Kickboxing in Vlissingen: Hamami, Karkach and gyms

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Introduction

History of this sport

The gym as a starting point. The Vlissingen kickboxing story follows trainers, families and fighters who moved from the local gym into competitive sport. According to his school, Khaled Zarin has been teaching kickboxing since 1998. Anis Karkach took his first steps at his father Said’s gym in Vlissingen. These training venues form the local foundation for careers that later also made their mark on international competition stages.

Anis Karkach on the international stage. In 2017, Karkach won a world title at Fight Night. In December that year, he made his GLORY debut at the age of 21. The opportunity came unexpectedly: after a phone call, he drove straight to the weigh-in. He won his first GLORY bout in the very first round. The traveling supporters from Zeeland were easy for him to hear in the not-yet-full arena.

A world title for Mohamed Hamami. On April 12, 2025, Hamami won the Enfusion world title in the featherweight division. He knocked out Alfadel Alkasid in the third round. The bout was fought under Xtreme Stand Up rules, with MMA gloves. For the Vlissingen fighter and his trainer Khaled Zarin, this was a milestone in a career that began at the local gym.

A next step at GLORY. In early 2026, Hamami signed a two-year contract with GLORY. On April 25, he made his debut at GLORY 107. He lost in the second round by technical knockout against Deniz Demirkapu, after a knee to the ribs. With Karkach’s earlier debut and Hamami’s move, two fighters with a Vlissingen training background have their own chapter at the organization.

Local connections

Father, son, and gym. Anis Karkach’s connection to Vlissingen began at Karkach Gym, his father Said’s school. He started training there and says he also teaches there himself. His story links his first steps in the sport with passing on his experience to others in the same city.

Trainer and world champion. Mohamed Hamami and Khaled Zarin represent another local connection. Training at Khaled Zarin Fighting Center in Gorilla Gym led to Hamami winning the Enfusion world title in 2025 and signing with GLORY in 2026. His nickname, ‘The Machine Gun’, also comes from his relationship with his trainer.

Combat sports and youth work. Karkach’s connection to Vlissingen also extends beyond the gym. On his own profile, he mentions working as a youth worker in the city from 2017 to 2021 and his co-ownership of Tweede Kans Vlissingen. Alongside competing and teaching, this is a separate part of his involvement in the local community.

Martial arts facts

Vlissingen victory on GLORY debut: Anis Karkach, December 2017
Vlissingen world champion at Enfusion: Mohamed Hamami, 12 April 2025
A nickname of the trainer from Vlissingen: The Machine Gun

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Clubs and training locations

Training in this city

Getting started in Vlissingen. Khaled Zarin Fighting Center, Karkach Gym, and Zeeuws-Fit each give kickboxing a face in the city. Before choosing a class, decide what you want to learn: technique, fitness, confidence, or taking a step toward competitions. Ask the school which groups are suitable for your age and experience. A champion’s career can be inspiring, but your training doesn’t have to focus on competitions.

Technique and teamwork. Ask how stance, footwork, punches, kicks, and defense are taught. During a trial class, you can pay attention to the trainer’s instructions and the teamwork between training partners. Ask how beginners are grouped and which exercises are done with a partner, on pads, or on a punching bag. That way, you can find out which class format suits you.

Discuss contact training beforehand. Ask whether sparren is part of the class, how the intensity is adjusted, and whether you can train without sparren. Discuss which gloves, shin guards, and other protective gear the trainer requires. The MMA gloves from Hamami’s title fight are specific to those competition rules; ask what equipment you need for your classes.

A routine you can stick to. Compare the current schedule, travel time, and costs with your daily routine in Vlissingen. Ask what you need for your first class and whether you can borrow equipment. A welcoming group and clear guidance can help you keep coming back regularly. Check the classes offered and terms directly with the gym.

Choose a club

Choose based on the coaching, not just well-known names. Hamami and Karkach’s successes are part of Vlissingen’s kickboxing story, but they don’t automatically tell you which school is the best fit for you. Ask how the trainer supports beginners and how recreational classes differ from competition training. Discuss your goals and see whether you get enough attention to learn at your own level.

Experience the atmosphere during a trial class. Pay attention to the explanations, how members interact, and how the trainer supervises contact drills. Ask about the rules for sparren and how training partners are matched. A school where you can ask questions and set boundaries will give you a better impression than a list of competition results alone.

Compare the practical details. Check how easy it is to get to the school in Vlissingen, the class times, costs, and membership terms. Ask what protective gear you’ll need and whether you can try a class first. Verify any stated certification and the current class schedule directly with the school before making your choice.

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Athletes with a connection to this city

Mohamed ‘Machine Gun Mo’ Hamami. Hamami was born on July 16, 2003, and got into kickboxing through his brother. He said that after one training session, he fell in love with the sport. In Vlissingen, he trained with Khaled Zarin, who gave him the nickname ‘The Machine Gun’. His career connects that local training gym with Enfusion and later GLORY.

Enfusion world champion in 2025. On April 12, 2025, Hamami won the featherweight world title in Dordrecht. His opponent, Alfadel Alkasid, was knocked out in the third round. The bout was fought under Xtreme Stand Up rules with MMA gloves instead of the usual boxing gloves. It was Hamami’s first world title at Enfusion.

A second title fight and a new organization. On December 20, 2025, Hamami lost on points to Omar Mahgoub in a fight for a second world title. Hamami disagreed with the decision and appealed. In early 2026, he then signed a two-year deal with GLORY. His GLORY 107 debut on April 25, 2026, ended in the second round with a technical knockout against Deniz Demirkapu, after a knee to the ribs.

Anis ‘Sniper’ Karkach. Karkach grew up around his father Said’s gym in Vlissingen and took his first steps as a kickboxer there. In 2017, he won a world title at Fight Night. His coaches gave him the nickname ‘Sniper’: he patiently waits for his chance and strikes when the moment presents itself. According to his own profile, he has fought in the A class since 2017.

An unexpected GLORY debut. In December 2017, 21-year-old Karkach unexpectedly got the chance to make his GLORY debut. He had originally been scheduled for another fight, but drove straight to Rotterdam for the weigh-in after receiving the call. He won his debut in the first round. Since the arena was not yet full at the time, he could clearly hear the supporters who had traveled with him, mostly from Zeeland.

Training and experience outside the ring. In 2018, Karkach trained ten to twelve times a week. He trained at the same gym as Jamal Ben Saddik, with coaches including Fouad Eljalouli. Later, he also put his experience to use as an analyst: in 2026, he took part in Omroep Zeeland’s live broadcast of Thian de Vries’s world title fight at Enfusion Goes. Alongside his sporting career, Karkach’s own profile states that he worked as a youth worker in Vlissingen from 2017 to 2021 and is a co-owner of Tweede Kans Vlissingen.

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Trainers with a connection to this city

Khaled Zarin and his Fighting Center. Khaled Zarin Fighting Center is located at Gorilla Gym in Vlissingen. The school states that Zarin has been teaching kickboxing since 1998 and has coached several fighters into the A class. It also mentions certification from the Combat Sports Authority. Zarin is Mohamed Hamami’s trainer and gave him the nickname ‘The Machine Gun’. His student’s world title in 2025 connects the work at the Vlissingen gym with international competition.

Said Karkach and Karkach Gym. Anis Karkach started kickboxing at his father Said’s gym in Vlissingen. Karkach Gym is therefore a tangible link between his youth, his development as a fighter, and his connection to the city. Anis states on his own profile that he also teaches at the school. The gym thus connects the experience of father and son with coaching other athletes.

Anis Karkach as an instructor. Karkach combines his background as a competitive fighter with teaching. According to his own profile, he has competed in the A class since 2017. In a 2018 interview, he described a training week of ten to twelve sessions. At the time, he trained at the same gym as Jamal Ben Saddik and was coached by, among others, Fouad Eljalouli. Those experiences are part of his career alongside training at his father’s gym.

Zeeuws-Fit. Zeeuws-Fit presents kickboxing in Vlissingen as a team sport for young and old. The description emphasizes exercising together, even though kickboxing as a competitive sport is an individual discipline. Those looking to get started can ask about current classes, group arrangements, and coaching suited to their level. This gives recreational training a place in the local offering alongside competitive careers.