Overview

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 100 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 for capital to open Tokyo's first 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, Jakarta, Bangkok and Kuala Lumpur, which led to the heart of Communist China, Beijing. The rest is history. Now in retirement, Clark looks back at his odyssey and recalls how his innate desire to help people keep fit and healthy led to his founding an international business dynasty.

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Clark G. Hatch was born in Milaca, Minnesota in 1939 and raised on his parents' soybean farm. In high school he excelled in sports, lettering in football, basketball and baseball, graduating in 1956. He was selected All Conference in basketball and was the conference's leading passer in football. At age 18 he joined the U.S. Army and served two tours with the Korea Military Advisory Group in Seoul, South Korea. After working with Army Special Services in Yokohama, Japan as a Sports Director he took his military separation in Japan and accepted a position with the Navy in Yokohama as a civilian Assistant Recreation Director in January, 1962. In 1963 he became Youth Activities Director for the Army bases in Japan and relocated to Camp Zama. Still in the U.S. Army Reserves, he was promoted to 2nd Lieutenant Infantry in February, 1964. During this period he took classes in Japanese and developed a fluency in the language. In February, 1965 he left his position with the Army and moved to Tokyo to become Recreation Director of the Tokyo American Club. He left that post on December first to realize his dream, opening a physical fitness center virtually next door to the American Club. Starting on a shoestring, for the next seven years he built up the business, becoming a celebrity in Tokyo and then throughout Japan thanks to many newspaper interviews and television appearances. His fitness center initially attracted expatriates, but soon more and more Japanese joined. It became the most international fitness center in the world with 46 different nationalities represented. The membership included resident directors of foreign firms, diplomats, top-ranking executives of Japanese companies, TV and screen idols and professional athletes. As his reputation grew, celebrity visitors to Tokyo would drop by to work out: movie actors, professional wrestlers, etc. In 1972 he opened a center in Seoul, Korea, the first such facility in that country. Then more firsts: Hong Kong, Manila, Bangkok and Kuala Lumpur, which led to the heart of Communist China, Beijing. As Clark's adventure progressed, he became recognized 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. Today, in retirement 45 years later, Clark Hatch oversees an international business empire which has helped some one million people find the path to fitness and better health.

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