"... I [] felt a call of duty for my country. At eighteen, I joined the Russian Army. In my opinion, spending time in the army is something all boys need to do in order to mature, learn about responsibility, and become prepared to fight for their country. And no matter how much the sport of sambo had given me, it wasn't until I went into the army that I grew from a boy into a man. My entire view on life changed, and I felt strength grow inside me..."
(Source: Short biography of Fedor Emelianenko in the Introduction to 'Fedor - The Fighting System of the World's Undisputed King of MMA')
