Six Years of KEI Kung Fu

How We Opened a Martial Arts Academy in Heart of Amsterdam

On January 11, 2020 we opened the doors to KEI Kung Fu. Six years ago today. Looking back now it still feels a bit unreal how much has happened since then and how much we’ve grown, how much we’ve learned and how many people have walked into our doors and made this place what it is today.

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Before KEI: Where It All Started

Before KEI Kung Fu existed we were colleagues at another kung fu school. We had been training there and teaching there as head instructors for years. Although we made some beautiful memories, it became clear over time that we didn’t see eye to eye with the owner of that school. Not on teaching, not on values and certainly not on the kind of environment we wanted to create. And slowly the question started coming back again and again: What if we did this our way? What if we created a healthier martial arts academy? A place where kids and adults could feel safe, challenged, and supported. And a place where martial arts wasn’t about ego but about becoming a better version of oneself, physically and mentally.

Januarys 11, 2020: Taking the Leap

And on January 11, 2020 we made it official. KEI Kung Fu opened its doors in the center of Amsterdam. We launched a big opening event where friends, students, neighbors and families all joined to celebrate. The space was packed. We had a ribbon-cutting moment and a few speeches and some demonstrations were given afterwards.

Those speeches and demos sparked a lot of curiosity and you could feel it in the room. People started asking questions and sticking around and before the night was over names were being written down. Within a week many of those who had registered were back on the mats, invited to take part in trial lessons and experience the training at KEI Kung Fu for themselves.

Starting Small

We started small, with a handful of dedicated adults and a small group of kids. Some of them are still training with us today. It didn’t take long before the classes filled up and the academy started to feel more lively. Today KEI Kung Fu is home to over 300 students and a strong team of instructors all working toward the same goal.

Then COVID Hit Us 3 Months In

Three months after opening COVID happened. For gyms and martial arts schools this was a complete nightmare. For a brand new academy like ours it was a very scary situation. If you remember the rules back then, we weren’t allowed to train indoors so gyms and martial arts schools were shut down. The only option was outdoor training with 1.5 meters of distance except for kids, who were allowed to have contact. It wasn’t ideal but giving up never crossed our minds. As martial artists we’re taught to adapt and turn pressure into progress and that’s what we did!

So we trained in Vondelpark, we trained at Museumplein and we trained online through Zoom. It didn’t matter if the days were cold, or if it was rainy, our team showed up anyway.

And somehow during one of the hardest periods imaginable, KEI Kung Fu kept growing slowly but steadily. Looking back now those weren’t the best times. But they shaped us and forced us to become better leaders and a stronger academy.

What KEI Kung Fu Is Today

Today KEI Kung Fu is more than just a martial arts school. It’s a place where kids build confidence amongst many other lifeskills. It’s a place where adults reconnect with their strength and where they train hard, struggle, laugh, and grow together. Seeing what this academy has become makes us incredibly proud. But more than that it makes us grateful to see that we’ve built space where so many students consider their second home.

Thank You

If you’ve been with us since the beginning then you know how much this means. There’s no way for us to thank you enough for your trust! If you’ve only joined us recently then we hope that you’re enjoying experience so far. We hope KEI Kung Fu becomes your place, and a home for growth in both mind and body.

Thank you for walking this path with us and thank you for believing in us! Here’s to six years of KEI Kung Fu and many more to come!