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Boxing trainer Tariq Abdulrahman aims to develop the noble science of self defence in Bahrain with plans to shape future fighters to represent the kingdom at major international events.
He recently opened the LIFT Strength and Conditioning Centre in Janabiyah to offer fitness enthusiasts different classes and resistance training as well as a chance to learn the ropes at an official Bahrain Boxing Club.
Passionate about the sport, Abdulrahman boasts 15 years’ experience of boxing under his belt. He started his sparring sessions and sporting dreams from the garage of his home progressing to offering private classes to clients.
Now, after two years of working on the project, a graffiti-covered loft sporting complex has been unveiled. It features giant ‘Rocky Balboa-style’ training tyres and hammers as well as punch bags and thick ropes. He is even getting a full-size ring, affiliated to British boxing legend Ricky ‘the hitman’ Hatton, installed.
All the gym’s coaches, including Abdulrahman, have been to the multiple world title holder’s academy in the UK and are now qualified instructors equipped with the knowledge and experience to teach youngsters and adults to box ‘the Hatton way’.
Abdulrahman, 31, from Saar, who has ditched his corporate, legal desk job to concentrate on this career move, said: “This has always been a dream of mine, to start a boxing club that can grow talented young Bahrainis into international athletes that can compete at the Olympics.
“My passion is to get both males and females of any age group engaged in the sport and to understand it. In my opinion, boxing teaches self-respect, gives you confidence, and shows you brotherhood and partnership. Although you are fighting alone in the ring, you learn to respect your opponent.”
Abdulrahman, son of retired hospitality executive Ahmed Abdulrahman and Secretary General of the Bahrain Federation of Expatriate Associations (BFEA) Betsy Mathieson, has trained and fought at a number of boxing clubs in the UK, including most recently at York Boxing Club, Jorvik Boxing Club, The Boxing Clinic London, Tigers Gym Leeds and The Hatton Academy in Manchester.
He also gained his Amateur Boxing Association England (ABAE) coaching badges and has been awarded the ‘Elite’ Level British Boxing Board of Control’s (BBB of C) badge.
Abdulrahman says he owes his own confidence and strong-willed drive to boxing.
He originally took up the sport when he was a child living in Scotland with his aunt and uncle after being bullied in school. He said: “When I was a child, I moved back and forth between Bahrain and the UK. At one point, I moved from the bubble of Bahrain to the west coast of Scotland to live with my auntie and uncle.
“I endured a lot of bullying and my uncle taught me that I had to fight my own battles. I joined a boxing club and it did make me feel a lot better. It helped me build up my confidence and it actually did help stop the bullying. I soon developed friendships through the sport.
“That’s why I think that this is a really great sport for children as it helps them grow up with some really good ideals and morals. All the children we are coaching here come in with a positive attitude so there is no bullying and no favouritism. It’s simply about growing the sport at a grass root level and seeing more people enjoy it, be it from a fitness aspect or to become a boxer.”
At the beginning of August, Abdulrahman set up a ‘Mulakem’ (which means boxer in Arabic) scholarship programme to harness youngsters in Bahrain aged between eight and 14.
He explained: “Those that have great potential, capability and dedication will be completely funded by the centre. We will offer five scholarships to Bahrainis and we will be holding trials in the next three or four months.
“We will also be bringing out some coaches and ex-professional boxers from the UK to meet them. The chosen children will receive free membership, coaching and specialised classes. We even plan on taking them on annual trips to educate them further.”
There are plans to tour Ireland and the UK. Abdulrahman has links with the Northern Irish Boxing Academy through ABEA and a connection with an English club in Kent where his colleague and fellow Bahrain Boxing Club trainer Jake Spring comes from.
Spring currently holds nine titles, including Kent, Southern Counties and Regional champion. His professional record stands at one fight, one win.
Abdulrahman added: “We want to take our young group to the UK to train with other clubs, with children their age and if they are willing and capable, to get them into a couple of exhibition round matches with other youngsters their age.
“I really want to see a Bahraini boxing at an Olympics event or becoming a pro. This is another way to keep children off the streets, off of their computer games and staying active in a positive manner.”
Although Abdulrahman is working on developing the next boxing hopefuls, he is also attracting many people hoping to get fitter with the help of boxing … including his mother Betsy.
He said: “Boxing is quite an achievable activity. Different people with different abilities and ages can do it. It may be a little daunting at first and although it does have a reputation of being relatively brutal, after you do one session, you will realise that it’s a lot of fun too. We have a 60-year-old lady that comes in and even children as young as eight. We have Bahrainis, Europeans and Asians participating. It truly is an international sport that incorporates fitness and stress relief.”
One member, Maha Al Zayani, 27, the general manager of trading company FAZCO, said: “I have always been into working out but I was getting a bit bored of just doing regular treadmill and classes.
“A mutual friend of mine started boxing at Tariq’s garage so I bought a pair of pink boxing gloves and thought let’s do it too! It started as a fitness thing and then a fire was lit inside and I really started to appreciate it as a sport.
“Remember, strong is the new sexy. It’s wonderful to see so many different girls boxing too.”
Al Zayani’s enthusiasm has inspired more than 10 of her friends to join the fight game to get fit.
Abdulrahman said: “Maha has been boxing for eight months and has really come on leaps and bounds. She is naturally athletic and a pleasure to train.
“I love that she is a female Bahraini that geeks out in boxing. To me that was one of the pinnacles that I wanted to achieve and I’m very happy about the sport’s growing popularity.”
To find out more about the centre and boxing, visit www.liftbh.com or follow them on Instagram and Snapchat at lift_bh or call 33253944.
Kooheji ready for Mashaly missionHamza Kooheji, pictured left, the first professional (MMA) mixed martial arts fighter to represent Bahrain on the international stage, will face Egyptian Mohamed Mashaly, pictured right, on the undercard at this month’s Brave Combat Federation event.
Kooheji started his MMA career back in 2011 at the age of 19 under the tutelage of coach Mohamed Shahid, and has secured three victories and only one loss.
Hamza will look to bounce back in front of a supportive home crowd against Mashaly who has recorded three wins and two loses during his professional career.
Brave ‘The beginning’ will take place at the Khalifa Sports City in Isa Town on September 23, headlined by a welterweight bout between Lebanon’s Mohamed Fakhreddine and Brazil’s Thiago ‘Monstro’ Vieira.
For ticket details visit bravefights.com
