Fathi Mira : Who are you?
I am someone who has been fulfilled for 25 years thanks to Savate. I am a National trainer of the French Senior Combat teams for the French Savate Federation, National Technical Advisor and Trainer/Co-ordinator of the Pôle France Francilien of CDFAS in Eaubonne and I coach many champions including Mohamed Diaby, Tony Ancellin, Slimane Sissoko, Kévin Monza and Mike Lambret.
I was Trainer/Co-ordinator of the Pôle France INSEP for 4 years, coaching champions like Amri Madani, Farid Khider, Ludovic Fornès, Djibrinne Fall-Télémaque, Ingrid Graziani, Aziza Oubaïta, Laurent Faubel, Enoch Effah, and François Angoston.Record of achievements : one time semi-finalist and one time Vice-champion of France Senior, many times Finalist and Winner of the “Coupe de France”, Winner of the “Internationaux de Paris” and the “Internationaux de l’île Maurice”, all between 1988 and 1994.
How did you start doing Savate?
I was 18. I wanted to learn Kung Fu, like Bruce Lee, but there was no club in the city where I lived (Colombes) or in the vicinity. A friend of mine did boxing in the Courbevoie club, where the great trainer Richard Genaudeau (many times Champion of France and Europe, who was the trainer of many great champions like Robert Paturel, Marc Guérin, Patrice Beaux, Jean-Pierre Riboulet, the Bangui brothers), and one day he took me along to try out this sport. I immediately caught the bug. I started training, and then competing. Then, I passed my diploma to be an instructor within my Courbevoie club, and after a BEES1 at INSEP.
During the “Internationaux de l’île Maurice”, I was matched to a well known local boxer who was Champion of the Indian Ocean and much loved by the audience. He was the big favourite of the tournament and the entire audience was against me. But the position soon reversed when the audience saw that I took the lead. At the end of the fight, everybody was supporting me!
Is Savate your job or your passion?
Without hesitation, Savate is my great passion. It is also a source of income but it is above all my passion, it’s my entire life! Now, I coach young competitors. Having been there before them, I try to give them the best. The most important thing is the mutual trust that exists between us. They rely on me to help them reaching their goals and I give everything to help them in their double project. We maintain a mutual trust, but there are also strong feelings, we share strong moments together, good or bad. When they win, I win and when they lose, I lose.
What is your link with Savate today?
Today, I live savate through the young I care for. I have stepped back from our sport since I’ve been a trainer and I’ve noticed that the young rely so much on me. My role now is to make sure that they become independent. They must know that I’m here for them, to accompany them in their progress, but I don’t want them to feel alone if I’m not here for one of their fights.
What do you think about the international meetings in Savate?
The story is simple: there are now more and more competitors in combat and in assaut, the foreigners are determined and want to win, their technical level is better, but they have big gaps at the tactical level. Concerning the refereeing, I think that the young international referees have to develop, and anyway they have to learn “on the job” during the international competitions, but they are in general more open-minded than the French and they interrupt the fights less.
What about your future prospects?
Today I want to go on, but before long I will give up my place to someone who will bring something new to my job. That day, why not try to coach the trainers and help with the international development (expertise for the high level international seminars).
Have you anything else to say?
Yes, I just would like to add that whenever I go abroad, as a trainer or an athlete, I have always been truly welcomed by the foreigners. They are so delighted to show Savate in their country; that sets us an example!
I would like to thank my trainers and the people who gave opportunities to me.
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