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John Hearn, The World’s Oldest Judo Teacher, Passes Away At 103

From BJJ Eastern Europe

October 16, 2026

John “Jack” Hearn, known to generations of students in Cramlington simply as Mr. Hearn and nicknamed Judo Jack, has died at 103. His judo began by accident. Appendix surgery ended his cycling, and in 1951 he found judo, taking to it “like a duck to water”. In 1954 he and his brother Bob opened their […]

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