Finn was trained in his early Judo career by his father G. R. Gleeson (a highly respected and experienced Judo coach, practitioner and researcher), you couldn't have wished for a better start in Judo at that time whilst based in the U.K.

This early training held Finn in good stead when he later traveled to Japan; where the artform was created.

During his early career he assisted at his father's coaching seminars, which tackled many avant-garde issues in sport and its coaching. Finn started doing Judo 'seriously' from the early '80s,leaving for Japan in 1992. Finn competed in competitions both in Japan and the UK. He was also present at many international competitions from an early age, while his father worked, coaching the British squads.

Finn learnt from some of the best instructors in Japan within several of the top training centres, he dedicated most of his time to the Kodokan International Judo Institute.

Kodokan International was set up by Judo’s founder Professor Kano, he also established the Nippon Taku Daigaku (Japanese National P.E. University) and Waseda University among many others.

Finn won his Third Dan Black Belt from the Kodokan International Judo Institute before returning to the UK in 2001.

While in Japan Finn taught English in Japanese High Schools, Kindergartens, Japanese businesses whilst running local government education courses. He was a lecturer at Vantan Design College (a very large and influential art institute in Tokyo), working on the Art Foundation Course.

Finn has currently progressed to his 4th Dan Judo level, issued by The British Judo Association.