Russian television and Kremlin photographers have shown him wearing a judo uniform while throwing his opponents to the ground ...

My father probably tied my first judo belt. When he passed away, I dressed him in my judo uniform and tied the belt around his waist. I thought, 'So this is how it feels.' It wasn't sad ...

When the children had put on the judo uniform it had "transformed them and united them", Messner added "and it was helping to divert the children’s thinking from the horrors of war and conflict".