Russia’s Timur Arbuzov just turned 22 before the European Judo Championships Seniors Tbilisi 2026 and already is a world champion and now two-time European champion in the -81kg. The judoka from the Krasnodar region in the south of Russia once more proved his class in Tbilisi, overcoming home crowd favourite Tato Grigalashvili in the final after just 1:37 minutes.
He surprised himself with that quick victory. “I was mentally preparing for a tough battle, preparing for golden score,” Arbuzov said. “I didn’t think it would be an easy fight. Well, it turned out how it turned out. I scored with a throw at the start, and after that, I think he started trying to make up for that score, and because of that, he started missing other scores.”
Arbuzov was actually a bit more wary of his first bout of the day. “I really focused on that first contest because I had lost to the Swiss guy [Aurelien Bonferroni] before. I faced him once and I lost,” Arbuzov explained.
“This time I was really in the right mindset, came up with the right strategy, and managed to win, well, pretty easily, actually. After we got past the first round, it got easier mentally, the adrenaline had already kicked in, and things just went as they went. From there, the contests just kept getting better and better.”
Arbuzov got into the sport through his father Denis, who was a judoka himself but retired early after suffering an injury. He turned to coaching instead. Still, Timur is not the only one in his family to practice judo. “I have three younger brothers and one sister and all brothers are judoka,” he revealed. The brothers are 18, 13 and 11 years old but the little sister is only one year old.
When you watch Arbuzov on the tatami, you will notice his flexibility that allows him to move and turn with cat-like agility. “Ever since I was a kid, my dad made me stretch, a lot,” the two-time European champion shared. “Splits, forward bends, all kinds of bridge poses. I have been flexible since childhood, and I guess I’m just naturally flexible, too.”
The Russian judoka keeps that routine until today. “I am trying constantly do exercises after every training, to loosen up my muscles and to stretch,“ he shared.
With all the training, there is not much time for other things but Timur enjoys spending his spare time with friends and family. [My best way to relax is] to go somewhere with the teammates, to hang out together, eat, socialise.”
Arbuzov got to the top of his sport at an age when others are still competing in the U23 but he sees a trend. “Judo, now, overall is getting younger,” he observed. “There are a lot of young kids that take medals at competitions and I don’t want to give away my position. Even when I get older, I nevertheless still would like to get medals. Therefore, the task is now to work and not give away my position.”
The big goal is still ahead: The 2028 Los Angeles Olympic Games. “I would love to to [go to the Olympic Games], experience that atmosphere, compete, and, with God willing, win that medal I have been striving for my whole life,” Arbuzov said. He has a plan in place to reach this ultimate goal: “I need to listen to my coaches, to my personal coach, my family, people close to me, fulfill my plan with diligence and not shy away from hard work and believe in myself. Believe that hard work does pay off.”
However, Arbuzov is looking beyond that already. He wants to compete in the -81kg in this Olympic cycle and then move up to the -90kg. “I am still growing. I think that constantly gaining and losing weight, especially over the course of a long career, also has a significant impact on your health and on injuries. Therefore, I would like to finish this cycle and then move up to the -90kg and try myself there,” he said.
“In five years from now, I think I will still be here, in the sport. I hope, without injuries, but I would still like to compete.”
Arbuzov looks up to his coaches, Olympic champions Arsen Galstyan and Beslan Mudranov as well as to his personal trainer. However, he has also idols from other sports, Russian wrestlers and Olympic champions Buvaisar Saitiev and Alexander Karelin. “I am trying to watch their interviews to take something for me,” he noted. “I didn’t think about it [switching to wrestling] but I really like it, to be honest, maybe I would have tried.
“It’s also a dynamic, fluid style of grappling, somewhat similar to judo throws. That is, you can use sweeps, hip throws, and knee throws. Basically, it’s just that you don’t wear a judogi and you can grab the legs but, well, the rules are a little different.”
Even though Arbuzov rose to the very top quickly, he remains humble. “Judo is such an unpredictable sport that anyone can beat you, to be honest,” he pointed out. “The smallest mistake, the tiniest one, especially now with the new yukos, a fall, a slight touch somewhere and that’s it, the fight is over. That’s why you always have to be on your toes, stay focused all the time and not let your opponent’s attacks get through. Anything can happen.”
The goals for the rest of the season are clear for the reigning World champion: “The main goal is to win the tournaments I’m sent to. I want to win.”
The excitement, the versatility, the unpredictability, Arbuzov loves his sport and that keeps him motivated moving forward. “I’m enjoying it,” he said. “I don’t need extra motivation. I just enjoy the process, I like training, I like winning, I like to make the audience happy, my family and friends. I just love it.”
Author: Tatjana Flade