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Rabat—In an exclusive interview with Morocco World News, Said El Badaoui opened up about adversity, the evolution of kickboxing, and the deeper purpose behind his coaching philosophy.
Born in Nador, Morocco and raised in the Netherlands, El Badaoui is now one of the biggest names in combat sports. His own path as a fighter was cut short by a life-altering accident in 2001, but he didn’t let that stop him.
Instead, he turned to coaching and built SB Gym in Utrecht from the ground up, turning it into one of the top training spots in Europe. He’s the mastermind behind some of the sport’s heaviest hitters, including Badr Hari, Ilias Ennahachi, and Jamal Ben Saddik.
While at his peak, El Badaoui’s fighting career was cut short by a car accident. This setback shaped the way he supports athletes through setbacks like injuries, suspensions, or difficult moments.
“In life, we face trials, and everyone face trials in a different way. You must always be prepared that things will never be gonna be as you wish they are, you know. And sometimes one door closes and another one opens, you know. And Alhamdulillah, you know, we believe that everything in life happens for a reason, and Allah Subhanahu wa ta’ala is the best planner.”
The coach also shared his perspective on the direction GLORY is taking, particularly his concern about the lack of opportunities and a bit of an identity crisis in kickboxing right now. He’s firm on the idea that the sport only has a future if they actually invest in talent and keep the infrastructure solid.
“For me, the sport I love the most is kickboxing, and I also like the striking. I think kickboxing is still the biggest sport in Holland, and I also think in my homeland, Morocco, it’s the biggest sport after football.”
He continued: “You know, in Holland, it depends on a lot of things, like TV deals. These things are very important to keep making big events and also to pay the fighters. I think they start now to create new stars, and Inshallah it’s going to be well.”
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A recent controversy has broken out concerning GLORY and fighter Tarik Khabbez, who was reportedly stripped of his title for demanding a fair financial increase. On preparing fighters for career stability and possible transitions into MMA, he shared his belief in keeping options open and planning ahead:
“Yeah, I hope Inshallah that they come to a solution between Tarik and Glory, because Tarik is a fighter everyone loves. And he’s a very big, important fighter for Glory. You know, the thing is, you must always be prepared that things can happen, you know. And also, you cannot bet on one horse, what I always say, because if a door closes, you must always have other options to do. Otherwise, when you only have one option and one door closed, then it’s very difficult to go back. And I think for the new generation, who are still young, always keep the options open.”
Reflecting on the evolution of SB Gym, El Badaoui discussed the rise of Shumarov and Mohamed Touchassie and how he has adapted the “El Badaoui style” to stay competitive with a new generation of fighters who are far more complete and athletic than a decade ago.
“We have a lot of good fighters, you know. Bogdan Shumarov, Mohamed Touchassie, but we also have “Hamicha,” Ilias Ennahachi. We have Nabil Khachab. And there are a lot of very, very good boys. We also have André Santos and Imad Hadar. But there are more boys.”
I think I have my own style and my own way of thinking, and I always believe you must always innovate and think of different solutions. And that’s why you also grow in the sport.
El Badaoui was named Coach of the Year 2025, and when he looked back on that award, he made it clear that his biggest wins aren’t about trophies but about the people. To him, his real legacy is the positive impact he has on his fighters and the community.
“Yeah. The thing is, for me, this is not real life, you know. Inshallah there is a life after. And I think what is very important is what we left behind, and when we are not here anymore, what is the most important thing, what you leave behind.”
He elaborated on his legacy. “I don’t want to be remembered because I had fighters or I was a good coach. I hope that people will remember me that I had an impact on their lives in a good way. I think that’s for me the most important thing. Because people can’t think only about you as a coach. I think you can have a lot of impact on people’s behavior to help them to achieve some things.”
El Badaoui concluded by saying he wants to leave a good example as a leader for future generations and a good representation for his country. can also give a good example to people who watch them and to their children. “When people talk about this, they talk about, hey, they are humble people and they are respectful people. I think that’s the most important thing.”
