World champion and three-times European champion with France, Rida Bel-Lahsen chairs since April the destiny of the Hong Kong fighting team that is preparing for the Asian Championships (July 11th-15th in Jordan). Bronze medallist of the 2000 Worlds (-70 kg) and triple European medalist, the Frenchman was recruited last spring by the English legend William Thomas.
By Ludovic Mauchien / Photos : DR
He has got a MBA in hotel business management and he also mastered in mathematics and computer science but passion has won. Rida Bel-Lahsen has finally chosen to evolve in the medium he prefers : Karate. After a distiguished career that saw him win 8 international medals, including 4 individual (2nd in the 2000 Worlds, in the 2000 and 2005 European championships, 3rd in 2003), the French fighter went on teaching. With his wife, Stephanie Bel-Lahsen Duperret, now the national Kata coach of Morocco, they opened a club near Paris where they counted up to 270 students last year.
Contacted by several countries, he finally chose Hong-Kong, where he landed last April. The Frenchman will experience its first major competition under its new colors in Aman, Jordan, for the 15th Asian championships (July 11th-15th).
How did you come to coach the Hong Kong national team ?
I was contacted by several countries and this proposal seemed to me the most interesting considering the challenge, the athletes and the working conditions. We are housed at the National Institute of Sport. We can work in professional conditions. The challenge is to succeed in leading them to the highest level.
And that’s Asia. For me, it was interesting to see something else, to live in another continent, that of Japan, Iran... It is an interesting challenge and experience. It's different.
What surprises you the most ? What do you discover ?
I did not come especially to discover. Culture, society is different. There is a very hierarchical side, more marked than in Europe. I was not especially looking for it but it's interesting.
We have about thirty fighters. We train young categories and senior ones. I say « we » because I have assistants and we are a team led by William Thomas, who is in charge of developing the structure. He has been here for two years. He makes his team and charges me of Kumite. In twos, we are more efficient, especially since he has trained his son (Jordan Thomas, the running World champion in -67 kg) and considering his record... ! (World champion 1986 and 1992 in -70 kg, 1986, 88, 90 with England). We are on the same wavelength. Everything is going well.
KARATE IS IN FRONT OF KUNG DU AND TAEKWONDO
Is there a Karate culture in Bruce Lee's country ?
Yes, there is a Karate culture in Bruce Lee's country, not necessarily in Kumite, more in Kata. That’s my feeling. The level of the national team is better in Kata than in Kumite, especially because they admire Japan. At the Institute of Sports, Karate has been present for many years. It’s in front of Kung Fu and Taekwondo. There was already a recognition of the discipline from a governmental point of view, but since Karate has been Olympic, it has further strengthened its status towards other sports.
What are Hong Kong's ambitions at these Asian championships ?
In Kata, we have Grace (Lau) who should win a medal, plus the teams that start to climb. In Kumite, we aim three medals. It’s a high goal. We will see. I have just arrived, I take the train running late on the season. I arrived mid-April but I was operational mid-May. For me, these championships are a test, an observation.
In general, the level in Asia is less dense than in Europe, in terms of quality, even if it depends on the categories of course. Three medals, it’s possible. Two girls have the potential, Tsang Yee-Ting in -50 kg and Choi Wan-Yu in -61 kg (finalist in 2017). In male, I would mention Lee Ka-Wai in -75 kg and also Lee Chun-Ho in -60 kg (3rd in 2015), although it is difficult to have a medal in this category because the three best in the world are Asians, except Douglas Brose.
