Neil Adams (judoka)
![]() Neil Adams at the 2012 Summer Olympics. | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
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Birth name | Neil Adrian Adams | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Nationality | ![]() | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Born | Rugby, Warwickshire | 27 September 1958|||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Height | 1.77 m (5 ft 10 in) | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Weight | 78 kg (172 lb; 12.3 st) | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
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Country | ![]() | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Sport | Judo | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Rank | hachidan | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Medal record
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Neil Adrian Adams, MBE (born 27 September 1958 in Rugby, Warwickshire) is an English judoka who won numerous Olympic and World Championship medals in judo representing Great Britain.
Early life
Adams was educated at Myton School in Warwick. Adams' brother was the late professional wrestling star Chris Adams, who himself had a successful career in judo before turning to pro wrestling in 1978.
Judo competition career
Adams was the first British male to win a World title, and the first British male to simultaneously hold a world title and a European title. Other achievements include a gold medal at the 1981 World Judo Championships in Maastricht, the Netherlands, plus silver medals in the 1980 and 1984 Summer Olympic Games and the 1983 Judo World Championships. Adams was also five-time European Champion.[1] On 20 September 2008 he was promoted to 8th Dan at the age of 49.[2]
Coaching career
Since retiring, Adams has run a coach education business called Neil Adams Effective Fighting, as well as teaching Judo around the world.
He was national coach of VJF judo in Belgium. He then became head coach of the Welsh Judo Association, a position he took on after being asked to take up the role by close friend and chairman of the association Keven Williams, a position he resigned in March 2009.[3]
Personal life
Having in the 1980s been engaged to British Olympic swimming star Sharron Davies, Adams has since the 1990s been married to former Canadian Olympic Judoka Niki Jenkins. The couple have two daughters, and the family lives in Coventry.
Bibliography
- (1986) "Olympic Judo: Throwing Techniques" Pelham (with Cyril Carter)
- (1986) "Olympic Judo: Variations on Groundwork" Pelham (with Cyril Carter)
- (1988) "Olympic Judo: Preparation and Training" Pelham (with Cyril Carter)
- (1991) "Tai-otoshi" Judo Masterclass Techniques Ippon Books
- (1991) "Arm Locks" Judo Masterclass Techniques Ippon Books
- (1991) "Grips" Judo Masterclass Techniques Ippon Books
- (2016) "A Game of Throws - celebrating 50 years in Judo" Fox Spirit Books
Adams in Popular Culture
Adams was so fondly regarded in Japan that he was given the nickname Happo Bigin (Everyone's friend).[4]
A canine version of Neil Adams made a 'guest appearance' in episode 44 of the online comic series Dog Judo[5]
See also
References
- ^ Judo Legends: Neil Adams (realjudo.net)
- ^ "Dan Grade register". British Judo Association. Retrieved 19 January 2012.
- ^ Kombatclinic.com (6 October 2009), British Judo legend Neil Adams MBE, retrieved 3 November 2009
- ^ Judo Heroes – 2002 Manchester Commonwealth Games website
- ^ Dog Judo site
External links
![](http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/en/thumb/4/4a/Commons-logo.svg/30px-Commons-logo.svg.png)
- Use dmy dates from March 2012
- 1958 births
- Living people
- British judoka
- Olympic judoka of Great Britain
- Judoka at the 1980 Summer Olympics
- Judoka at the 1984 Summer Olympics
- Judoka at the 1988 Summer Olympics
- English Olympic medallists
- Olympic silver medallists for Great Britain
- Members of the Order of the British Empire
- Olympic medalists in judo
- People from Rugby, Warwickshire
- Male judoka
- Medalists at the 1984 Summer Olympics
- Medalists at the 1980 Summer Olympics