Darcel Yandzi arrived in France in 1980 at the age of 7 and started practicing judo 2 years later. Very gifted, he joined the Châtenay-Malabry CREPS in 1990.

He became French Champion in 1992 and joined INSEP in 1993.

In the same year, he set an earliness record by winning the European Championship and also finished 3rd at the World Championships (-78 kg category).

He will be French Champion again in 1995. In 1996 he wins the Paris Tournament, and will take part in the Olympic Games (in -86 kg), unfortunately he will be eliminated in the quarter-finals. Several injuries will follow one another, preventing Darcel Yandzi from returning to the podium.

In 2001, however, he made a winning comeback by obtaining his third title of Champion of France. He also ranks 7th at the World Championships (-81 kg category).

Yandzi decides in 2003 to retire and move to Great Britain. There he became manager of the England and then Scotland teams, and remained there for ten years. He returned to France in 2013, mainly at the request of Ugo Legrand and Teddy Riner, and was one of Teddy's three coaches (eight-time world champion and two-time Olympic champion).

​

European champion and world medal

He is widely regarded as one of the leading technical coaches in the world

​

After 4 years in the French team's staff as a coach / technical referent, Darcel Yandzi has just left the Federation to work with various athletes and national federations. In 2021 Yandzi became Ramadan Darwish's personal coach.

What makes Yandzi so special and unique is her amazing rhythm and movement, combined with a relaxed, yet explosive nature.