In 1961, on his 15th birthday, a determined Englishman travelled to Japan alone. There he stayed for two gruelling years getting bounced about by young, hostile, Japanese judokas as he strived to become the best. In 1964, aged 17, he competed in the junior Eurpean Championships, the Senior European Chanpionships AND the Olympics, which was held back in Japan. A couple more Olympic Games followed, and then came the TV programme that propelled the hard man of judo into the public limelight: Superstars. Here Brian Jacks really excelled, taking on all comers from a multitude of different sports. He became a celebrity in the UK and eventually decided to retire to Pattaya, Thailand, whereupon he built a 69-room aoartment block with his son, Viewdee Apartments. Here is his story.
#mindset #judo #legend #expat
PS - I also had my first beer in a year. When one of your childhood heroes asks, you say yes. Brian was the reason I took up judo at the age of 7 or 8, which toughened me up immeasurably.
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