Early Life
Born in Amsterdam, Badr Hari began practicing kickboxing at the age of seven, under the guidance of former World Champion Mousid Akamrane. As a teenager he trained at the Sitan Gym of Mohammed Aït Hassou. When the Sitan Gym moved to Rotterdam, he joined the famous Chakuriki Gym ran by Thom Harinck. Under Harinck, Hari developed into one of the greatest kickboxing talents of the Netherlands. Badr Hari was fighting under the Dutch flag till he lost his match against Stefan Leko in 2005. It was the first time his parents attended one of his fights and he asked for the microphone to say some words to the Dutch audience. Hari couldn't be understood as the audience proceeded to boo him, after which Hari was quoted saying "I thought to myself, I have never witnessed such ungratefulness". From that day Hari decided to represent Morocco and stopped working with Tom Harinck. Mike Passenier became his new coach.
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