He speaks 4 languages, was born in Morocco, lives in Spain and currently works in Chile. Driss El Mannani, 38 years old, 4th Dan, belongs to this new generation of globe trotter coaches with an Olympic mission. In 2016, he is appointed Technical Director of Chile, which hosts the 32nd Pan American championships from today. With 1500 karatékas and 7 athletes in the top 50 of the world ranking, Chile is certainly the most dynamic country on the American continent.

By Ludovic Mauchien / Photos : DR

He was born in Fez, started with Taekwondo before discovering Karate at Ahmed Zehnouni's Dojo. He is then 7 years old and the little Driss is still far from imagining that Karate will lead him very far from his native land.

Very quickly, he becomes one of the best fighter of his country. 7-times champion of Morocco, 4 times champion of Arabia, he won a bronze medal at the Mediterranean Games in 2001 and finished 5th at the World championships in 2002 (-60 kg).

In 2005, he retired from competition and devoted himself to teaching, first in a club in Spain, where he made his home in 2002. He then collaborated with the national team as a consultant. From 2010 to 2016, he officiates as coach and then head of the national teams of Morocco. His records ? World podiums in all age categories, including the Achraf Ouchene silver medal in +84 kg in 2016, which was never seen in Moroccan history.

Since 2016 and the Olympic advent of Karate, Driss El Mannani has emigrated across the Atlantic and discovered a third continent. Technical director of the national team of Chile, which hosts the « PanAms » (June 15th-17th), he makes us discover the rising nation of American Karate.

How did you land in Chile ?

By plane (he laughs). I came to Chile thanks to the president of the Spanish Federation, Antonio Moreno, who talked to me about this offer. I live in Spain for 16 years. In Chile, Maria Angelica Coronil, the president of the federation elected two years ago, is very dynamic and ambitious. We have a good team. The federation is pushing hard to help athletes and coaches, offer all opportunities to improve the level of Karate in Chile.

Is there a Karate culture in Chile ?

Yes, but there are only 1,500 license holders (for a population of 18 million). The mentality is quite special, different. I attribute that to distance. This is not a radical change but... Chileans have a hard time accepting changes, positive or negative. I adapt myself. I make sure that athletes adapt to my method, to the way I work. That being the case, we have had, in the last 18 months, fairly good results considering the history of Chilean Karate.

How do you evaluate the level of Chilean Karate ?

We have some good athletes, especially in the Cadet-Junior categories. We had a world silver medalist in Cadet in 2017 (Benjamin Nunez in +70 kg). We also made 2 silver medals in Serie A. And, at the Senior South American championships, we finished 2nd behind Brazil. We won 4 gold medals like Brazil but it had more silver medals. But we do not have Kata. In Kumite, we were first.

And we also have 7 athletes ranked in the top 50 of the world ranking. It's better than Morocco with its 35,000 license holders ! When we look at the number of licensees (1500), compared to Brazil, Egypt and its 1.8 million licensees... These results are amazing.

Benjamin Nunez, world silver medalist in 2017, is one of the greatest hope of Chilean Karate. He is with Maria Angelica Coronil, the president of the federation, and Driss El Mannani.

What are the ambitions for these Pan American championships ?

The ambition of the federation and the Olympic Committee is to have an athlete on all the podiums. The goal is to win a minimum of 3 gold medals. It's ambitious but I have confidence in our athletes. I think we can win these 3 medals and get on all the podiums. Thi championship is a big event here. A Pan American Championship is very important for countries like Chile, Colombia, Argentina...

You have known different generations of Karatekas. Who are the ones who have impressed you the most ?

For me, there are Ivan Leal and Alex Biamonti. They are the best two, as athlete and as person.

What can we wish you ?

My goal is to raise the level of Chilean athletes and win a medal at the Olympics. This is the goal of all coaches and athletes. And I also want to give a very nice image of Morocco.