It seems like Brazilian jiu-jitsu is making a name for itself across arenas. After it’s become the go to martial art for a variety of actors and showbiz people more and more politicians are taking it on. After all martial arts are a good match for politicians as evidenced by Vladimir Putin’s Judo and the recent election of Judo Legend as president of Mongolia.
Rahul Gandhi; is an Indian politician who is currently serving as Member of Parliament, Lok Sabha from Amethi, Uttar Pradesh. He also currently serves as Member of the Parliamentary Standing Committee on External Affairs
The 47 year old politician recently spoke about the importance of sports during the 112th annual session and PHD Annual Awards for Excellence.
“I met Rahul Gandhi in 2009 and we have been practising together ever since. We have not been able to practise for the last three months, but have always been regular with our sessions,” said Rahul’s Aikido coach Sensei Paritos Kar in an interview to India Today.
Kar recollected that the Congressman used to practice with two of his friends at his 12 Tughlaq Lane residence. Quite often, Rahul’s mother Sonia Gandhi and sister Priyanka Vadra would come to see him at practice. And then in 2013, when Kar had come to India from Japan, Rahul had appeared for the black-belt test and successfully passed.
Gandhi’s revelations about martial art skills come after accusations he repeatedly lied during campaign rallies and then by making sexist comments against women associated with the RSS. Gandhi took a sidestep starting to boast about his martial arts achievements.
As per Rahul’s Akido teacher, the Congress leader is also trained in sword fighting and Brazilian jiu-jitsu. As per the coach named Sensei Paritos Kar, Rahul along with his friends used to practice Aikido at his official residence and had successfully passed the black belt test in 2013.
