Skip to content

By playing, you agree to uListen's Terms and Privacy Policy and YouTube's Terms of Service.

Lex Fridman PodcastLex Fridman Podcast

Neil Adams: Judo, Olympics, Winning, Losing, and the Champion Mindset | Lex Fridman Podcast #427

Neil Adams is a judo world champion, 2-time Olympic silver medalist, 5-time European champion, and often referred to as the Voice of Judo.

Neil AdamsguestLex Fridmanhost
Apr 20, 20242h 27mWatch on YouTube ↗

Summaries, chapters, transcripts, and FAQs on this page are made by uListen, not YouTube.

Episode Details

EPISODE INFO

Released
April 20, 2024
Duration
2h 27m
Channel
Lex Fridman Podcast
Watch on YouTube
▶ Open ↗

EPISODE DESCRIPTION

Neil Adams is a judo world champion, 2-time Olympic silver medalist, 5-time European champion, and often referred to as the Voice of Judo. Please support this podcast by checking out our sponsors:

TRANSCRIPT: https://lexfridman.com/neil-adams-transcript EPISODE LINKS: Neil's Instagram: https://instagram.com/naefighting Neil's YouTube: https://youtube.com/NAEffectiveFighting Neil's TikTok: https://tiktok.com/@neiladamsmbe Neil's Facebook: https://facebook.com/NeilAdamsJudo Neil's X: https://x.com/NeilAdamsJudo Neil's Website: https://naeffectivefighting.com Neil's Podcast: https://naeffectivefighting.com/podcasts/the-dojo-collective-podcast A Life in Judo (book): https://amzn.to/4d3DtfB A Game of Throws (audiobook): https://amzn.to/4aA2WeJ PODCAST INFO: Podcast website: https://lexfridman.com/podcast Apple Podcasts: https://apple.co/2lwqZIr Spotify: https://spoti.fi/2nEwCF8 RSS: https://lexfridman.com/feed/podcast/ Full episodes playlist: https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PLrAXtmErZgOdP_8GztsuKi9nrraNbKKp4 Clips playlist: https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PLrAXtmErZgOeciFP3CBCIEElOJeitOr41 OUTLINE: 0:00 - Introduction 1:46 - 1980 Olympics 19:09 - Judo explained 27:14 - Winning 45:28 - 1984 Olympics 54:29 - Lessons from losing 1:10:11 - Teddy Riner 1:29:46 - Training in Japan 1:45:25 - Jiu jitsu 1:56:33 - Training 2:19:52 - Advice for beginners SOCIAL:

SPEAKERS

  • Neil Adams

    guest
  • Lex Fridman

    host
  • Narrator

    other
  • Narrator

    other
  • Narrator

    other
  • Narrator

    other

EPISODE SUMMARY

In this episode of Lex Fridman Podcast, featuring Neil Adams and Lex Fridman, Neil Adams: Judo, Olympics, Winning, Losing, and the Champion Mindset | Lex Fridman Podcast #427 explores Neil Adams on Judo, Olympic Heartbreak, and Becoming a True Champion Neil Adams, legendary judoka and commentator, discusses his Olympic journeys, including painful silver medals in 1980 and 1984, and how poor nutrition, mindset shifts, and tactical decisions shaped those outcomes. He explores the evolution of judo’s rules and styles, from classic Japanese throwing to wrestling-influenced leg grabs, and why gripping and transitions on the ground are the sport’s true science. Adams also opens up about his obsessive will to win, the psychological toll of losing on the biggest stage, his battles with alcohol, and how he rebuilt his life, career, and identity after competition. Throughout, he reflects on what makes a “great champion”: not only winning, but how you lose, how you carry yourself, and how you give back to the sport.

RELATED EPISODES

Charan Ranganath: Human Memory, Imagination, Deja Vu, and False Memories | Lex Fridman Podcast #430

Charan Ranganath: Human Memory, Imagination, Deja Vu, and False Memories | Lex Fridman Podcast #430

Paul Rosolie: Jungle, Apex Predators, Aliens, Uncontacted Tribes, and God | Lex Fridman Podcast #429

Paul Rosolie: Jungle, Apex Predators, Aliens, Uncontacted Tribes, and God | Lex Fridman Podcast #429

Sean Carroll: General Relativity, Quantum Mechanics, Black Holes & Aliens | Lex Fridman Podcast #428

Sean Carroll: General Relativity, Quantum Mechanics, Black Holes & Aliens | Lex Fridman Podcast #428

Edward Gibson: Human Language, Psycholinguistics, Syntax, Grammar & LLMs | Lex Fridman Podcast #426

Edward Gibson: Human Language, Psycholinguistics, Syntax, Grammar & LLMs | Lex Fridman Podcast #426

Andrew Callaghan: Channel 5, Gonzo, QAnon, O-Block, Politics & Alex Jones | Lex Fridman Podcast #425

Andrew Callaghan: Channel 5, Gonzo, QAnon, O-Block, Politics & Alex Jones | Lex Fridman Podcast #425

Bassem Youssef: Israel-Palestine, Gaza, Hamas, Middle East, Satire & Fame | Lex Fridman Podcast #424

Bassem Youssef: Israel-Palestine, Gaza, Hamas, Middle East, Satire & Fame | Lex Fridman Podcast #424

Get more out of YouTube videos.

Read along on your phone, search it beside the video, or ask your favorite AI app what was said.