Neil Adams (Judoka)

Neil Adrian Adams, MBE ( born September 27, 1958 in Rugby, Warwickshire ) is an English judoka, who won several Olympic medals and world titles.

Biography

Youth

Adams attended the Myton School in Warwick. He trained in his childhood judo with his brother Christopher Adams, who later became known in the United States as a wrestler " Gentleman" Chris Adams. Adams was initially trained by his father. When he moved to London at age 16, the British Judo pioneer Brian Jacks was his coach.

Professional career

His athletic achievements include a gold medal at the World Championships in judo, 1981 in Maastricht, Netherlands and silver medals at the Summer Olympic Games in 1980 and 1984, as well as in the World Cup 1983. He was also a five-time European champions.

He was the first male Briton who ever won a world title in Judo and also the first male Briton, who held the same time a world champion and a European champion. On 20 September 2008 he reached the age of 49, shortly before his fiftieth birthday, 8th Dan. 1983 the Order Member of the Order of the British Empire, he was awarded.

Adams was also known in Japan, where he received the nickname Happo Bigin ( " Everybody's Friend ").

Coach

1996 Neil Adams was the coach of the British Judo Team at the Olympic Summer Games in Atlanta. In the Summer Olympics 2000, he worked as a commentator.

In March 2009, he resigned as coach of the Welsh Judo Association, a position he held for several years and he had received mediated by Keven Williams. Adams is currently coach in Belgium.

Neil Adams founded the martial arts school Neil Adams Effective Fighting Ltd. , Which offers seminars all over the world, and the shipping trade Fighting Films, which offers both Judo accessories as well as various DVDs with fights, as well as education and exercise DVDs.

Neil Adams had several appearances on British television. So he joined in 1982 and 1985 in the BBC show Superstars, finishing there once the sixth (1982 ) and once in fourth place (1985). In the 2000s he also appeared as a judo coach in the celebrity show The Games on Channel 4.

Private life

Adams is married to Nikki Adams (born Jenkins ). His wife is also a judoka and was in the Canadian Olympic team. They have two daughters together and a son.

Title

• Judo European Championships: 1978 in Helsinki: 3 ( Lightweight -71 kg ) 1979 in Brussels: 1 ( Lightweight -71 kg ) In Vienna in 1980: 1 ( Light Middleweight - 78kg ) 1982 in Rostock: 3 ( Light Middleweight - 78kg ) In Paris in 1983: 1 ( Light Middleweight - 78kg ) 1984 Liege: 1 ( Light Middleweight - 78kg ) 1985 in Hamar: 1 ( Light Middleweight - 78kg )

• Judo World Championships: In Paris in 1979: 3 ( Lightweight -71 kg ) 1981 in Maastricht: 1 ( Light Middleweight -78 ) In Moscow in 1983: 2 ( Light Middleweight - 78kg ) 1985 in Seoul: 3 ( Light Middleweight -78 kg )

• Olympic Games: 1980 in Moscow: 2 (light weight -71 kg ) 1984 Los Angeles: 2 ( Light Middleweight - 78kg )