Neil Adams MBE : Winner takes it All

This Monday we have another snippet that didn’t make it into the book. Sometimes you have to let good material stay on the cutting room floor, other times, you blog it. You can find out more about Neil Adams Judo here.

Winner takes it All

So if you know me well, you know I’m not a great loser. I’ll hide it well, but really it’s killing me inside. What is well evident is that I do bask in the light of winning, no matter how small and achievement. This isn’t just on the mat either as the full timers will tell you and with our gym and running challenges, but you could also say I have a bit of a competitive streak when it come to driving as well.

Niki says I’m Jekyl and Hyde when I get behind a wheel. I blame it on driving in London all those years. It is an eat-or-be-eaten world driving in London.

One time I had this guy in a supped-up car beside me at a light. He kept looking over at me egging me on, revving his engine, so boys being boys and my competitive streak coming to the forefront, I thought I would have a little fun with Matey-boy to my right.

The light changed and we were off, I kept it close, and he kept gunning it to stay ahead of me. Once, than twice, he got ahead of me, but I wasn’t bothered, I knew something he obviously didn’t, which I pointed out to him through the windscreen, maybe just a little too late? The fast approaching roundabout at the end of the road was an obvious surprise to him as he raced through the circular and promptly up on top of the mound in the centre of the island, where he sat for all the world to see. Almost like a kind of trophy.

I’m usually a good sport and one who had witnessed this little encounter could have believe my circling around him two times on the roundabout could’ve been me making sure the driver was alright and free from harm. Some may say, the honking of my horn in a victory lap or two might have been seen as unsportsman-like conduct.

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The Boys to the Rescue – Neil Adams MBE

We are doing something a little different with the Neil Adams Autobiography. Instead of sharing chapters, we are sharing a few sections that didn’t make the final book.  We hope you enjoy these extra teasers and if you want to know more about what Neil is up to now, you can find out here.

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To say we had a tight knit group at the full time academy was an understatement really. They almost existed as one unit. This unity was demonstrated in the face of danger one evening as myself and a couple of the lads were travelling back from a demonstration.

Driving along the road we came upon an overturned car with the wheels still spinning fiercely. Big Rick, called out, “Pull over, Neil! That’s just happened! The guy is still inside!”

I pulled off the road and the boys ran ahead of me to the overturned car. You could smell the petrol in the air and sure enough, smoke started from the rear of the vehicle and then, poof, flames! The driver was unconscious and Mossy, Innis and Big Rick reached in to get him out before the car would be consumed. Mossy and Innis backed off to let Rick do his thing and more so as the flames were becoming bigger and bigger.

I was on the phone dialing 999 and looked up to see the flames growing, “Rick you got to get out of there. It’s going to go!!” I screamed at him. Big Rick was undeterred but the driver wasn’t coming free from the car. His foot was entangled in the seatbelt.

Just like a Hollywood movie, Rick gave one more massive tug, and pulled the guy free of the driver’s seat and away just as the car exploded into full-on flames.

We waited with the driver until the ambulance and authorities came along with another driver who had pulled up behind to see if he could help in the aftermath.

I was so proud of the boys, not even thinking of their own safety but that of the trapped driver, diving in to get him free of disaster. I opened the local paper the next day to read the headline of the event, eager to see the boys’ names listed as heroes. However, their names weren’t there. What was there was a picture of the other driver who drove up after, who had taken a picture of the flaming car. The caption read, ‘I just did what I had to do to save a life.’ The mind boggles.

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Launch Day for Neil Adams MBE

Today is the official launch of Neil Adams MBE’s autobiography celebrating 50 Years in Judo. The first book in the FoxGloves martial arts line.

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The book is available from Amazon for £8.99 and the Adams’ are doing a special limited edition commemorative Gi Bag. There are only 50 bags available, which come complete with a copy of the book for £30. Please contact the Adams’ directly for more information on the ltd edition bags.

This is an incredibly open book about being the best and rebuilding life after the Olympics.

 

Neil Adams MBE : A Game of Throws

Celebrating 50 Years of Judo!final_design_V2

It’s almost here! Fox Spirit’s first autobiography, from world famous Judoka Neil Adams MBE, published under the FoxGloves martial arts line will be available in August via Amazon worldwide.

The book is an open and honest look at what it meant to be an olympic Judoka and how Neil Adam’s rebuilt his professional and personal life afterwards. This is not a book about Judo, this is a book about what it means to be a fighter on and off the mats. This books has been a personal catharsis for Adam’s and is fantastic read that speaks to lifelong athletes and fans of a human story alike.

‘ There was a passion that effused every page and the section about Chris (no spoilers from me) had me in tears at my desk during a lunch time reading session. Not exactly a cool thing for a middle-aged man but unavoidable when reading something that raw and emotive.’  Tony Lane, read the whole review here.

There will also be a special strictly limited edition ‘Gi’ cover available direct from Neil Adams.

 

FoxGloves first title

The first title in our FoxGloves martial arts range is Neil Adams MBE’s new autobiography ‘A Game of Throws’ available this summer.

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This book charts the story of Neil’s career in Judo and life off the mats after his final Olympics. Neil will be commentating on the Judo in this years Olympics and we are delighted to be kicking off the FoxGloves line in this fashion.