John Hearn BEM (born 19 September 1923), [1] also known as Judo Jack, is an English judo instructor. At age 100, he was confirmed by Guinness World Records as the oldest active judo instructor.
Born and raised in North Shields, [2] Hearn enlisted in the Royal Northumberland Fusiliers [3] when he was 18, in 1942. [4] He fought in Algiers, where due to an eye condition that would affect his use of a rifle, he operated a Bren light machine gun at the back of a convoy. [2] He was a driver with the Royal Army Service Corps at the Battle of Monte Cassino. [4] In May 2024, he was one of few surviving veterans to attend the 80th anniversary of the end of the battle. [5]
Hearn took up judo in North Shields in 1951, having given up his previous activity of swimming because of appendix surgery. He and his brother Bob set up a judo club in 1954. [6]
Aged 94 in 2018, Hearn said on BBC Three's Amazing Humans that he would only give up judo when the last nail was hammered into his coffin. [7] In 2020, Hearn applied to Guinness World Records as the oldest judo instructor. His claim was verified and his certificate arrived in 2023. [6] In the same year, he was awarded his 10th dan ranking for the 10th anniversary of his 9th dan. [6] Aged 100, he continued as a technical advisor, judge and examiner, travelling as far as Essex. [6] He said that due to "minor problems with my legs", he left physical demonstration to younger instructors. [6]
As of December 2023, Hearn lived in Cramlington and had five children, 14 grandchildren and six great-grandchildren. [6]
For Hearn's 100th birthday, Northumberland County Council held an event in his honour at County Hall in Morpeth. [3]
Hearn was awarded the British Empire Medal in the 2026 New Year Honours. He was the oldest person to receive an award in the listing. [8]
Yesterday (19 September) he took a break from teaching 'arm chair Judo' for celebratory bubbly.