Legendary 10th Dan George Kerr celebrates birthday with a journey

George Kerr, Scotland’s ‘Mr. Judo’, turned 80 at 24 August. Judo legend Kerr celebrated his birthday with the launch of his autobiography; ‘My Journey to the 10th Dan’. "It's a book about life, not just judo."

Members of Edinburgh’s judo community, along with judo players and officials from around the world, have congratulated Dr. George Kerr CBE, President of the British Judo Association and founder of George Kerr Junior Judo, on reaching his 80th birthday, and on the publication of his long-awaited autobiography.

‘My Journey to the 10th Dan’ tells the fascinating story of George’s amazing journey from humble beginnings in Leith, Edinburgh, to international honors and the pinnacle of an Olympic sport practiced today by 30 million people worldwide.

George’s book was officially launched at the World Judo Championships in Budapest.

‘My Journey to the 10th Dan’ is a story of victories and defeats, struggles and successes, covering six decades of a life devoted to judo as a player, Olympic coach and administrator, and culminating in honours bestowed by the Emperor of Japan, H.M the Queen, the International Judo Federation, Heriot-Watt University and the City of Edinburgh.

In ‘My Journey to the 10th Dan’ readers will enjoy George’s accounts of:

> His sea voyage to Japan aged 18 to study at Nihon University and the legendary Kodokan Institute, judo’s spiritual home, and the challenges he faced in a country then largely unknown to Europeans.

> His early successes as European and British Open champion, and the heartbreak, having been deemed a professional, of being denied a place at the Tokyo Olympics.

> The secrets of the system George evolved as an Olympic coach, producing players including double Olympic gold medallist and World Champion Peter Seisenbacher, European Champion Robert Köstenberger and Olympic medallist Josef Reiter.

> The insights George gained as President and Chairman of the British Judo Association, as Vice-President of the European Judo Union and as special consultant to Marius Vizer, President of the International Judo Federation.

> George’s pioneering role in judo’s development in Scotland and the UK, via the Edinburgh Club, The Club and George Kerr Junior Judo.

Beautiful photographs illustrate the competitions, the players and the key figures in judo’s remarkable evolution from minority interest to an Olympic sport followed by millions.

 ‘My Journey to the 10th Dan’ is a book every judo enthusiast will wish to own. Order the journey HERE