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

ℹ️ 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:

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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:

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• Support on Patreon: https://www.patreon.com/lexfridman

🎤 SPEAKERS

• Neil Adams

  guest

• Lex Fridman

  host

• 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.

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