Hey everyone! We're getting close to one of our favorite times of the year, and I couldn't be more excited to talk about what's coming up in Keene, New Hampshire. The 2025 Martial Summit and Never Settle Awards isn't just another martial arts event; it's become something really special that brings our community together in ways that honestly surprise me every single year.
If you've never been to one of our Summits before, you're in for something unique. This isn't your typical tournament or seminar weekend. We've built this event around three simple ideas: connect, educate, and entertain. And after running this for a few years now, the connections people make here often last long after everyone heads home.
What Makes This Event Different
The Martial Summit began with a simple belief: martial artists have far more in common than what separates us. Whether you train in karate, taekwondo, kung fu, jiu-jitsu, or any other art, we're all part of the same bigger family. The Summit brings together practitioners from diverse styles and backgrounds to share knowledge, techniques, and, most importantly, have a great time together.
What sets this apart from other events? To start, we've ensured that the best parts remain free. Yes, free. We believe martial arts education and community building shouldn't be locked behind expensive paywalls. However, for those who want the whole VIP experience, our ticket packages are the perfect solution.
The Never Settle Awards ceremony is the heart of our Summit weekend. Now in its fourth year, these awards recognize martial artists who go above and beyond, not just in their training, but in how they give back to their communities. We're talking about people who embody what martial arts are really about: making the world a better place, one person at a time.
What You Get With Your Ticket Package
Let me break down what comes with your ticket purchase, because we've packed a lot of value into these packages.
The Banquet Dinner Experience. The Saturday night dinner banquet is where the magic really happens. This isn't just a meal, it's where we come together as a community to celebrate the year's achievements and honor our Never Settle Award recipients. The food is excellent, but the company is even better. You'll find yourself sitting next to martial artists from entirely different backgrounds, sharing stories and making connections that often turn into lifelong friendships.
Live Auction Action During the banquet, we hold a live auction that's become legendary in our community. We auction off unique martial arts items, training opportunities, and experiences you literally cannot get anywhere else. All proceeds go toward supporting martial arts programs and initiatives that make a real difference in people's lives. Plus, it's genuinely fun to watch; our auctioneers know how to keep things entertaining.
Shuttle Service We know traveling can be a hassle, especially when you're trying to coordinate with training partners or friends. That's why we include shuttle service to make getting around Keene as smooth as possible. No worrying about parking, directions, or designated drivers for the evening events.
Exclusive Swag and Merchandise Every ticket holder gets access to exclusive Summit merchandise that you can't buy anywhere else. We're talking about gear that marks you as part of this special community. But here's the really cool part...
Special Edition Event T-Shirts. Each year, we design special Summit t-shirts that become instant collector's items in our community. These shirts tell a story; they show you were there; you were part of something special. I still see people wearing shirts from our first Summit, and it always makes me smile.
The Gold Hoodie - Ultimate Exclusivity This is the crown jewel of Summit swag. The design changes each year, and they've become serious status symbols in our community. I'm not kidding when I say people plan their Summit attendance around getting that hoodie.
Why Keene, New Hampshire?
Keene might seem like an unexpected choice for a major martial arts event, but that's precisely why it works so well. This small New England city gives us the perfect intimate setting where everyone can actually connect. You're not lost in a massive convention center; you're a part of a close-knit gathering where conversations happen naturally.
The local community has also embraced our event. Local restaurants and businesses go out of their way to welcome our martial arts family, and many attendees make it a point to explore the area and support local establishments. It's become a real partnership between our Summit and the Keene community.
The Training and Education Component
While the banquet and awards ceremony are the main ticketed events, the Summit includes extensive free programming throughout the weekend. We're talking about world-class instructors leading sessions in everything from traditional forms to modern self-defense applications. The classroom sessions cover business topics for school owners, teaching methodology, and personal development topics that go far beyond physical techniques.
Martial Summit has become a destination event in itself. Martial artists travel from across the country just for this day of intensive training with instructors they might never otherwise have access to. And yes, it's completely free.
Building Something Bigger Than Ourselves
Here's what I love most about the Summit: it's grown into something bigger than any of us originally imagined. People schedule their entire year around this event. They bring their families, their students, their training partners. I've watched business partnerships form, lifelong friendships begin, and countless "aha moments" happen during training sessions.
The Never Settle Awards recipients embody this spirit perfectly. These aren't just skilled martial artists: they're people who use their training to make their communities better. They teach kids who can't afford lessons, they volunteer their time, and they step up when others need help. Recognizing them isn't just about celebrating individual achievement; it's about highlighting the kind of martial artists we all aspire to be.
Tickets Are Limited - Here's Why That Matters
I need to be honest with you about something: we deliberately keep this event smaller than it could be. We cap attendance because we want everyone who comes to have a genuine experience, not just another crowded conference where you never get to really connect with anyone.
This means tickets do sell out. Every year, we receive emails from people who waited too long and were unable to get tickets. I hate having to turn people away but maintaining that intimate atmosphere is crucial to what makes the Summit special.
Ready to Join Us?
If you've read this far, you probably already know you want to be there. Are you ready to commit to being part of something that's honestly become the highlight of many people's martial arts year?
The ticket packages include everything I mentioned: the banquet dinner, auction participation, shuttle service, exclusive merchandise, special event t-shirts, and that coveted gold hoodie. More importantly, you get to be part of a community that truly lives the values martial arts teaches us.
Don't be the person who wishes they had grabbed a ticket when they were still available. The Summit weekend in Keene is going to be incredible, and we want you there as part of our martial arts family.
Grab your tickets now and get ready for a weekend that will remind you why you fell in love with martial arts in the first place.