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Martial Arts in Egypt and Amr al Alfy
by cold
Before I start on the interview with Amr Al Alfy, I must fill you in on the situation of Martial Arts in Egypt in general so as to plunge you into the abyss so to speak..
I will also give you a brief on me and my family because there lie the origins of our MA circle of friends and the first and only MMA team in Egypt AND (last but not least) the Dragon's Den Amr's private Dojo (the only one in Egypt that is privately owned and solely dedicated to Martial Arts!)
There was a golden age, that's true...like in all other countries! For me as a kid, this golden age ended with the death of my father (Georges Sourial) the Africa Champion in Judo. He started Judo at age of 24! (extremely late!!) he was 197 cm tall (very tall for Judo) He was very very thin (very odd for Judo)
Yet, he managed to win the Africa championship after only SIX MONTHS of practice!! Unbelievable!!! In the final match, his opponent in a reflex of despair BIT MY FATHER'S NUTS !!! However, he didn't let go and just squeezed until the guy surrendered! He was quite a character! also my mother was Alsace's (France) gymnastics champion! so this is where I got the genes...and the great interest in MA!
 My father trained in the Guezira club and was the head trainer of the Judo team. I'll spare you the stories and legends since that could be the subject of another article...I want you to just know this replica he used to say to his students when they complained they were too tired during training: "If you CAN SAY you can't then you CAN!!!!"
Back in those days 1960s-70s, Judo and Karate were the only MA being practiced along with the odd kyoxel?? (not sure about the spelling) There were legends in these two!! However, generally speaking, when you had to get a job, out went the training!!
My father was very fortunate as my grandfather's situation was quite comfortable and that allowed him to dedicate all his time to training. But he died in the early 70s...and out went the golden Age! The Guezira club's Judo team was the best in Egypt for many years after him even up to a somewhat recent past!
Recently, we have been living a sort of second coming of the “golden age”!! Our knowledge of the Martial Arts (when looking back) is so much more enhanced and complete than the old days it’s amazing! We know of more styles, techniques, systems than ever before…and…one of us is an “A Class” fighter on the international pro fighters circuit!!
Amr Al Alfy was on the Gezira club's Shotokan Karate team (point fighting) and he practiced Kung Fu as well! when I first met him.
Just at that time I had finished arround 6 month of training with Gamal abu Zeit a third dan Kyokushin Karate who had just come back from a YEAR spent as an "internal disciple" in Mas Oyama's dojo in Japan!! (5 training sessions per day!!!!) Some training session were billed as "surprise training": They would wake you up in the middle of the night, have you jog till the forest and perform strikes on the trees there!!! (crazy but makes you tough as hell!!!)
Gamal Abu Zeit had won "the best fighter of the year award" from the very hands of Mas Oyama himself!!! He was even invited (honor beyond every other honor) to have a meal in the company of Mas Oyama!!! He also got his 3rd Dan from his own hands after having to fight 30 opponents one after the other. The levels of these opponents had to be non less than 1st dan and a few more than 3rd!!!
Needless to say, I got introduced to the world of Full Contact BIG TIME!! Before that it was Kung fu (points) Tae Kwon Do (points but a bit tougher) Shotokan Karate (points) and Judo...
So, when I met Amr he was more of a point fighter, but with beautiful and strong techniques and he was getting tremendously interested in full contact (he was a perfectionist since the start) and I was totally for full contact now!!
Needless to say I introduced him to low kicks!! (LOL) as it was the rage at that time!!
Needless to say it clicked right away with him!
Needless to say he introduced me to his SIDE KICK!! (ouch!!)
Back then in Shotokan he was loosing his fights because he was KO'ing most of his opponents! The strikes in Shotokan are supposed to be controlled…Amr is not a bad person but his opponents tried to get him first and always failed!!
He is also an adept of the Makiwara for toughening his fists (you should see them!!) so these have extreme penetration (Kime in Japanese).
Amr was really pre-destined to be a full contact fighter all we just did was tell him it was there, where to find it and just a few pointers...and off he went!!!
It just took him a couple of weeks to adjust and surpass us!! (superior genes)
Anyhow, by that time we had all looked outside of Egypt for more knowledge as we were fed up with the general atmosphere of the Martial Arts competitions as well as the Martial Arts themselves!
Indeed every stupid asshole with less than 6 months of training (sometimes less) proclaimed himself a trainer/master/etc... That situation is prevailing to this day!
That is why we are training for our own advancement away from competition!
Do you know what happened to our Kyokushin instructor? the 3rd Dan? well he was simply and purely rejected by the Karate federation so as not to disturb their "dancing classes" from which they were having good income!!
Also a Shidokan trainer came to Egypt, (I met him) trained a team and applied with the same federation...and got the same treatment!!!
As for Aikido...I don't even want to start!!! The hype is incredible!!! Can you imagine that they invented Aikido COMPETITION EGYPTIAN STYLE!!! Just to make it interesting and have a few tournaments (gathering money) do you know that they had JUDO JUDGES for an Aikido competition? Also Karate judges for Kung Fu competition!!
Well If you have A LOT OF TIME TO KILL I can write another article about the HELL OF MARTIAL ARTS as we have come to know it!!!
But get this straight: There are genuine fighters here...just caught in the twilight zone as you guys feel that’s where we are! (The Matrix anyone??LOL)
Anyway, the most important outcome of our "circle" is having produced the first Kickboxing "A" class fighter in Egyptian history!! Looking back on our beginnings, I get really relieved that we didn't get caught in all that hype and it seems just incredible that we know what we know today!!
That knowledge (I must pay tribute!!) was made possible because I read French and we used to get KARATE BUSHIDO magazine here in Egypt! That magazine is basically the BEST French Martial Arts magazine in the world!!! You cannot begin to imagine how helpful that was!! Styles we never heard of with techniques and pics! reports of fights, the rules, the countries they traveled to...It was and still is MAGICAL!!
We do not get Karate Bushido anymore in Egypt but I have a French friend who comes here 2x per year and gets me all the issues!! (thank you Lucio!)
Do you know that Karate Bushido, when faced with the UFC events and all what followed, instead of just reporting in a few pages of the original issue, went on and did a sister magazine they call Combat Bushido to be true to their standards!!
These guys are extremely serious!!
Amr Al Alfy is also an unconditional fan of the magazine!! I translate it for him whenever we get a new issue!
So, now that you all are in the picture, here is the interview!!
Cold: Amr how are you today.
Amr: Pretty good! And I'm thrilled that Iron Life is showing such interest in me and I am also thankful that my profile was put up so fast! You sent it in the morning it got up there a couple of hours later!! That is incredibly quick!
Thank you Muay Thai Guy!!
I want to extend the invitation to all the Ironlifers If they make it to Egypt, to come and train with us at the Dragon's Den! Just tell us first so we know you are coming!!
C:I want to start by you giving us a bit of history on how you got to be involved in Martial Arts
A:Well, ever since I was 4years old my parents used to take me to try all the sports they knew so to see what I liked! I started Shotokan Karate at 8 and when I got my brown belt at 13, I got hooked and never left it since!
C:What was your idea about MA back then?
A:Looked at it as just another sport but once I got seriously into it, I started thinking more about self defense and competition.
C:Who were your "heroes" or role models?
A:Bruce Lee, Jackie Chan, Van Damme.
C:How did you get involved with Full contact?
A:I met you at that Sanda tournament I got to know you guys! I was getting really interested in real effectiveness and full contact and you guys were good and you were respectful of other fighters and you accepted me immediately! At the time you guys had tapes and books and magazines and I discovered all the other facets of Martial Arts with you guys! I clearly remember the Muay Thai tapes and Rob Kaman!! It was real entertainment and an eye opening experience!!
C:What are your feelings now about your situation and the MA nowadays?
A:Well, through dedication and training I am just now able to break through and compete professionally! I think K-1 is very prestigious but I also think Pride like competition is the wave of the future as it would appeal even to non-Martial Arts practitioners! The way they fight is quite logical!
C:And now, who are your role models?
A:Bruce lee(Laughing), Kaman, Mohamed Ali!
C:You are very loyal to Bruce!
A:Who isn’t? He is the first to have ever represented MMA on screen!! He was extremely charismatic & influential. The intensity he put in his work was phenomenal!
C: Would you describe him as the Father of Modern Martial Arts?
A: HE IS! He opened the door & slammed it behind him! All those new systems of self defense that came out after him are only imitators! He was genuine and the only “real” creator and there hasn’t been much innovation since! However, the sport aspect has jumped waaaayyy up there with K-1, UFC and Pride!! It is incredible!!
C:Yeah! I meant to ask you! What are your thoughts on the "new" MMA phenomena?
A:It’s the next step in evolution!! The best addition to competitive Sports Martial Arts of this era!! It’s like when the Japanese invented the “Shinai” (kendo sword) and have advanced tremendously since! You know, before they used the Bokken (wooden sword) and there were many deaths and people crippled! Now you can advance without major damage!! I believe if you have good logical rules, then you can advance! However too many rules defeat the purpose!
MMA is a very good combative form. This is what Martial Arts combat should be like!
C:Who do you like of this era's fighters?
A:In Standup: Hoost, Le Banner, Aerts
In MMA:Wanderlei Silva, Fedor
C:What are the MAs you practice?
A:Karate, (Shotokan & Kyokushin) Western Boxing, Kung Fu, Taekwondo, Judo, Jiujitsu, Aikido, Muay
Thai, Kickboxing, Wrestling.
C:What are your favorite techniques?
A:Punching: Left Hook!
Kicking: Side Kick & Roundhouse!
Takedowns: Sweep, Suplex, Hip Throw.
Ground: Ground N’ Pound, Rear Choke, Arm Bar, Ankle lock!
C: Do you consider yourself as an athlete or as a Martial Artist and why?
A: A Martial Artist off course! Martial arts for me is a way of life. It is not just physical, it is mental, emotional and spiritual.
C: do you like the way competition is laid out nowadays or would you like to see some changes?
A:I do not like the weight categories too much and as I said before too many rules defeat the purpose! But the competition is good! Better than ever before!
C:Talk to us a little about Martial Arts and training conditions in Egypt.
A:NON EXISTANT!! Martial Arts in Egypt is still like the 70s with no update! Ridiculous!
C:How were you able to reach the A class status? I know it is damn difficult!
A:I went to Mejiro Gym, trained there once got noticed by Andre Manaart and that same day he asked me if I wanted to fight and I replied with:”This is what I’m here for”!
C:As simple as that??
A:Well, it is not that simple! You can’t fool someone with the experience & expertise of Manaart! You have to be damn good to pass his test!
C:What do you think differentiates you than other fighters?
A:It is not fair to compare! I just think I was strong willed and dedicated enough to reach my present level given the poor conditions in Egypt!
C:Give us some examples?
A:No good fighters, no Equipment, no Tapes, no Magazines, and most important…no TRAINERS!!!!
C:What impressed the most Andre Manaart in Mejiro Gym?
A: My strength and speed. He said I was fast for a heavy weight! He also said I was very versatile with my high kicks. He calls them “surprise kicks”
C:I understand you had your first fight as a "A" class pro in one of the nights organized by Mejiro Gym and that was on the 15th of last month and you had to fight a Croatian Muay Thai champion named Mladen Brestovac.
A:Yes!
C:The outcome of the fight was actually your first loss! care to emphasize?
A:Off course!
First of all as I always say,:"no excuses".
I'll just recount what happened and you draw your own conclusions!
A:I had some visa problems as you know, and was able to travel only one week before the fight. I got only 4 training sessions with Mejiro Gym before the fight. I had extremely high fever (40.5 Centigrade) I was under antibiotics (heavy ones and a lot of them!!) and my wisdom teeth were killing me (to top it all).
We also were competing in Muay Thai and I was used to K-1 type of fighting where the Thai clinch is not used much (with knees). My opponents used this technique all the time to neutralize my game.
 C:Why did you fight?????
A:Well It was my first as a pro!! I had to do it!! you know what it's like! I woouldn’t miss it for any reason whatsoever!!
C:That was to say the least stupid!!!
A:I know! but man! the event, the atmosphere, the whole thing was like a dream come true!!
C:Were you nervous?
A:Not at all! The doctor even tried 3 times to take my pulse but couldn't find it! That's how calm I was! The doctor had a puzzled look on his face! He told me :”I can’t find your pulse!” (LOL)
C:So you didn't go down?
A:No! Off course not!
C:Could you have won the fight if it went the distance?
A:Maybe if Mladen got tired toward the end but I was too tired! He would have won with points! So it was basically useless to continue. However I loved It! I got some experience I never had before and I believe I gained a lot from that fight! The whole thing was simply amazing!!
C: did he hurt you at any point?
A:I got hit around 30-40 times with knees to the body and head and didn't quite know what the fuss was all about!...But he had as much power as a little kid & I couldn't even get out of the clinch so, I just let him hit! I didn’t think I was ever in real trouble really!
C: do you see your tolerance to pain a direct influence from the Kyokushin karate toughening exercises you did?
A:Absolutely! But I am also a bit pre-destined as since childhood I was looking at pain a bit differently so I learned to work with it during training (to a certain point off course) and that gives you that little edge you need.
However, answering your question, Muay Thai has great toughening too and I consider Western boxers also of good toughness level when it comes to hand strikes! Their bodies are well conditioned! Also Judo fighters have another sort of advantage in the fact that they are used to moving bodies around and hence have very good stamina and toughness! This also applies to some degree to BJJ and most grappling sports! Every one has their own sort of "toughness" that they use to their advantage!
C:what's the first significant thing you did when you got back?
A:I went to the dentist and had my right wisdom tooth removed and a week after the left one went the same way! They are not going to bother me again!
C:hehehe
A:Yeah!
C:What's Mejiro Gym like?
A:Magic!
C:Elaborate
A:The smell is disgusting, a mix of old and new spilled blood and sweat, It's gloomy, Dark, Tight & all you hear are Grunts, impact sounds and the everlasting directives...Oh! and the occasional slam from a body that fell to the ground. The salute in Mejiro is the traditional Japanese “ouss” and did you know that Mejiro has its origins in Kyokushin Karate?
Like I said Magic! All what a real fighter really needs.
C:I can imagine…I know this is the second time you go to Mejiro could you tell us about the first trip and this one all in all what happened besides the fight?
A:No problem!
The first trip was in February I sparred with many people, namely Scott Lighty.
C:How was that?
A:Well, he didn’t want to spar again with me! (LOL) He also said my style was awkward and that he needed to figure it out…Whatever that means.
Manaart worked me with the thai pads a lot! He is very masterfull and has a very accurate assessment of fighters levels!
The second time, afterthe fight, I stayed an extra 13 days training in Mejiro and got among other things to spar a couple of times with Remy Bonjasky! He is quite tall! And his foot is very BIG! We exchanged blows and were about equally satisfied from the sparring sessions. We also worked on the bag together a few times.
C:What can you say about the guys at Mejiro?
A:The atmosphere is unbelievable!! They really took me and immediately treated me as one of the gang…I still can’t get over that!! Let’s just say that now I have friends in Holland!
C: do you think your future is with K-1 or with Pride type competition? or in other words do you prefer to stay on your feet or go "all out" and mix it up?
A:I train Judo also and do not use the Gi! but since childhood we have been viewing all the competition as strictly standup and we have always trained together as standup so it is a life-long dream to compete internationally as standup...But I am tremendously interested in MMA as it is the logical step in evolution and it really makes sense!
A competition in MMA gives you as well as your opponent more weapons and possibilities to really express your feelings toward each other (LOL)
It is good to use everything to your advantage!
C:I know you tried a few crazy things in your training life, care to relate a few?
A:No problem I'll give you a few examples from some situations
In standup: KO’ed an opponent in 3 seconds flat in a national championship here in Egypt.
In Judo: I would let people apply chokes on me and then try to beat it and get out of it before I slept! Sometimes (rarely) I slept. (LOL)
In the Gym:Spent once 4 hours lifting weights non-stop! Did 210 Sets that day!
On the sandbag: One of my hobbies was to hit the bag till it ripped. I did that to every bag I got my hands on!
On the Makiwara: We used to work a lot on the Makiwara until we got a big stain of blood there and we didn’t like to leave spaces so we’d continue hitting till all the gaps were filled!
In a street fight: when I was 17 I went up against workers in a gas station and punched and kicked them into submission. (I was crazy!)
In breaking techniques: during summer I used to break everyday 3 slabs of Ice at the Guezira club and after that I would put the pieces in a bucket and proceed to produce crushed ice with my fists.
C: Any weapons training?
A:Knives (throwing & fighting), Philippino sticks.
C:What is the major problem you are facing here in Egypt?
A:Well, The only real problem is finding a sparring partner and a good Thai Pad holder!! Nobody likes to get hit by me! (LOL) Seriously, I need to be able to concentrate on good delivery and not have to pull my strikes every time I fight or sparr or hit the pads…It’s becoming ridiculous!! Also, people here have a weird ego! If you hit them a bit hard it’s a personal offence if you touch their faces it’s a feud!
C:What advice you would give to fighters who want to “make it”
A:A very important thing is not to let anyone tell you what to do!! If you want to be the best, just go for it!
That’s if you are not bullshitting yourself off course!
Do not wait for any encouragement! Seek a serious training place and spend most of your time there! Do your homework! Analyze what you’re being taught every step of the way! Always perfect you basic techniques!! A solid kick and a good punch sometimes is all it takes! Combos are done using very simple techniques put together after all!
Never give up! Never say die! Work, work, work,……and then….work some more!!
C:What’s your training schedule?
A: 3 times per day when preparing for a fight, 2 times all year round!
C:Wow! And what do you train in?
A:In the morning it is Western Boxing 1hour of pure fitness and 1 hour of pure techniques (I separate both so I can concentrate on each )
In the afternoon I train a couple of hours in the gym (high intensity and very little rest)
At night I train about 2 hours in Martial Arts. My day off is Friday.
C:That is quite a lot!
A:The human body can adapt to anything and, if you don’t do something really wrong in training, get plenty of rest and eat right then you will have no problems!
C:what are your other hobbies besides your major occupation (MA)
A:Eating, going to the movies! Aggressive car driving (LOL!!) You have to be living here to appreciate the traffic at rush hour!!
I also like reading! I have an eagerness for history and biographies…I like to learn from other people. Also philosophy and strategy are among my preferred subjects.
C: did you go to the movies while in Holland?
A:Are you kidding?? Off course!! TROY! Seven times!!
Also one of the things that I loved over there is the attitude of the Dutch people! When I went to the movies, for example, I got 3 “enjoy the movie” with a big genuine smile from 3 different people until I got to my seat! You feel different vibes than back home!!
I know that might sound stupid but to really appreciate what I’m saying you should experience the “other side” (Egypt) But it’s home after all!
C:I know, I know LOL! So, what are your near future plans?
A:I have a fight in the next upcoming months again in Holland and right now I’m training in preparation for that! I think this time I’ll get there ready to fight upon arrival!!
C:OK! not to worry! I’m sure you’ll get a win this time around!
A:I’m training for that!
C:Well that’s about it and I’ll leave you to your training! Thank you so much for taking the time!
A:You are welcomed! Again, I am deeply honored and thankful to Iron Life for their interest in me and their professionalism and dedication to the Martial Arts and the sports! It is really a great commitment and Iron Life is really representative of the spirit of Martial Arts and good life!
Thank you very much IL!
* Article by cold .
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