Abud shed 40 Kg in less than a year. See his transformation.

March 1, 2011


Abud woke up one day feeling tired of being overweight and unhealthy. That was when he decided to sign up for Mixed Martial Arts at The Source and dropped 40 Kg.  His dream is to get the his black belt under The Source and to open his own MMA school one day.


1-  Hello Abud. Tell us a little bit about yourself.

Hi. My name is Abdel Majid Faouri, and I just turned 18 years old. I’m currently a student studying in England. I live in Nottingham and I train MMA and BJJ every day.

2-  How long have you been training MMA?

I’ve been training MMA and BJJ at The Source for a year and half now.

3-  You made a huge transformation to your body, tell us how you did it and how long it took you to do that?

I woke up one day weighing 113 kg. Looking at myself in the mirror made me feel bad and unhealthy so I put in my head that I was going to lose weight and become fit no matter what. So I listened to my cousin Nasser Faouri’s advice and joined The Source MMA.  I started training BJJ and MMA and I got addicted. I just loved the feeling I got when I was fighting and rolling. I started training every day; at the dojo, in the gym and even at home. Whenever I got the chance to train I would.

In addition to training hard, and with the help of Master Samy and Master Tarek, I cut down the huge amounts of food I used to eat. I stopped eating junk food and replaced fizzy drinks with water and fresh natural juices. I started cooking at home to avoid eating junk. I introduced fresh fruits and vegetable to my diet and started becoming more aware of what is good for me and what is not. I lost 40 kg in about 9 months. I currently weigh 73 kg.

4- Have you ever competed?

I have competed 3 times here in England.

5-  Everyone knows that entering the mats for the first time is not easy. Tell us how you felt?

It was very hard since I was unfit and had weight issues. Sometimes I would go back home doubting whether I was doing the right thing or not. I honestly wanted to quit several times, but my feelings kept telling me to push myself harder and harder.
So I never intentionally missed a class, and the days that I did, I would be either sick or traveling. In the beginning it was hard to enter a class not knowing what to the sport is, or what to do, but when I started training hard and putting goals it all started to pay off. Now Jiu Jitsu is a part of my life.

6-  How did you win?

All of my victories were by submissions. None of my wins were by points. I also lost once by an advantage. 2 of my wins where by chokes, triangle and lapel choke, bow and arrow choke and one by armbar.

7-  What did you learn from your losses?

The first time I competed, I was very nervous and anxious and I rushed into positions which made me lose and I remember Master Samy telling me one day later after the fight: ”You lost to yourself”. So I learnt to try to relax my mind and body during a fight and I always remember the rule that says: “Position before Submission”.

8- Do you have any advice for kids that are starting now?

Yes. I would tell them  train hard, push yourselves, never give up because it will change you and your lives to the better as it changed mine. Whenever you feel like quitting or giving up, fight it cause your mind only wants the easiest way out and nothing is easy.

9-  What are your future plans?

I plan on finishing university and getting my degree then I am off to train and compete hopefully opening a school one day under The Source family . My main goal is enjoy life and being a better person every day. I want to become a black belt under Master Samy Al Jamal and Master Tarek Kalimat and hopefully become one of the best competitors out there.

10-  Any final words to The Source family?

The Source is not just a place to me, it’s my home. My coaches and my friends in training are all my family.  I would like to thank everyone for helping me become a better person. Not a day passes by without me being thankful for the day I started at The Source.