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A master class with Judo Olympic champion & Superstars sensation

A rare treat for the Ju-jitsu members when Olympic bronze medalist, World champion, European champion & 10th Dan Sensei Brain Jacks conducted a seminar at Poole Ju-jitsu.

Brian Jacks achieved national fame for his outstanding performances on the BBC programme Superstars, all-around sports competition that pits elite athletes from different sports against one another in a series of athletic events resembling a decathlon. He was one of the most successful competitors and dominated the British and European version of the contest from 1979 to 1980, winning four titles.

Jacks was most famous for his efforts in the gymnasium, where he repeatedly set records in the “gym tests”, including 100 parallel bar dips in 60 seconds in the 1981 Challenge of the Champions, and 118 squat thrusts in the 1980 World Final. He was also very dominant in the weightlifting, canoeing and cycling events, rarely placing lower than second. Jacks was never able to win the World Superstars title, being forced to miss the 1979 event due to illness and finishing third in 1980. In 1981 he was beaten for the first time in Europe and would never again compete in Superstars.

His victories in the British and European Superstars led to the creation of the branded computer games: Brian Jacks Superstar Challenge and Brian Jacks Uchi Mata.

It was an absolute honour being on the mat with a legend, I loved every minute and hope he can return

Nathan O’ConnellPJJC student
  • Olympic champion
  • World Champion
  • European Champion

At the peak of his career, Brian is famed mostly for his performance in the gymnasium, in the 1981 Challenge of the Champions and the 1980 World Final. In such events, he set records for the 100 parallel bar dips, which he completed in 60 seconds, and the 118 squat thrusts. As a testament to his varied sporting ability, Brian is highly regarded for his weightlifting, canoeing and cycling ability, events in which he rarely finished lower than second place. Over the course of his athletic career, Brian earned two third place titles and five first place titles. Such Superstars victories even inspired the computer games, Brian Jacks Superstar Challenge and Brian Jacks Uchi Mata.

Since retiring from active Judo competing, Brian founded a martial arts club. At present, he manages a 60-room hotel in Thailand, highlighting not just his sporting prowess, but his business mindset. Reflecting upon his sporting career, Brian holds the official judo rank of 8th Dan from the British Judo Association, a position he earned in 1994.

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Poole Ju jitsu has specialised in martial arts since 1987 and is a leading academy for teaching Juniors & Adults.

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