MOSCOW, November 21. /TASS/. Russian President Vladimir Putin has been awarded a high rank in kyokushin-kan karate-do - the eighth dan - by the international committee, the supreme steering body of the Kyokushin-kan International Honbu, the press service of the Russian Kyokushin-kan Karate-do Federation said on Friday.

The decision was taken some time ago but was announced on Friday when the Federation received a letter from the Kancho (Director) Kyokushin-kan International Honbu Hatsuo Royama.

In 2001, Putin was awarded the fifth dan in kyokishin-kan, and the seventh dan - in 2009.

Putin holds the Russian title of the Master of Sports in Judo and Sambo (a martial art, which is translated from Russia as ‘self-defense without arms’). In September 2006, the Russian president became Honorary President of the European Judo Union, and in 2010, he was awarded a honorary doctorate diploma in judo from the Yong In University in South Korea.

Putin keeps on practicing judo and continues to support the Russian Judo Federation. In 2013, the Russian leader was awarded the highest rank in taekwondo, the ninth dan ranking, giving him honorary grandmaster status.