| Biography | Joe Robinson (born 31 May 1927, Newcastle upon Tyne, English) is from a family of combat artists - his father and grandfather had been world champions in the Cumberland and Westmorland style and Joe also took the title to make it three generations in a row. Joe's father, Professor Jack Robinson, was also an early judo and jujitsu exponent who claimed the jujitsu championship of the world having beaten Leopold McLaglen, brother of Hollywood film star Victor McLagen.
After emigrating to South Africa, Robinson continued his career in wrestling and judo, claimed the Lightheavyweight Championship of the British Empire and lost the title to Billy Riley, and raised a large family who would all go on to make a name for themselves in the combat arts. When Robinson returned to the UK from South Africa in his early twenties he was a fully grown heavyweight confident of beating anyone in the world either in the wrestling ring or on the judo mat. Initially working for Atholl Oakeley, Joe won the European Title from Axel Cadier in a memorable contest at the Royal Albert Hall in 1952.
When Oakeley retired from promoting, Joe moved to Joint Promotions and for a time was topping the bill up and down the country. A promising career was cut short by a serious back injury sustained in a French ring. After hanging up his trunks Joe concentrated on film work, including a staring role opposite Diana Dors in A Kid For Two Farthings, and teaching judo and self defence. |