Multi-sports veteran now aiming at return to boxing and MMA
Syrian strongman Fadi Issa took a judo silver medal home from the recent Jakarta International Open 2023.
Dozens of nationalities descended on the Indonesian capital for one of the most prestigious events in the ancient martial art’s calendar, with Issa making it all the way to the final in the hotly competitive 73kg division.
In doing so, Issa returned to triumphant form in the sport in which he made his name, after successful sojourns into the boxing, kickboxing and MMA rings.
Former Syrian and Thai judo champion Issa had endured a difficult few years as international relocations had kept him out of competitive action, but he stayed in shape as a coach of numerous combat sports – all the while yearning for a comeback.
He made it to the semi-finals of last year’s Jakarta Open but, disadvantaged by an injury he carried into the tournament, failed to medal.
This time, though, in what the Damascus native called his “revenge” mission, he claimed silver with four impressive victories, and only just missed out on the gold thanks to what he called a “one-second mistake”.
“I lost by submission,” he explains. “I was on the ground and I though the referee was looking for a position change, so I relaxed, but then he changed his mind. It was my one-second mistake to relax so early – I put my hand down to stand up and my opponent [Timothee Philipp of France] applied the arm bar immediately.”
Prior to that, Issa’s four victories all came by way of ippon, including one 10-second finish of Indonesian national team rep Gladius Taslim Yuta in the semi-finals, in a demonstration of his versatility.
Of course, this very versatility is what Issa’s reputation is based on, given his successes in a variety of sports – and now he is looking to branch out again.
When one opportunity is lost, ‘The Fury’ pounces on another
“Next year, I want international fights in boxing and MMA,” says ‘The Fury’, who was crowned Operation Smile Fight Night champion in the former discipline in 2016, and remains undefeated in the latter.
In fact, it was an attempt to return to boxing that indirectly led to this latest silver success in judo.
“I was preparing for boxing match at 77kgs, but three weeks before, the event was cancelled,” says Issa, “so I found there was an opening at 73kg in this judo championship. I had to lose 6kg in 10 days!”
Still, this evidently didn’t come at any cost of strength or explosiveness, as Issa used his noted power and natural reflexes to put in a tournament performance that has put the Asian fight sports scene on notice.
“Thanks to my sensei, Toshiya Anzai at Jakarta Japan Judo Club, and Gina Lefrandt. the secretary of Judo Indonesia,” adds Issa, giving credit for his successful comeback. “Sensei Anzai is very good; he sponsors us, takes care of us, and we learn from him. He is a very good and loyal sensei.”
The same could be said of Issa, too, as he has carved out a fine reputation as a coach in Syria and Indonesia and is working hard to elevate the profile of martial arts and combat sports in both countries, and create opportunities for young fighters.
And, of course, he is looking for opportunities for himself. Boxers, mixed martial artists and judo players alike, be warned – ‘The Fury’ has been unleashed once again.
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