British Judo Association President George Kerr CBE and Neil Adams MBE enter IJF Hall of Fame

President of the British Judo Association George Kerr (CBE) and former World Champion, double Olympic silver medalist and British Judo Director of Elite Coaching Neil Adams (MBE) have been selected to join the International Judo Federation (IJF) Hall of Fame, following in the footsteps of the late Charles Palmer, Anton Geesink and the founding father of Judo Professor Jigoro Kano.

The prestigious accolade was formally presented to them both on 25 August – the eve of the 2013 IJF Judo World Championships taking place in Rio de Janeiro from Monday 26 to Saturday 31 August.

Reacting to this news, the BJA President Kerr said: “It is a tremendous honour to be awarded this accolade, particularly as our former late president Charles Palmer and my friend Anton Geesink held this honour. I have heard that 12 people are being inducted for the first time in a decade. It is great for the Association and I am looking forward to going back to Rio. I came fifth here in the World Championships in 1965.”

Kerr is one of the select few in the world to hold 10th Dan, the highest grades awarded to a judoka, which he was bestowed with in 2010 by the IJF. He is the second Briton after former BJA President Charles Palmer to hold the status.

Kerr’s competitive career saw him rack up an impressive run of medals. In 1957, he won gold in the European Judo Championships in Rotterdam.

Then in 2001 he became president of the British Judo Association and then went on a year later to be named as one of the inaugural members of the Scottish Sports Hall of Fame.

Other honours include being appointed Commander of the Order of the British Empire (CBE) in the 2011 New Year Honours.

He also received Japan’s equivalent of the CBE – the Order of the Rising Sun, Gold Rays with Rosette, in January 2011, after being named in Emperor Akihito’s November 2010 honours list. This recognised his ongoing contribution to judo and in strengthening relations between the UK and Japan – judo’s spiritual home.

He was also one of the first athletes to go to Japan, study there and bring the skills of physical training and the philosophy of judo to Britain and to Europe.

Neil Adams reacted to the news saying: “I’m very proud to have my names among such judo royalty. Sometimes we need a vision and I think Mr. Vizer had that. Judo is moving forward in the right direction. It has gone to another level and I’m proud to be part of the process. We will endeavour to make it better and a truly international sport.”

Adams, 54, is one of Britain’s best known judoka, having won the 1981 World Championships and Olympic silver medals in Moscow 1980 and Los Angeles 1984. His illustrious career also includes seven European Championship titles, with the 8th Dan also being a 21 time British Champion.

Adams is one of Great Britain’s most successful judoka and was the first British male to be crowned World Champion, taking the title in Maastricht in 1981. He also holds two Olympic silver medals won in Moscow 1980 and Los Angeles 1984, when British Judo Chairman Kerrith Brown won a bronze medal. He also has seven European Championships to his name, one world silver, two world bronze, 21 British National Championships and a substantial number of national and international titles.

After retiring from the competitive side of the sport, Adams has spent over 25 years working in technical coaching roles alongside a successful career in media broadcasting. His coaching career started with the British Schools Judo Association, before taking the post of GB Olympic Judo Team Coach for the 1996 Atlanta Olympic Games. He then took on the role of National Technical Advisor and National Coach for Coach Education for British Judo, spending five years in post.

Following this, Adams returned elite coaching, taking the position of National Coach for Wales and moving in 2009 to become Head Coach of Elite Development for VJF Belgium, as well as founding Neil Adams Effective Fighting, providing a range of coaching resources and services.

Throughout this period Adams dovetailed his coaching commitments with a successful media career, working with a range of organisations including the BBC, ESPN, Eurosport and Channel 4. Most recently, people will recognise his role as presenter for Judo at London 2012, giving expert opinion, analysis and commentary throughout the seven day event at London ExCel. Neil also provides TV commentary to the world’s premier judo events and also works as television sports commentator for the International Judo Federation.

Chairman of the BJA Kerrith Brown said: “It is fantastic for British Judo that two of our family have been awarded such a tribute. President George Kerr has set the benchmark for anyone aspiring to his example. It has been an exciting journey for George who has enjoyed a fantastic career, this must just be the icing on the cake.

“Neil Adams has been recognised for not only a fantastic competitive career which saw him win two Olympic silver medals as well as a World Championship but also has distinguished career off the mat where he was recently influential in the IJF rule changes and is now part of the British Judo Elite Programme.

“On behalf of the BJA we are very pleased for George and Neil, and it is only fitting that they are recognised for their services to Judo.”