At a press conference in Phuket marking his partnership with Sun Hills Development, former UFC lightweight champion Khabib Nurmagomedov spoke at length about youth sports, parenting, and the role education played in shaping his career.
Responding to questions from parents and young athletes in attendance, he shared insights. When asked how to turn a gym into a “school of life” rather than just a place to train, Khabib emphasized that the foundation begins at home.
“It all starts at home,” he said. “A child comes to the gym, spends two hours, and then leaves. After that, there still has to be educational work done with him. But that work should already begin with the parents, at home.”
He also highlighted the importance of leading by example, pointing to his father’s daily routine as the standard that shaped him.
“My father didn’t just tell me to train, he trained himself,” Khabib explained. “He played football, he woke up early to exercise, and he trained again in the evening. I always had a personal example in front of me.”
On the question of whether coaches should hold athletes accountable for their academic performance, Khabib was unequivocal about the need for cooperation between families and trainers.
“I think it should be done,” he said. “There has to be collaboration between parents and the coach. In my father’s school, there was always a rule: first came education, second came education, and only after that came sports.”
He recalled how his father enforced that balance even during demanding training camps. “If we had two or three weeks of training, my father would bring two or three books with him that I had to read,” Khabib said. “And not just read rewrite as well.”
Reflecting on his own journey, he admitted that he would encourage his younger self to prioritize learning even more.
“I would probably advise myself to pay even more attention to studying,” he said. “I became interested in reading and education a little later, even though my father pushed me strongly in that direction. Looking back, I would tell myself to spend even more time on education.”
Khabib also warned about the risks of parents becoming disconnected from their children’s daily environment, especially during school hours.
“You send your child to school from eight in the morning until three in the afternoon,” he said. “That is the most important time in their day. You have to know who is educating them there.”
He stressed that communication between parents, teachers, and coaches is essential when trusting others with a child’s development. “When you entrust your son to someone, communication is necessary,” he added.
Speaking directly to a 14-year-old judoka in the audience, Khabib delivered a message about making the most of youth and the limited window for growth in sports.
“You have a special time right now,” he said. “Don’t miss it. You won’t be 14 again. Next year you will be older, and time only moves forward—so use this time wisely.”
Finally, addressing a 15-year-old who had flown in from Dubai to seek advice, Khabib returned to a theme that ran throughout the discussion: trust in parental guidance.
“Listen to your parents,” he said. “They are never going to tell you something bad. No matter what you do in life, parents are the only people who will always accept you.”
[Editor’s Note: Quotes have been translated and edited for clarity and readability.]
