MABS Conference 2025 - Melbourne 24th / 25th May

It doesn't matter if you are a "start up" club, or well established and looking to take it to the next level. The information, presenters and networking is the best in the industry.

How it works...

The MABS Weekend is designed to be flexible in delivery so as to suit the needs of as many club owners as possible.

You don't need to attend the business sessions and all the workshops, you can just pick and choose what you feel will work best for you and your school!

Saturday 24th May - Workshops.

Please note the workshops will be held at Kando Martial Arts Rowville (map link below). Workshops may run simultaneously, so check the timings. If there are simultaneous sessions you like, bring a staff member and swap notes! Scroll down for more details of workshop content.

✅ Workshop 1 (2 - 3:30pm): Behind the Scenes Walkthrough

✅ Workshop 2 (2 - 3:30pm): Smartphone Masterclass

✅ Workshop 3 (3:30 - 5:30pm): Introduction to Teaching Philippine Martial Arts (to be confirmed)

✅ Workshop 4 (3:30 - 5pm): Teaching Conflict Management & Violence Prevention Seminars

Location: Kando Martial Arts Rowville. Shop 5, Stud Park Shopping Centre, 1102 Stud Road Rowville (down the bottom section next to the Pet Supplies).

Google map link: https://maps.app.goo.gl/Qnx297QVcNCHLFLd8

Sunday 25th May - Business Sessions

Business sessions will be held at the Hyatt Place Melbourne Caribbean Park. Map link in the event details. Scroll down for session details and a link to discount rooms at the venue.

✅ Top 10 New Student Recruiting Strategies - Paul Veldman (Kando Martial Arts / MABS)

✅ Risk Management for your Martial Arts School - Chris Nash (Owner of SportsCover Insurance)

✅ Employer Essentials - Debra Glowski (Owner of Exordium Consulting, current head of HR for Royal Flying Doctors / Ambulance Service, former head of HR for IBAC)

✅ Financial Essentials - Sean Dunne (Owner of Dominium Capital Consulting)

✅ Leveraging Business Statistics to Grow Your MA School - Chris Schumacher (Owner Kando Martial Arts Nunawading)

✅ Increasing Profits through Upgrade Programs, Up-selling & Cross-selling - Paul Veldman (Kando Martial Arts / MABS)

The Martial Arts Business Success (MABS) Conference is designed to be different. It is a smaller, more exclusive event. This means more interaction with presenters with a better ability to network. You won't get lost in the crowd, and the focus will be on YOU!

We don't just want to teach you how to put an extra few students on per month. You can get that information almost anywhere. We want to show you how to build your Martial Arts Business into a sustainable, systems driven school that let you reach your dream life.

At the MABS event we will also bring in external industry experts. Why listen to a Martial Arts instructor talk about financial matters, risk management, employment obligations, when we can bring you some of the best in Australia in these fields!

There are only 50 places available for the Day 2 Business Sessions, and places in the Workshops are strictly limited so as to get the best value / interaction with the presenters.

MABS is run by Paul Veldman, Founder and Chief Instructor of one of Australia’s most successful martial arts schools – Kando Martial Arts.

A 6th degree Karate black belt, black belt in Philippine Martial Arts blue belt in Brazilian Jiu Jitsu, Paul is also a “Category 6” Instructor in the Floro Fighting Systems. He is also a student of Kobudo and Kinetic Fighting Systems (KEF).

The Kando Organisation has 7 locations, and nearly 3000 students.

Paul was a member of Victoria Police for 17 years. During this time, he was an operational duties member, a member of the Force Response Unit and later a “train the trainer” in Conflict Management, Defensive Tactics, Firearms and Forced Building Entry Techniques. He was also a Siege and Hostage Negotiator and part of the Close Personal Protection teams.

Specialising in retention, instructor training and team building, as well as the many other day-to-day skills that add up to running a successful club, Paul created MABS to help provide guidance and assistance to businesses who do not have the financial luxury typically needed for a consultancy service. His aim? To help committed martial arts business owners gain the same success as Kando through access and assistance to programs he currently uses in his own clubs.

Saturday 24th May - Workshops.

All workshops will be held at Kando Martial Arts Rowville, located at the Stud Park Shopping Centre in Rowville (about a 3 minute drive from the Conference Centre location).

Google Map link: https://maps.app.goo.gl/4nA4xxeoVa9Pz1ScA

There is no food or drink provided at the Workshops, but there are plenty of options for food and drink at the shopping centre.

Sunday 25th May - Business Conference

The Business Conference will be at the Hyatt Place Melbourne Caribbean Park, Scoresby.

Google Map link: https://maps.app.goo.gl/QY8ew8YMSMuo3Qsy5

Morning tea, lunch and afternoon tea will be provided. Please notify us of any special food requirements when booking your ticket.

There is parking available at the hotel.

If you are staying at the venue, follow the steps below for an event discount (screenshot below to assist):

• Access the website: https://www.hyatt.com/hyatt-place/en-US/melzc-hyatt-place-melbourne-caribbean-park?src=corp_lclb_gmb_seo_melzc
• Select BOOK
• Enter your desired dates
• Using the Special Rates drop down menu – please select ‘Special Offer Code’
• Enter EVENT and the discounted rate will become available.

Saturday 24th May, 2 - 3:30pm

Come on a tour of one of Australia's biggest martial arts schools.

Paul & Elle Veldman will walk you through their school setup, proshop, and dive into the essential elements that they train their front desk staff in to increase the percentage of enquiries to students.

Elle is the driving factor behind the all important front end of the operation. From a very early stage in their schools she recognised the importance of not only the prospect / front desk interaction, but in tying it together with explaining the value of programs and the ability of desk staff to edify the training and teachers.

They will also explain the interactive process between desk and mat staff, as well as the changeover processes that allow Kando Rowville to seamlessly run back to back classes.

This tour will be limited to a small group to allow for lots of questions and interactions, so if you are keen to see the processes & procedure behind a big school, or have some staff you want to level up, don't miss out!

Saturday 24th May, 2:30 - 4pm

The photos you use in your ads and content marketing are absolutely vital to results.

This session will be taught by Australia's best Martial Arts photographer, Francine Schaepper.

You'll learn how to take the best close ups, movement shots, and composition in general, then spend some time in the editing app learning how to "polish" your photos.

If you use a staff member to take photos of classes, gradings or events (or think that you should!) this is an ideal workshop for them.

Saturday 24th May 3:30 - 5:30pm

Join Master Julius Melegrito, founder of the Philippine Martial Arts Alliance.

The Filipino Martial Arts Instructorship Workshop is more than a training program; it's an opportunity to delve deep into this diverse style, ensuring a unique and enriching experience that guarantees skill enhancement and a broadened understanding of the arts.

Suitable for senior students or instructors that are looking to implement more into their training syllabus!

For this workshop, please purchase tickets directly through the PMAA link below.

Saturday 24th May 3:30 - 5:30pm

For most instructors, the "hands on" component of self defence is not a problem. But are you giving your students the whole picture?

There is so much more to Conflict Management and Violence Prevention thank just physical skills.

If you are teaching Self Protection, do you teach:

✅ Situational awareness?

✅ Pre attack indicators?

✅ How to de-escalate & deal with verbal aggression?

✅ Legal rights and obligations?

✅ "Post" encounter welfare & debriefing?

These are vital areas to truly make your students safe. Being able to expand your delivery capability will also open up multiple group and corporate training opportunities.

This workshop will be delivered by Paul Veldman. The information in this course is NOT theory from a book. It has been developed primarily from his time in Victoria Police, where worked in the roles of:

✅ Operational Safety Tactics Training "Train the Trainer"

✅ Conflict Management Instructor

✅ Siege & Hostage Negotiator

✅ Close Personal Protection Officer (VIP Protection)

Time spent working "pubs & clubs", as well as a stint as an operations manager for a Conflict Management company rounded out this training to make it applicable to anyone.

This is the training he delivers to schools, local businesses, community groups and corporate clients. Make a point of different to what you offer!

Workshops - Saturday 24th May. See tickets for pricing.

Business Conference - Sunday 25th May 8:30am - 5pm

- includes all sessions, morning tea/lunch/afternoon tea

Early Bird Special (available until the end of November) - $197

Regular cost - $297 (still AWESOME value!)

Also check out other Workshops in Noble Park, Business events in Noble Park, Conferences in Noble Park.