Let's learn judo with Vladimir Putin

We had Putin the topless fisherman with a ripped torso, and Putin the fearless adventurer neutralising a tiger with a single tranquiliser dart. Yesterday, on his 56th birthday, we were introduced to yet another macho incarnation of the Russian Prime Minister – Putin the judo master.

In Let's Learn Judo with Vladimir Putin, a 90-minute film shot over the past year-and-a-half, the former Russian president shares his favourite judo moves with viewers, who are intended to be young Russians learning the Japanese martial art.

Mr Putin told journalists that the DVD's title is simply an "advertising trick", and that actually viewers would be learning from Japanese masters. But in footage from the DVD shown in Russian news bulletins, Mr Putin is seen executing several deadly moves and repeatedly throwing much bigger opponents to the ground. Newsreaders told viewers that the DVD shows Mr Putin dispatching a Japanese Olympic gold-medallist in the sport.

But the film is not just a chance for Mr Putin to show off his prowess. There are also segments of the DVD where the Russian leader muses on the philosophy behind judo.

"The philosophy of judo envisages attaining the best possible result through small but effective efforts," says a black-clad Mr Putin over a soundtrack of atmospheric Oriental music. "In a judo bout, compromises and concessions are permissible but only in one case: if it is for victory." An insight into his political strategy perhaps.

During his eight years as President, Mr Putin was repeatedly portrayed as a man who drank little and kept in good shape; the antithesis of his predecessor, Boris Yeltsin. "A society without sport cannot be called a healthy society," he said at the launch of the video. Mr Putin says he has been involved in judo since the age of 13, and holds a black belt. He has been shown before winning a judo bout on Russian television, and in 2002 released a book of judo tips.

There are also signs that other world leaders may be keen for the Russian's machismo to rub off on them. Last month Mr Putin told Le Figaro that the French President, Nicolas Sarkozy, was also keen to get involved in judo. "We have decided to do some training together," Mr Putin said.

The release of the film is not the only thing that might make Mr Putin smile as he turns 56. Over the weekend, the pro-Moscow President of Chechnya, Ramzan Kadyrov, announced that the main street in the Chechen capital, Grozny, was being renamed "Putin Avenue". Moscow has funded the reconstruction of Chechnya and supports Mr Kadyrov, whom critics have described as authoritarian.

The Prime Minister's spokesman, Dmitry Peskov, told reporters that, while Mr Putin would not stop anyone from honouring him in this way, he does not encourage it. "That goes not just for renaming streets in his honour but also various statues that have been there for several years, his photographs on school textbooks and so forth."

But the occasional birthday-release martial arts film is clearly acceptable.