Bloodline League Interclub 28th February 2026: Growth, Resilience and First Wins for Radojunkie

Coach Andre’s Round Up - Bloodline League Interclub

We kicked off 2026 in the best way possible - back at the ring for our first Muay Thai Interclub in London of the year at the Bloodline League.

Four of our young boys stepped up to test themselves. Three competed in non-decision bouts and one took on his first decision fight. Every single one of them showed clear development from the work we have been putting in over the past few months. Not just technically, but mentally.

This is what Muay Thai youth development in Tower Hamlets is about. Growth under pressure. Learning to manage nerves. Listening. Adjusting. Supporting each other.

Here’s how the day unfolded.

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Rio: Composure and Control

Rio, one of our longest-running members, delivered one of his most complete performances to date.

This was his third interclub. In previous outings, nerves often showed early. This time was different. Yes, he was nervous beforehand, which is completely natural, but once he stepped into the ring, he was calm, focused and coachable.

He faced a young fighter from MTMA Gym and displayed real maturity. He listened closely to instructions from Coaches Joana and Denzel, adjusting round by round.

His clinch work was strong. His knees were purposeful. And then came the moment he had been waiting for - a perfectly timed sweep.

When I asked him what he enjoyed most about the experience, his answer was simple:

“I was happy I got to sweep my opponent.”

That sweep meant more than just scoring. It represented months of drilling, correcting and refining technique. More importantly, it showed his growth in confidence and composure.

Coach Joana highlighted that his biggest improvement was not physical, but mental. He stayed calm. He followed instructions. He trusted the process.

That is development.

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Grayson: Coachable and Courageous

Grayson, one of the least experienced in the group, stepped into his first interclub bout against a strong opponent from Diesel Gym Woolwich.

He surprised us all.

He was visibly nervous before the fight, but once the bell rang, he showed composure beyond his experience level. In the first two rounds, he rushed slightly, but every time he returned to the corner, he listened.

If we told him to box, he boxed.

If we told him to kick, he kicked.

If we told him to clinch, he clinched.

In the third round, after being reminded to use both hands properly in the clinch, he delivered clean knees and controlled the exchanges beautifully. Considering we had only been working on his clinch for about a week, it was impressive.

When asked what he enjoyed most, he said:

“I liked the clinch and knees.”

Straight after the fight, his dad came over and said how proud he was, genuinely surprised at how well he handled himself. His mum, understandably nervous beforehand, was incredibly proud too.

She even mentioned he wished it had been a decision fight.

That hunger says a lot.

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Kenan: Heart Under Pressure

Kenan, who shares a class at school with Grayson, also stepped up for his first interclub. He faced a taller and slightly older opponent from Fightzone London, the gym where I train myself.

He started confident and excited. But as the reality of the ring hit him and he absorbed a few shots, nerves crept in. His punches became wider. He struggled at times to stick to instructions, particularly around keeping his shots controlled.

But here’s what matters.

He completed all three rounds.

Even when overwhelmed.

Even when emotional.

Even when tired.

In the final round, he walked onto a knee and got upset momentarily, but he carried on.

That is resilience.

Coach Denzel noted how much heart he showed, making the fight competitive despite visible nerves. His mum later messaged to say he was a little sore, especially his foot after kicking hard, but he told her:

“It was unexpected. But at least I know what to expect next time.”

That sentence alone shows growth.

This was a huge learning experience for him. Managing emotion under pressure is something we will continue to work on. The foundations are there.

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Johnny: Star Boy Steps Up

Then came Johnny.

He has been training with us for around 18 months and has already competed in two interclubs. This was his first decision fight.

Just days before the bout, he had returned from a school residential trip exhausted from night walks and hikes. His mum even messaged asking whether we should switch him back to a non-decision bout. I told her we would see how he felt on the morning.

On the day, he turned up full of energy and confidence.

He faced Callum from Team Tieu, a technically strong and experienced young fighter. It was a proper test. Johnny rose to it.

He mixed his weapons beautifully - sharp boxing combinations, strong roundhouse kicks, well-timed push kicks and confident clinch work. He scored a couple of “cheeky” sweeps and maintained control throughout.

Coach Denzel highlighted how impressed he was with Johnny’s ability to stay calm under pressure and blend boxing, kicks and clinch seamlessly.

At the final bell, Johnny earned his first decision win.

More important than the win was the sportsmanship. Both boys hugged and bowed in respect. That is what we want to see.

When asked what he enjoyed most, Johnny said:

“I got a nice sweep.”

Sometimes the simple joys mean the most.

His mum shared:

“THANK YOU!! Always having faith in my boys and pushing them. We couldn’t ask for anyone better! And always keeping me calm.”

Moments like that remind us why we do what we do.

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Team Reflection: Growth Beyond the Ring

As a coaching team, we are incredibly proud.

Across all four performances, we saw:

• Improved composure under pressure

• Stronger clinch and knee work

• Better listening between rounds

• Increased confidence in applying techniques

• Clear support for one another

The boys genuinely helped each other through the day. They encouraged one another, celebrated each other’s moments and stood united.

That is culture.

Coach Joana noted how the clinch and knee work we have been focusing on recently really showed.

Coach Denzel praised their ability to take on feedback even when feeling overwhelmed.

For us, this is confirmation that our work in sessions is translating into real-world performance.

What’s Next: Areas for Development

Interclubs are checkpoints, not destinations.

As we move forward, our focus will remain on:

✅ Hand positioning - Keeping a tight, disciplined guard.

✅ Emotional regulation - Managing nerves and pressure.

✅ Clinch control - Continuing to refine knees, balance and sweeps.

✅ Distance management - Especially for cleaner boxing exchanges.

✅ Decision fight readiness - Conditioning and ring IQ for longer bouts.

We are building something long-term.

At Radojunkie, Muay Thai is the hook. Youth development is the purpose.

Final Word

Every one of these young men showed courage.

They showed resilience. They showed growth. They showed that development is happening.

This is community Muay Thai in Tower Hamlets at its best.

The work continues. And if this is how we are starting 2026, we are excited for what’s ahead.

Photos and videos from the day will be shared below, along with more reflections from parents.

On to the next one. 🥊