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Big · 07-11-2008, 12:42 AM

I was 9 years old. Originally I wanted to try Judo because of all the throws and tap outs that I wanted to learn. I lived in Russia and you could start Judo only at 10 years old there by law. At the same time a freestyle wrestling coach came to my school and invited my classmates and I to join a freestyle club where you could start at 9 years old.

I didn't want to wait a year so I joined a freestyle club. I fell in love with it and never thought about Judo anymore.

Nobody in my family wrestled so I was on my own. My parents didn't mind though.

I lived in Leningrad which is a big city.

In New York I met Roman Ruderman, Mocco's coach, and he brought me to NYAC. There I met my high school coaches and they invited me to Poly Prep.

07-11-2008, 12:42 AM	#2 (permalink)
Big Olympic Champ Join Date: Mar 2007 Location: On the forums Posts: 8,320 My Mood: Tournaments Joined: 0 Tournament Wins: 0 Awards Showcase Total Awards: 1	Re: Questions for anyone that has wrestled... I was 9 years old. Originally I wanted to try Judo because of all the throws and tap outs that I wanted to learn. I lived in Russia and you could start Judo only at 10 years old there by law. At the same time a freestyle wrestling coach came to my school and invited my classmates and I to join a freestyle club where you could start at 9 years old. I didn't want to wait a year so I joined a freestyle club. I fell in love with it and never thought about Judo anymore. Nobody in my family wrestled so I was on my own. My parents didn't mind though. I lived in Leningrad which is a big city. In New York I met Roman Ruderman, Mocco's coach, and he brought me to NYAC. There I met my high school coaches and they invited me to Poly Prep.