Born in Nador, Morocco, Said moved to the Netherlands at a young age and began training in kickboxing as a child. He had his first competitive fight shortly after turning 14 and turned professional by age 17.
A severe motorcycle accident in 2001 cut short his competitive career, but he quickly redirected his passion into coaching — beginning in 2004 and dedicating the next two decades to developing elite fighters.
Coach of Champions — Elite Fighters Trained at SB Gym
Said is best known as the founder and head coach of SB Gym in Utrecht, Netherlands, a training hub that attracts elite athletes and coaches from around the world.
Under his guidance, SB Gym has produced and trained a remarkable roster of standout professional fighters across kickboxing, Dutch striking and MMA, including:
Badr Hari — legendary heavyweight kickboxer.
Melvin Manhoef — dynamic striker and MMA legend.
Ilias Bulaid — former Enfusion World Champion.
Ilias Ennahachi — former world champion kickboxer.
Tayfun Özcan, Germaine de Randamie, Ottman Azaitar, Nordine Mahieddine, and many others.
His creative take on striking combines Dutch kickboxing pressure and volume with high fight IQ concepts and adaptive strategies, making him one of the most sought‑after striking coaches in elite combat sports today.
In recognition of his impact on the sport, Said was nominated for the Best Sportcoach Award in Utrecht — a testament to his influence and excellence as a trainer.
Instructional Series on Warrior Collective
Said El Badaoui brings his world-class coaching methodology directly to fighters and coaches through his exclusive full-length instructional series on Warrior Collective.
Across two complementary volumes, Said provides an in-depth look at the modern Dutch/K-1 Kickboxing systems he uses to develop fighters at SB Gym — from fundamental fighter-development drills, pad work and counter fighting through to layered combinations, angles, movement and multi-phase attacking systems.
📘 Volume 1: Dutch Kickboxing Training Drills – Fighter Development
The foundation of Said's Warrior Collective series, this comprehensive instructional explores the Dutch Kickboxing training drills and coaching frameworks he uses to build more complete fighters.
Inside Volume 1 you'll learn:
🔹 Countering Boxing — structured defensive and counter-fighting systems for dealing with aggressive punchers.
🔹 Beating Kickers & Low Kicks — strategies and drills for defending, disrupting and countering kicking attacks.
🔹 Attacking Fundamentals — developing the mechanics, positioning and tactical understanding behind effective striking.
🔹 Fighter Pad Work — progressive pad-work frameworks incorporating combinations, counters and angles.
🔹 Sparring Concepts & Creative Striking — developing pressure, adaptability and intelligent decision-making in live exchanges.
🔹 SB Gym Training Drills — practical examples of the methods Said uses within his own fighter-development sessions.
📘 Volume 2: Dutch Kickboxing Combination Systems – Building Elite Fighters
Volume 2 takes Said's methodology considerably further, focusing on how intelligent Kickboxing combinations are constructed, layered and developed through progressive training drills.
Using Dutch-style give-and-take partner work that can also be adapted for pad training, Said demonstrates how fighters can move beyond memorised combinations and begin understanding how one attack creates the next opportunity.
Inside Volume 2 you'll learn:
🔹 Setting Up Calf & Body Kicks — use punches, movement and reactions to create higher-percentage kicking opportunities.
🔹 Building Kickboxing Combinations — progressively connect punches, kicks and knees into complete attacking systems.
🔹 Switch-Hitting & Angles — change stance and direction while maintaining offensive pressure.
🔹 Counter Fighting — counter straight punches using off-line movement, footwork and intelligent positioning.
🔹 Agility & Movement — develop the balance and mobility required to attack and defend dynamically.
🔹 Three-Phase Attacking Systems — extend combinations beyond the initial exchange by anticipating and exploiting defensive reactions.
🔹 Knees for K-1 Kickboxing — integrate knees naturally into modern Kickboxing combinations.
🔹 Evasion & Redirection — turn defensive movement into immediate attacking opportunities.
