Kendal judo club welcomed a legend of the sport as Olympic champion Neil Adams visited the dojo.

The dojo, located at the Parkside Business Park, welcomed Neil back to the mat to share his knowledge and experiences with the junior and senior students.

Neil was the first British male to win a world title, and the first British male to simultaneously hold a world title and a European title.

He also won a gold medal at the 1981 World Judo Championships in Maastricht, the Netherlands, plus silver medals in the 1980 and 1984 Summer Olympic Games and the 1983 Judo World Championships.

During his career he also became a five-time European champion.

He is also a very experienced coach and formed the Neil Adams Effective Fighting coaching business and was a regular trainer with self-defence instructor and author Geoff Thompson.

At the age of 60, Neil Adams became a 9th Dan black belt in judo.

His wife Niki is also an Olympic silver medallist who represented Canada in Judo.

A regular visitor to the club, Neil visited Kendal on November 10 for the first time since lockdown was lifted.

A long-time friend of club instructor Mike Liptrot, the team GB Olympian and world champion put on a junior and senior class for the club where he shared numerous techniques and performed demonstrations of various throws, grappling and submissions.

The day saw more than 100 judokas and friends attended the event, which was also their first major event since reopening.

Neil said: “My wife and I love the Lake District and the Kendal club is such a fantastic club.

"I do believe it’s one of the best around for judo.

“It’s been very difficult for the sport during lockdown as it is a close contact sport, and we were one of the last sports to get back into action.

“This was the first time we’ve been able to do a junior and a senior class together.

"The age range was so broad, going from seven year olds to 70-year-old judokas.

“Mike is a dear friend and I’ve known him for many years.

“We continued with the dise sessions we run which is about developing up and coming players.

"It usually takes places every month and it really gets interest going and gets people going in the right direction.

“If you want to start judo you need a good club, a good teacher and both are available at the Kendal club.

"It’s an amazing organisation and is one of the best working dojos out there.

“One of the best in the country I think.”