Vladimir Putin’s love of judo has apparently landed him a starring role in an instructional DVD. The BBC today is running a story about Vladimir Putin’s forthcoming appearance alongside an Olympic champion. They write: “Russia’s judo-loving President, Vladimir Putin, has recorded an instructional DVD along with Japanese Olympic champion Yasuhiro Yamashita. The DVD will be released as a supplement to a judo manual and is due to come out in January or February, the Kremlin’s most famous black belt said. He and Yamashita attended a judo lesson in his home city St Petersburg, two years ago after meeting in Tokyo. “Sports like judo teach you mutual respect,” Mr Putin said. “Respect for your rival, with the knowledge that an adversary who appears weak can put up resistance and even beat you if you lose concentration and become complacent.”