At just 18 years of age, Jaynee Kellens of the Netherlands takes a decisive step to the summit of Muaythai’s competitive pyramid, making her professional debut at the iconic Bangla Stadium in Phuket.

A three-time IFMA Youth World Champion, Jaynee’s journey is not an exception, it is the intended outcome of the IFMA athlete development pyramid: a structured system designed to identify, educate, protect, and progressively elevate talent from grassroots to the highest levels of the sport.

Now training at P’Chai Muay Thai, Jaynee has completed more than two months of focused preparation for her professional debut. Her transition reflects a carefully managed progression, technical, physical, and mental, built over years within IFMA’s pathway.

A Father’s Reflection

Jaynee’s father, Frank Kellens, shared his thoughts on her journey:

“Jaynee was just 8 years old when she started her journey. At first, she played football and judo, but she wanted more, and that’s when she began Muaythai in Belgium. We always told her: if you’re having fun, then play your game. We are proud that she represents the Netherlands, and she also carries her Thai heritage with her.

My advice to parents is simple: let your child play the sport they love, and let them enjoy it. Support them to follow their heart and have fun along the way.”

The IFMA Pyramid: Structure, Progression, Excellence

Jaynee’s rise illustrates the pyramid principle at the core of IFMA’s global system:

  • Base of the pyramid: grassroots, youth, and junior development
  • Middle layers: national championships, continental events, and IFMA World Championships
  • Summit: elite professional competition and global recognition

Every level serves a purpose. Athletes do not bypass stages; they earn progression through performance, discipline, and resilience. Many of today’s most recognized champions such as Valentina Shevchenko, Artem Levin, and countless others were shaped within this same pyramid. Their foundations were laid in IFMA competition long before global titles and professional acclaim.

World Championships: The Crucible of the Pyramid

IFMA World Championships represent the critical middle tier of the pyramid. They are not entry-level competitions. Athletes must first prove themselves as the best within their national federations before earning the right to compete on the world stage.

Protective equipment used at youth and junior levels is not a marker of amateurism, but a deliberate developmental safeguard.

Jaynee Kellens has passed through each of these layers. Her achievements were not accelerated shortcuts, but the result of sustained progression within a system built to create champions—not overnight sensations. This goes for the many IFMA athletes who later became WMC Champions.

From Pyramid to Platform

As Jaynee steps onto the professional stage in Phuket, she does so carrying the weight and the strength of the pyramid beneath her. Her debut represents not only a personal milestone, but a reaffirmation of IFMA’s mission: to build athletes correctly, responsibly, and sustainably, transforming grassroots potential into world-class excellence.

Jaynee Kellens stands today where the pyramid meets the spotlight. And like many before her, she does so fully prepared for what comes next.

Chok Dee tomorrow Jaynee! We are cheering for you!