Divine Aikbekean’s transformation from troubled teen to Muay Thai champion

Wednesday, 28 January 2026 10:56

By David Murphy

A former student of Newhouse Academy in Heywood has become a national martial arts champion just two years after struggling with challenges in and out of school.

Divine Aikbekean, now 17, was named British Muay Thai Nai Khanom Tom Heavyweight Champion in December 2025. His journey from disengaged pupil to elite athlete was recently featured by the BBC as an example of how Greater Manchester’s crime reduction programmes can change young lives.

Staff at Newhouse Academy say Divine’s success is rooted in early pastoral and safeguarding support, along with the opportunities provided by Your Trust, the borough’s leisure and culture provider. Two years ago, staff identified that Divine needed direction and helped introduce him to Muay Thai, a martial art that would give him structure, purpose and discipline.

After taking up the sport at Middleton Martial Arts Academy, Divine committed to daily training. Alongside his sport, he achieved good GCSE grades including in English and maths in summer 2025.

Now, Divine is not only competing at a national level, but is also giving back by coaching younger students at the same academy that helped turn his life around. He has even been invited to train in Thailand with the England Muay Thai squad.

Newhouse Academy’s designated safeguarding lead, Vicky Wilde, praised Divine’s dedication and described his success as “a powerful reminder of what happens when young people are supported to thrive”.

“Every young person deserves someone who won’t give up on them,” she said. “At Newhouse Academy, we explore every avenue to help our students discover their strengths, their purpose, and their belief in a better future.”

Donate to Roch Valley Radio

Do you have a story for us? Want to tell us about something happening in our Borough?

Let us know by emailing newsdesk@rochvalleyradio.com

All contact will be treated in confidence.

More from Local News

Rochdale’s soundtrack reborn as new album and concert celebrate town’s music legacy

A new album and live concert are set to honour Rochdale’s iconic place in British music history, with the borough’s past and present artists uniting to revive classic tracks recorded on Kenion Street.
Rochdale’s MP meets Holocaust survivor as borough honours Memorial Day

People across Rochdale have taken time to reflect on the atrocities of the Holocaust and other genocides, as the borough joins national commemorations for Holocaust Memorial Day.
Long-serving shopping centre boss retires after nearly 16 years in Bury

The Rock bids farewell to director Arnold Wilcox-Wood as leadership changes hands
Rochdale Paedophile who abused child in Whitworth avoids prison

A Rochdale man has been sentenced for a sexual offence committed against a child in the 1980s, following a report made more than 40 years after the incident took place.
Seven fined for fly-tipping and littering across borough

Seven individuals have been issued fines for environmental offences in Bury, as the council continues its clampdown on illegal waste disposal.
Heywood Civic reopens as cultural hub after major revamp

A much-loved Rochdale venue will reopen next month following a multi-million pound redevelopment, transforming it into a fully accessible cultural and community hub.
Green Party leader rallied supporters in Gorton and Denton by election campaign

The co leader of the Green Party of England and Wales, Zack Polanski, visited Gorton and Denton to lead a rally backing the party’s campaign in the upcoming by-election.
Three Bury residents awarded Freedom of the Borough for decades of public service

Three people described as among the very best of Bury have been granted the borough’s highest civic honour in recognition of decades of service to local communities.
James Frith MP backs expansion of review rights for rape and sexual assault cases in Bury North

Victims of rape and serious sexual assault in Bury North are set to gain stronger safeguards when prosecutors decide to drop cases, following the expansion of a national review scheme supported by local MP James Frith.
Rochdale MP’s Commons pub plea goes viral as Government confirms support package

A light hearted Commons moment by Rochdale MP Paul Waugh has racked up tens of thousands of views online after he used a well known local phrase while pressing ministers to support struggling pubs.
Bury Council report highlights how everyday places shape local health

A new report from Bury Council has set out how the types of shops, services and businesses in neighbourhoods can have a direct impact on people’s health, particularly in areas facing higher levels of deprivation.
Reform UK candidate says voters are ‘angry’ over HMOs, crime and decline of high streets

Reform UK’s candidate for the upcoming Gorton & Denton by-election has criticised the growth of houses of multiple occupancy, rising crime and the decline of town centres.