News – Russian Government

In the Government of Russia, the co-chairs of the Russian Union of Martial Arts (RUMA) – Deputy Chairman of the Government – Plenipotentiary Representative of the President in the Far Eastern Federal District Yuri Trutnev (7th dan kyokushinkai) and First Deputy Head of the Presidential Administration Sergei Kiriyenko (6th dan aikido aikikai) held a reporting and election conference of the Russian Union of Martial Arts. The conference participants were representatives of federations – members of the RSBI.

“The Russian Union of Martial Arts has existed for 20 years. It’s a long way. During this time, more than 17 thousand masters of sports, almost 2 thousand international-class masters, more than 500 honored masters of sports of Russia have been trained. Of these, more than 500 are European champions, about 400 are world champions. I would like to thank the coaching staff for their dedicated work. We are the strongest in the world: we have been through the World Martial Arts Games twice, and we have won them. I would like to note that RSBI set as its goal not only the sports development of students, but also the development of the spirit, strengthening of patriotism, moral values. We can say that we succeeded. A combined RSBI detachment operates in the special military operation zone. The guys effectively carry out combat missions, showing by personal example how to love and defend the Motherland. Today we will also talk about attracting new volunteers to the squad. I am sure that in today’s situation, in the context of a special military operation, RSBI needs not only to be together with the country, but also to help, support, and strengthen both sports and military unity in every possible way,” Yuri Trutnev opened the conference.

“It’s hard to overestimate the importance of a coach and mentor. The one who passes on to the younger generation the mastery of his martial art, but most importantly, the skill of living: the ability to overcome difficulties, to fight with oneself, because for any martial artist, the most difficult and most difficult opponent is always one’s own weaknesses, one’s own fears. There is now a war being waged against Russia. The task of RSBI and each mentor is to educate the younger generation. It is no coincidence that 20 years ago the Russian Union of Martial Arts was created on the direct instructions of the President of Russia Vladimir Vladimirovich Putin, who himself knows well how much a real mentor, a real coach, a real master gives to the formation of a young man, a teenager, who shapes character, and therefore shapes life,” noted Sergei Kiriyenko.

One of the main topics of discussion was summing up the activities of the RBSI over the past five years. It was noted that the Russian Union of Martial Arts was created in June 2005 to popularize martial arts as a mass sport with high social significance. Today, RSBI unites 75 all-Russian sports federations and organizations that represent various styles and areas of martial arts and combat sports. RSBI has its branches in 86 regions of Russia from Kaliningrad to Vladivostok. Branches in three regions are still at the formation stage. In total, over 5 million people practice martial arts and combat sports in Russia.

Every year, RSBI holds more than 1.5 thousand events at the all-Russian and regional level, and is also the initiator and founder of a number of large projects. Festivals are held in almost every region of our country.

One of the largest projects of the RSBI is the All-Russian sports and patriotic event “Relay of Victories”. Traditionally, races, laying flowers at the Eternal Flame memorials, sports festivals and competitions are held throughout the country. Every year the project becomes more widespread; more than 160 events are held annually in 86 regions of Russia. This year, in the year of celebrating the 80th anniversary of Victory in the Great Patriotic War, about 90 thousand people took part in it.

Under the auspices of the RSBI, the All-Russian Youth Martial Arts Games are held annually in Anapa, which are one of the largest sporting events for youth in Russia. About 5 thousand young athletes from 12 to 18 years old take part in the competition. Competitions on the Black Sea coast are held in more than 20 types of martial arts and combat sports. This year the competition was held for the 17th time in 22 sports and brought together 5 thousand participants from 77 regions.

A unique event in the world of martial arts was the “Battle of Champions”, in which fighters in fights determine whose style or type of martial art is better and more effective. The project has two directions: “Russian national team against the world team” and “School against school”. Over the years, 6 projects have taken place in the “Russian national team against the world team” format and 8 projects in the “School versus school” format.

Another significant event is the ceremony of presenting the national award in the field of martial arts “Golden Belt”. The presentation of this award is the result of summing up the achievements of Russian athletes and their mentors. For each of them, the Golden Belt award is a tribute to their willpower, skill, perseverance and determination. Since 2005, only 169 people have been awarded the prize. Last year, the prize was awarded to martial arts representatives who not only showed themselves brilliantly in the sports arena, but also defended their homeland in the area where the Northern Military District was held. Awards were presented to 7 SVO participants.

The attention of the conference participants was focused on the contribution of RSBI members in support of the special military operation. Since the beginning of the Northern Military District, representatives of martial arts federations and regional branches have united to help and support our military personnel and residents of new regions. Every year, representatives of RSBI, together with their partners across the country, transfer more than 200 tons of humanitarian cargo.

At the end of 2022, RSBI formed the Soyuz detachment to participate in the North Military District. The squad included 100 athletes representing different types of martial arts and combat sports. Among them are world and European champions. The fighters were trained by experienced specialists, after which they began performing combat missions as part of the Cascade OBTF. They showed by personal example that they are ready to defend the Motherland and the honor of their country not only in the sports arena. These are true patriots of their country, those of whom our Motherland can be proud. The guys continue to defend the interests of our country on the front line. Currently, the Soyuz detachment has been reorganized and continues to carry out combat missions in the area of ​​the Northern Military District as part of the TsSN FSB of Russia.

“In the context of a pandemic, international sanctions against Russian athletes and the SBO of the federation – members of the RSBI and regional branches, adapted their activities to new realities, not only maintaining key areas of work, but also strengthening the position of martial arts in Russia. RSBI continues social and patriotic activities, and also actively participates in the most important government initiatives, including support for SVO participants,” emphasized RSBI Executive Director Ramil Gabbasov.

In order to foster an active citizenship among the younger generation, on the basis of branches, together with federations, courage lessons are regularly held for the younger generation. As part of major sports events held during 2024, under the auspices of the RSBI, a large sports and patriotic program was held for the participants of these events. It included sites for assembling/disassembling models of automatic weapons, weaving camouflage nets and courses on acquiring skills in operating UAVs. In total, over 8 thousand people took part in these events in different cities of the country.

Since 2024, in the city of Shakhty, Rostov region, on the initiative of the Rostov branch, a voluntary national team “Union” was organized. It included athletes from different clubs and representatives of all-Russian organizations. The vigilantes carry out weekly raids, and courses in tactical medicine are also organized for all members of the vigilante squad. In the same year, the initiative group of the Search Movement created, together with RSBI, a structural unit – the association of search teams “Soyuz Poisk”.

On behalf of the President of Russia, RSBI established the “Warrior” center for military sports training and patriotic education of youth. The center was created with the goal of educating a generation of patriots and defenders of Russia. Here, experienced instructors teach young people aged 14–35 years, including schoolchildren and students, in 8 military-applied areas. The teaching staff of regional branches is made up of professional instructors. To date, branches of the Warrior center have been opened in 21 regions; more than 100 thousand cadets have already completed training. Also, on the basis of RSBI branches, the Russian Combat Sniping Federation was registered in 58 regions.

“Branches of “Warrior” are already operating in 21 constituent entities of the Russian Federation, including in new territories. The President has given instructions to increase the number of branches. Training is conducted in 9 areas, including a new one – sniping. In two years, 108 thousand cadets have passed through the center. The training is carried out by instructors who have gone through the school of combat operations. I believe that “Warrior” can and should become one of the foundations for the development of patriotic education in Russia. I ask all branch managers, together with the executive committee of the RSBI, to organize work on sports training and hand-to-hand combat training,” Yuri Trutnev instructed the audience.

“Hundreds of thousands of boys and girls each year undergo training that includes tactical medicine, drone control, fire training, self-defense and hand-to-hand combat skills. Classes are held under the mentorship of instructors, each of whom has himself experienced a combat zone. These mentors, who are professionals in their field, have a special moral right to participate in the education of the younger generation. They don’t just talk, but show by their personal example what it means to serve the Motherland. This, in my opinion, is one of the most important projects of the Russian Union of Martial Arts today,” says Sergei Kiriyenko.

The participation of RSBI in international events was discussed. “The instability of world politics and the desire of a number of countries to harm Russia at all costs also affect the work of the RSBI. We face obstacles in participating in competitions, and in some cases, hostile and prejudiced attitudes. I believe that it is necessary to strengthen cooperation with other countries, develop and improve joint formats, ensuring that we become stronger together, Russia becomes stronger,” noted Yuri Trutnev.

By a unanimous decision of the conference participants, in accordance with the charter of the RSBI, the following were re-elected for a new five-year term: co-chairmen (S.V. Kiriyenko and Yu.P. Trutnev), the presidium of the supreme council (S.V. Kiriyenko, Yu.P. Trutnev, A.B. Shturmin, G.N. Muzrukov, D.V. Martynov, R.G. Gabbasov), members of the supreme council, executive secretary (G.N.Muzrukov), auditor (S.N.Ryabukhin) and executive director of the Russian Union of Martial Arts (R.G. Gabbasov). Members of the Supreme Council – about 100 people.