Andre Simon
29 Oct 2023
29th October 2023
Autumn Half-Term Mini Camp 2023 Recap
This Autumn half-term we hosted a mini Muay Thai camp at the Roman Road Adventure Playground in East London, Tower Hamlets.
Our long-term mission is to "Make Muay Thai accessible" in local communities allowing young people ages 4-25 years old to learn martial arts close to home.
Across the week, we had a total of 19 participants. 8 were new to the Radojunkie community and 5 were completely new to Muay Thai. We could not have been happier with the outcome and more impressed with the eagerness to learn.
Day 1 - Tuesday, October 24th
We kicked off the week strong with 9 young people and everyone had a blast. We covered the Muay Thai fundamentals and did some pad work with coaches. The confidence of some of the young people that took part grew through the session and it was as clear as day. They absolutely loved learning something new in the environment our coaches created. At the end of the session, we even had one of the older siblings of the participants say that she wanted to take part the following day after seeing how much fun her brother had. This gave us so much joy and she came well-prepared to take part on Wednesday.
Day 2 - Wednesday, October 25th
The number of participants went from 9 to 15 and we had two new teens with us. Both had seen the fun their siblings were having and wanted to give it a try which was absolutely amazing to see.
We introduced skipping, as this is a fundamental part of any boxer's training regime and it is astonishing to see how many young people cannot skip. In addition to this, we covered fundamentals, did some pad work with coaches, and finished with a 30-second kick challenge. Our champion of the day scored 65 kicks in just 30 seconds. This is more than what most adults can achieve.
At the end of our session, we had the pleasure of allowing our participants to get a taste of the world's exotic fruits. Dreamfruit UK had prepared a fruit platter for us and this quickly became the highlight of the day.
Also, the two teens said that they really enjoyed themselves and that they would like to try Muay Thai again.
Day 3 - Thursday, October 24th
It was the final day of the mini-camp and we had 12 participants to close the show. We had a newbie join the group and all I can say is that she is a little powerhouse.
As always you can never stress the fundamentals enough but we were adamant about seeing some improvement in the skipping of our participants. For the little time they had to practice, everyone got much better than they were before.
In addition to pad work with coaches, we introduced partnered sparring drills. This means we allowed the young people to strike each other to practice the techniques we had drilled all week. We were well and truly impressed with how they all did. Especially for our newbie of the day, for her first session to end with a stranger punching and kicking her she took it like an absolute champion,
Then to finish off, we had another kick challenge, and a new champion for the day scored 55 kicks in 30 seconds.
Overall
I could not have been happier with the outcome of the week. The fact that we can spread so much joy through Muay Thai is a blessing. Everyone at Radojunkie believes that any and everyone deserves the chance to learn the art of self-defence.
The young people over the week showed amazing growth, resilience, discipline and a genuine interest in learning and trying new things.
In addition to our term-time holiday camps, we offer classes all year round. To find out more information, follow the links below:
WEDNESDAY CLASSES
Mixed Youth Class: Ages 4-16
SUNDAY CLASSES (AGE 4 - 16)
Crane Class: Ages 11-16 (Intermediate)
Grasshoppers: Ages 4-11 (Beginners)
FAQs:
Q1: Who can participate in Radojunkie's Muay Thai camps?
A1: Radojunkie's camps are open to young people aged 4-16 years old, regardless of their prior experience in martial arts.
Q2: What skills are taught during the camp?
A2: Participants learn Muay Thai fundamentals, pad work, skipping, and engage in sparring drills to enhance their skills and confidence.
Q3: Are the camps accessible for beginners?
A3: Absolutely! Radojunkie welcomes both beginners and Muay Thai enthusiasts, tailoring the sessions to individual skill levels.
Q4: How can I join future Radojunkie Muay Thai camps?
A4: Stay updated on Radojunkie's website and social media channels for announcements regarding upcoming Muay Thai camps and registration details.
Q5: What benefits can participants gain from these camps?
A5: Participants not only learn self-defence but also develop confidence, discipline, and resilience, fostering a positive mindset and healthy lifestyle.