Amidst discussion of President Bush’s visit to Russia, Iowa State is playing host to a few foriegn visitors of its own.

Two Russian Olympic Judo team coaches and a recently crowned judo world champion arrived in Ames to host two martial arts clinics.

Russian Olympic coaches Sergey Aladyshev and Alexander Yakovlev, and Igor Kurinnoy, world-class Russian judo athlete, arrived in Ames around 4 p.m. Wednesday along with their interpreter Linna Moratcheva, who has also coordinated, interpreted and organized many international tournaments and exchanges in the sport.

The three are bringing knowledge of a style of judo that originated in Russia, sambo.

“There are different judo schools all over the world,” said Kuzinnoy. “We represent the Russian school.”

“These are the top two coaches from Russia and the top athlete, who won the World Cup three days ago in Yugoslavia,” said Gregg Humphreys of Dynamo Judo Club in Bettendorf.

Humphreys said Kurinnoy is also a two-time sambo world champion, three time World Cup winner, European champion in 1992 and National sumo champion in his weight class in 1998 and 2000.

This year, the three are holding clinics in St. Louis, Mo., Ames, Chicago, Ill. and Fon Du Lac, Wis.

They all said they enjoy being able to come and teach here.

“We all have our leaves [from the national team] and this may be the best way to spend a leave,” Yakovlev said.

“St. Louis was a success and we hope it will be a success here as well.”

The clinics are for ISU Judo and Hapkido club members but anyone is welcome to come and watch, said Master Yong Chin Pak, head instructor of the martial arts programs at Iowa State.

One clinic was held Wednesday from 4:30 p.m. to 7 p.m. The other will be from 4:30 p.m. to 7 p.m. today.

Both clinics are to be held in the martial arts room, 301 Beyer Hall.

Pak said he is excited to welcome the coaches to Iowa State and hopes his students will learn from the experience.

“The Russian Judo team has been very outstanding lately, so there will be a more competitive style,” he said.

Pak said Russia has always been very strong in wrestling, so it was natural for the country to become internationally competitive in judo, which has many similarities to wrestling.

He said sambo, a style of judo that originated in Russia, is very similar to both wrestling and judo.

“They begin by grappling as in judo but after that it becomes [more] like wrestling,” said Pak.

The Russian exchange was initiated by Humphreys.

“The last time they were here was about nine years ago,” Humphreys said.

“We try to go over there about once every three years.”

Judo is a sport involving throwing techniques, pins, control holds, arm locks and choking techniques, according to the International Judo Federation Web site.

The two contestants in a judo match use these techniques to win by throwing the opponent to the ground, pinning the opponent’s shoulders to the ground, or placing the opponent in an armlock or chokehold.

“The definition of judo is `gentle giving away’,” said Pak.

Pak said the five tenants of judo are: Courtesy, integrity, indominable spirit, self control, and perseverance.

The ISU Judo and Hapkido clubs are currently training for the Iowa Games and next fall’s busy competition schedule.

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