On March 22nd, the Teach Me Kung Fu Schools team headed to Nottingham for a Martial Arts business conference hosted by NEST – the organisation we proudly partner with for many of our school systems and support. This event brought together martial arts schools from across the UK for a day of insight, inspiration, and industry connection.
It was a fantastic opportunity for our team to connect with like-minded instructors, business professionals, and industry leaders. We spent the day exploring fresh ideas, discussing best practices, and discovering new ways to enhance the experience we offer to our students and community.
Here’s what some of our team members had to say about the day:
“In all honesty, I didn’t know what to expect. It was a completely new experience – exciting but a little nerve-wracking too! But it turned out to be an amazing time with both our Kung Fu team and the NEST management.
I learnt so much about the business side of running a Martial Arts school – not just about management, but also the sense of community each school can create. It’s made me think deeply about how impactful social media has become, and how many more people we can reach and support.
I had a great chat with Louisa from NEST’s marketing and sales team. Her story about studying business at university and working her way up through NEST was really inspiring. She gave such great advice – from the importance of confidence, to loving the work you do.
I’m so grateful for the opportunity. Everyone was so kind and welcoming, and it made me feel truly proud to be part of this amazing community.”
“During a break, I had a conversation with Lilia – an instructor from another school within the NEST network. Although our styles of martial arts are different, her mission really struck a chord with me. She spoke passionately about empowering students who face bullying or domestic violence, improving mental and physical wellbeing, and building a true sense of belonging. It reminded me how deeply meaningful our work can be.
I also had a valuable discussion with Elliot from the NEST marketing team about student engagement and how social media can bring our school community even closer. It’s something I’m excited to explore further.”
“I was expecting a good event – maybe some general insights and a few chats with other schools. What we got was so much more! It was a full day of sharing, learning, and connecting with some of the best minds in the martial arts business.
We explored marketing trends, community-building strategies, and looked at what it really means to run a martial arts school today. I particularly enjoyed my chat with Elliot from NEST about content creation – thinking about how to make social media fun, authentic, and engaging for our community.
The whole event blew my expectations out of the water. I’ve never seen our team so inspired. If you’ve ever met us, you know how driven we already are – so that’s saying something!”
“Chris and I were absolutely thrilled to bring nearly our entire instructor team along to this year’s NEST conference. We’ve been attending for a number of years now and always come away buzzing with ideas – but this time was extra special.
Seeing how engaged and enthusiastic our team was throughout the whole day made us incredibly proud. They were a true credit to the school, and we couldn’t have asked for more.”
We’re so grateful to NEST for hosting such an insightful and inspiring event – and even more grateful to be part of a community of martial artists that truly care about making a difference. Watch this space – big things are coming!
