Clark Hatch: Fitness Ambassador to Asia

In his new autobiography, successful fitness entrepreneur Clark Hatch tells how he expanded his first Tokyo gym into more than 120 state-of-the-art fitness centers in 14 Asian countries and around the world

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Clark Hatch

May 06, 2010, 08:15 ET

HONOLULU, May 6 /PRNewswire/ -- How was it that a young man from a Minnesota soybean farm, sent by the U.S. Army to Korea at age 18, ended up as the pioneer of fitness in the Orient, establishing more than 120 state-of-the-art fitness centers in 14 Asian countries, plus India, the Middle East and the USA? The adventures of Clark Hatch, after selling his car to open Tokyo's first physical fitness center in 1965, are enough to fill a book. This is that book.

Blessed with rare athletic ability and physical strength, Clark parlayed his natural sports skills, positive personality and tireless determination into a winning business combination. His success in Tokyo led him, unexpectedly, to open the first fitness center in Seoul, Korea in 1972. Next was Hong Kong, another first. Then, as his name became known around the Far East, more firsts: Manila, Bangkok and Kuala Lumpur, which led to the heart of Communist China, Beijing. The rest is history.

Club Industry Magazine aptly called him "... a cross between Marco Polo and Jack LaLanne." Currently there are 41 Clark Hatch physical fitness centers in operation from Honolulu to Nepal. Now in retirement, Clark looks back at his odyssey and recalls how his innate desire to help people keep fit and healthy, close to a million people so far, led to his founding an international business dynasty.

Bill Pearl, former Mr. America and five-time Mr. Universe, says, "Clark Hatch remains one of the unsung progressive heroes of the industry and anyone fortunate to have been involved with him in his professional endeavors will certainly praise him as much as I."

His autobiography, Clark Hatch: Fitness Ambassador to Asia, is a classic Horatio Alger success story, a Far Eastern odyssey garnished with movie stars, gangsters and sumo wrestlers. For more on this remarkable, readable adventure visit http://www.createspace.com/3426988

Front cover: http://www.ereleases.com/pic/2010-Clark-Hatch.jpg

Editor:

To download cover photo, visit http://www.clarkhatchimages.com

For review copy or to interview Clark, contact:

John Stickler, 951-461-9598

[email protected]

This press release was issued through eReleases(R). For more information, visit eReleases Press Release Distribution at http://www.ereleases.com.

SOURCE Clark Hatch