Dagestan’s Peaceful Warriors – Witness

Hidden in the mountainous republic of Dagestan, Gusein Magomaev runs a famed martial arts school that has produced several European champions, Olympians and the only non-Chinese king of Kung Fu.

Nurturing an array of talent, some 200 children train at the site that provides an escape for the region’s disenfranchised youth.

But in a republic with a high concentration of Muslims, outside the school’s thick walls a fierce battle for control of the Northern Caucasus is raging between Muslim separatists and the minority Moscow-backed nationalists.

Russian President Vladimir Putin has repeatedly stressed the importance of Dagestan for Russia – and if war breaks out there, it could have a domino-like effect on the whole region.

In Dagestan’s Peaceful Warriors , we follow Gusein who has faced arson attacks and threats from politicians while trying to keep his students focused on the next Russian karate championship.