SINCE it was set up in 2002 by Mike Dockery the Warriors Thai Boxing Gym has gone from strength to strength.
Mike had been involved in Thai Boxing for several years before he decided to set up his own club in Loughlinstown.
He felt there was a lack of activities for local teens at the time and there was a well-known problem with anti-social behaviour
Warriors moved around a few different premises before establishing their full time gym in Mountown, Dun Laoghaire.
Eleven years later and the club is still going strong and in January, Cian Cowley (21) who lives in Dun Laoghaire, took over from Mike.
Cian was one of Mike’s first students in Loughlinstown and was also the youngest in the club at the time.
Now Cian has become one of the youngest people to run a full time Thai Boxing gym in Ireland.
Since starting with Mike at age 13 Cian has clocked up nearly 30 professional fights.
Despite his young age, Cian has fought all over Ireland, and has represented his country in England, America and Thailand at professional level.
In July 2012 he won the 67kg Iska Pro Irish K1 title making it the first title for Warriors.
And despite such a task on his hands running the gym Cian still manages to fight himself and defended his Irish title with a first round KO in September of this year.
Ten months on and Cian has brought Warriors to a whole new level on the Irish Muay Thai circuit.
Two of his fighters now hold Irish titles and one Four Nation’s title. Karl McCallig (20) is the current Iska Muay Thai and K1 champ and Fight Factor 4 Nations champion, while Darren McFall (26) is the current Iska K1 champion.
Since he took over Cian has travelled with his fighters to England and Scotland and all across Ireland for fights.
Warriors now cater for more than 20 fighters that compete all over the country.
Kids’ classes started in November 2012 with just three to four attending but now there is a full class of 30.
Some of them, even as young as six-years-of-age, are fighting this year in Dublin, Cork and Galway.
Cian also teaches Thai Boxing to kids with disabilities in a Foxrock youth club.
Hundreds of people have passed through Warrior’s doors in the last 11 years making it one of the best-known gyms in the area.
Warriors now has over 50 members training on a regular basis with members coming from all over Dublin to train.
It has had a huge impact on the local area and the whole community gets behind the lads and ladies when they travel abroad to fight, not only for Ireland but also for their local community.
Cian has big plans for his Warriors in the future and his aim is to get as many people as possible in the Dun Laoghaire area involved in the club so they support their local fighters and give them the attention they deserve in this extreme sport.