports centre we are among Mr Putin's peers - black belts like the president himself, even if they are still at university.
As muscular men invade the floor for the male training session, the women and girls retreat, and Maria Proskura heads off to the tea bar.
We can talk about Mr Putin, yes, and judo for sure, but no politics, agreed? Who am I to argue with a member of the Russian national women's judo team?
The late president Boris Yeltsin's fondness for tennis boosted that sport in Russia, and Mr Putin has had a similar effect on judo, she argues.
But it is a shame, she says, that many people who come to the club do so because it is "the president's sport" and not because they understand judo.
'Taste for victory'
The sport in Russia goes back to 1914, when a certain Vasily Oshchepkov returned from Japan to set up a school in Vladivostok, according to the Russian National Judo Union.
By Patrick Jackson BBC News, Moscow
President Vladimir Putin's macho image makes him popular among many Russian men, but how is the country's most famous judo player rated by women, who are after all the majority of the population?
At Moscow's Shabolovka sports centre we are among Mr Putin's peers - black belts like the president himself, even if they are still at university.
As muscular men invade the floor for the male training session, the women and girls retreat, and Maria Proskura heads off to the tea bar.
We can talk about Mr Putin, yes, and judo for sure, but no politics, agreed? Who am I to argue with a member of the Russian national women's judo team?
The late president Boris Yeltsin's fondness for tennis boosted that sport in Russia, and Mr Putin has had a similar effect on judo, she argues.
But it is a shame, she says, that many people who come to the club do so because it is "the president's sport" and not because they understand judo.
'Taste for victory'
The sport in Russia goes back to 1914, when a certain Vasily Oshchepkov returned from Japan to set up a school in Vladivostok, according to the Russian National Judo Union.
After the 1917 revolution, his pupils included secret policemen from the Cheka, a forerunner of Mr Putin's KGB. But judo was later pronounced an "alien" sport, and Oshchepkov himself was executed in 1937.
Revived in the 1960s, judo now counts 200,000 enthusiasts in Russia.
For Oxana Dredzheva, a brown belt who lately practises the sport for fitness only, judo gives a "taste for victory" and "helps people to lead on the mat and off the mat".
"Judo helps to make us disciplined in our lives and it does not allow us to be weak," Maria believes.
"It teaches you not only to be strong but also to concentrate."
That famous mean look of Vladimir Putin is actually only the president "concentrating", Oxana says.
A man like Putin
Indeed, many Russian women find him very handsome, she insists, herself included.
Revived in the 1960s, judo now counts 200,000 enthusiasts in Russia.
For Oxana Dredzheva, a brown belt who lately practises the sport for fitness only, judo gives a "taste for victory" and "helps people to lead on the mat and off the mat".
"Judo helps to make us disciplined in our lives and it does not allow us to be weak," Maria believes.
"It teaches you not only to be strong but also to concentrate."
That famous mean look of Vladimir Putin is actually only the president "concentrating", Oxana says.
A man like Putin
Indeed, many Russian women find him very handsome, she insists, herself included.
He is not Maria's "type" but she happily agrees that for many of her fellow countrywomen, he is a model man.
There is even a pop song about the teetotal president, she laughs. The gist of the lyrics is:
"I want a strong man like Putin who doesn't drink, won't hurt me and won't run away."
Maria is optimistic that men of her generation are moving away from the stereotype of the hard-drinking, chain-smoking, chauvinistic Russian male.
But still too many are put off by the prospect of a woman judo-player for a mate, she finds:
"We are very independent and we are very strong and men see our power and sometimes they don't want to have any business with us.
"They think that a woman should stay at home and do what they want."
Oil, gas and judo
What the women judo-players at Shabolovka want is a good career alongside the sporting triumphs.
There is even a pop song about the teetotal president, she laughs. The gist of the lyrics is:
"I want a strong man like Putin who doesn't drink, won't hurt me and won't run away."
Maria is optimistic that men of her generation are moving away from the stereotype of the hard-drinking, chain-smoking, chauvinistic Russian male.
But still too many are put off by the prospect of a woman judo-player for a mate, she finds:
"We are very independent and we are very strong and men see our power and sometimes they don't want to have any business with us.
"They think that a woman should stay at home and do what they want."
Oil, gas and judo
What the women judo-players at Shabolovka want is a good career alongside the sporting triumphs.
Narine Zaimtsyan, a black belt at 18 and member of the junior national team, is studying at Moscow's oil and gas university.
Oxana is in her fifth year at Moscow's sports university and Maria is studying to be a manager in the chemical industry.
"I don't want to be a stupid [athlete]!" she laughs.
And, of course, they can all look after themselves in the very basic sense.
"Moscow is very dangerous in the evenings, especially for a woman," says Narine.
As for Vladimir Putin, it seems he can rest easy on his mat whatever he does after his presidential term expires in the spring.
"I think Mr Putin is stronger than I!" says Maria. "I think it is better not to meet with [him] in the hall."
Oxana is in her fifth year at Moscow's sports university and Maria is studying to be a manager in the chemical industry.
"I don't want to be a stupid [athlete]!" she laughs.
And, of course, they can all look after themselves in the very basic sense.
"Moscow is very dangerous in the evenings, especially for a woman," says Narine.
As for Vladimir Putin, it seems he can rest easy on his mat whatever he does after his presidential term expires in the spring.
"I think Mr Putin is stronger than I!" says Maria. "I think it is better not to meet with [him] in the hall."
FONTE: BBC News - UK
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