The world sports union “Maccabi” was founded in 1921. It unites hundreds of Jewish youth sports clubs that appeared in those times when the Semitic ideas grew popular. The first Jewish sports club in Russia was opened in Russia (Saint-Petersburg) in 1916. Then, the “Maccabi” trend became popular all over the country, but in the middle of 1920-s its activities were ceased due to the reigning of the Soviet power. Having been closed for many years, “Maccabi” club was opened in Moscow and in autumn of 1989 the Jewish sports movement in Russia was revived. From 1996 the support of the Russian movement ”Maccabi” and the Moscow “Maccabi-Center” has been the priority of the RJC in the sphere of children and teenager sport. A two-time champion of the Olympic Games and owner of the World Cup in fencing Sergey Sharikov, Olympic champion Maria Mazina and the world champion in sambo-wrestling Yaroslav Kleiman, - all of them fought for Maccabi. From 1998 the Russian Maccabists have been participating in the prestigious international competition of wrestlers Trinity Bell on annual basis. Each time they earn more and more medals – 3 gold medals in 2001. The leader of the team Ilya Tsipursly, 3-time USSR sambo champion and 2-time Europe champion in Judo, the owner of the bronze medal in an absolute class of the veteran competition. These are the latest records of the Russian Maccabists: At the end of July 29, 2003, the 5-th world competition on dzudo for professionals was held. The sportsmen, not older than 30 years take part in such types of competitions. 900 sportsmen from 25 countries including Russia joined the competitions. Under the assistance of the Russian Jewish Congress 2, sportsmen, represented the Moscow sports club Maccabi (the chief coach of the “Maccabi” on Judo and sambo and a great USSR and Europe champion, a two-time champion among the professional Ilya Tsipursky and a many-time winner of the Maccabi clubs, the last-year winner of the world championship for professionals in Londonderry Alexey Makutonin), took part in the Tokyo championship. The competition was held in Codocan, the world Judo center, built in the first half of the 18-th century by a legendary person who invented dzudo, Dzigaro Kano. The most famous masters of dzudo as Yamasito, Sato, Ansu together with the president of the International federation of the Judo masters Valter Van Helder and the president of the Judo Federation of Japan Hiromi Hogucci were present at the championship. The sportsmen of Maccabi performed a duet in the Utstu-utsu-no-Kata program, demonstrating in a randori style (when the opponent does not protect himself) the energetic opportunities of a person’s position in a dynamic. The situations of “vibration”, “continuation”, “whirlwind”, “ebb and flow”, “momentum” were demonstrated. Ilya Ysipursky and Alexey Makutonin were awarded the first places and two gold medals. Later the sportsmen took part in personal competitions in their age groups and weight categories. In the group M8 (aged 65-68) and the category up to 100 kg, Ilya Tsipursky competed with the American dzudoist and won the contest. The chief leader of the “Maccabi” got the gold medal and became the 3-time world champion among professionals.
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