AARON HENSLEY + RISE NATION
Build Leaders. Build Systems. Build Legacy.
RISE Nation is the ecosystem Aaron Hensley built to help coaches, martial arts school owners, faith-driven leaders, fitness leaders, and service-based entrepreneurs turn expertise into scalable businesses that develop leaders, serve communities, and create lasting impact.
Leadership Architect | Founder of RISE Nation | Built 24 locations across 6 states | Multimillion-dollar exit
Built from 30+ years of leadership, business building, and real-world operational experience.
Rise Nation Regional Summit — East Coast
iron sharpens iron.
Three days. One mission. Sharper leaders.
You don't get sharper sitting still. You get sharper around people who push you. That's what this is built for. Three days with the school owners, instructors, athletes, and leaders who refuse to coast.
July 24–26, 2026
Greater Boston Area, MA
Leadership · Training · Business Growth
This Is Your Room.
The room
that lifts
the ceiling.
The RISE Nation Regional Summit is for the people who train, teach, lead, and build. Owners. Instructors. Athletes. Coaches. Pastors. Operators. If you've ever felt like the ceiling above you is your own — this is the room that lifts it.
We built this around three pillars. Mind, Body, Spirit. Ready, Set, RISE.
Mind / Ready
Leadership & Business Growth
Leadership development, coaching systems, and business growth. The thinking that builds the operator.
BODY/ SET
Training & Performance
Martial arts training, athletic performance, and physical development. The work that builds the warrior.
SPIRIT/ RISE
Faith, Purpose & Legacy
Faith, purpose, and personal leadership. The fire that builds the legacy.
WHO THIS IS FOR
Martial arts school owners and operators
Instructors and program directors
Athletes and competitors (kids, teens, adults)
Coaches building service-based businesses
Faith-driven leaders ready for their next level
THE EVENT AT A GLANCE
FRI - JUL 24
Leadership & Instructor Development
sat - JUL 25
Main Summit Experience
sun - JUL 26
Faith, Youth & Advanced Development
full schedule
three days.
every iron.
FRIDAY JUL 24
SATURDAY JUL 25
SUNDAY JUL 26
12:00 – 1:00 PM
Check-In & Registration
Packet pickup, early networking
1:10 – 2:00 PM
Opening Ceremony
Demo Team Performance with Nick Poehls (M.A.R.S. Systems) and Team RISE. Opening remarks from Aaron Hensley.
2:00 – 4:00 PM
RISE4MORE Teacher · Trainer · Coach Lab
Develop elite instructors, build student leadership, master class structure
Aaron Hensley
4:00 – 5:30 PM
Breakout Round 1
PICK ONE
Main Mat: CoachXpert Platform Builder — Aaron Hensley
Fitness Floor: Women Who Lead the Mat — Laikyn Smith + Marie Hensley
5:00 PM
VIP Off-Site Experience
Inner Circle + In The Cloud Only
Venue announced soon
6:00 – 8:00 PM
Breakout Round 2
PICK ONE
Main Mat: Weapons Curriculum & Structure Systems — Nick Poehls
Fitness Floor: Sales & Enrollment Leadership — Landynn Link + Cam Smith
8:00 – 9:00 PM
RISE Nation Networking Social
Community, conversation, connection
9:00 – 11:30 AM
RISE & GRIND — Coffee & Combatives
Practical defensive training, Krav-based systems
Kru John Johnston
11:30 – 1:00 PM
KEYNOTE: Stay In The Fight — The 4 Fights Everyone Will Face
MAIN STAGE
Pastor James Braxton Powell
1:00 – 2:00 PM
Lunch & Networking
Included with Saturday and 3-Day tickets
Iron Sharpens Iron Labs — 2:00–6:00 PM · Four Tracks Running Simultaneously
2:00 – 6:00 PM
RISE4MORE Teacher · Trainer · Coach Lab
Develop elite instructors, build student leadership, master class structure
Fitness Floor: Community Fitness Experience — HIIT, Cardio Kickboxing, Yoga/Recovery, DJ
FitXP / Cam Smith
2:00 – 5:00 PM
Fitness Floor/ Lot: Fitness Floor / Lot: Vendor Village — Local brands & partners
2:00-4:00 PM
Lobby: M.A.R.S. Performance Team Blueprint
Nick Poehls
2:00-6:00 PM
Main Mat: Ironclad Readiness Systems Introduction
Kru John Johnston
evening
RISE Nation Leadership Social
Location announced onsite
9:00 am – 12:00 PM
Worship Service & Fellowship
OFF-SITE
Breakfast fellowship follows
Pastor James Braxton Powell
1:00 – 3:00 PM
Breakout
PICK ONE
Main Mat: RISE4MORE Instructor Development Lab — Aaron Hensley
Fitness Floor: FitXP Youth Performance Camp + IronClad Fitness Games — Cam Smith
3:00 – 5:00 PM
Breakout
PICK ONE
Main Mat: Iron Defense Advanced Training — Kru John Johnston
Fitness Floor: Performance Team Training Lab — From Students to Show — Nick Poehls
5:00 – 6:00 PM
CLOSING SESSION — Iron Sharpens Iron
Aaron Hensley
6:00 – 8:00 PM
Post-Event Certifications
Approval-Gated · Additional Fee
IRS Level 1 Instructor — Kru John Johnston
M.A.R.S. Performance Team Instructor — Nick Poehls
Session Leaders
The people
in
your corner.
Aaron Hensley
Event Director · Founder, RISE Nation
➧ Friday TTC Lab
➧ CoachXpert Platform Builder
➧ Sunday Instructor Development Lab
➧ Opening + Closing Sessions
Pastor James Braxton Powell
Keynote Speaker
➧ Saturday Keynote: Stay In The Fight
➧ Better Legacy Intensive
➧ Sunday Worship Service
e
Kru John Johnston
Ironclad Martial Arts
➧ Coffee & Combatives
➧ Ironclad Readiness Systems
➧ Iron Defense Advanced
➧ IRS Level 1 Certification
Nick Poehls
M.A.R.S. Systems
➧ Demo Team Performance
➧ Weapons Curriculum & Structure
➧ Performance Team Blueprint
➧ M.A.R.S. Certification
Cam Smith
Experience Architect · FitXP Events
➧ Event MC
➧ Sales & Enrollment Leadership
➧ Saturday Community Fitness
➧ Sunday FitXP Youth Camp
Supporting Faculty
Women Who Lead the Mat & More
➧ Laikyn Smith — Women Who Lead the Mat
➧ Marie Hensley — Women Who Lead the Mat
➧ Landynn Link — Sales & Enrollment Leadership
THE EVENT AT A GLANCE
FRI - JUL 24
Leadership & Instructor Development
sat - JUL 25
Main Summit Experience
sun - JUL 26
Faith, Youth & Advanced Development
Saturday Keynote · Main Stage
STAY IN THE FIGHT.
The 4 Fights Everyone Will Face.
Pastor James Braxton Powell · Saturday, July 25 · 11:30 AM – 1:00 PM
Every leader fights four battles. Most people only know about one of them. This keynote walks you through all four — and gives you the playbook to finish well.
1
The Fight in Your Mind
The battle for belief and mental discipline
2
The Fight in Your Body
The battle for energy, health, and sustainability
3
The Fight in Your Soul
The battle for purpose, alignment, and meaning
4
The Fight for Your Strength
The battle for endurance and leadership capacity
If you've been carrying weight you weren't built to carry alone — this session is for you.
Saturday Deep-Dive · Lobby
LEGACY BY
DESIGN.
Win at Work. Win at Home. Win at Life.
Pastor James Braxton Powell · Saturday, July 25 · 4:00 – 6:00 PM · Lobby
You can win the score and still lose the game. This intensive is for the leaders who refuse to trade their family for their finish line.
01
The Success Paradox
Why achievement alone never feels like enough
02
Identity Upgrade
Becoming the person your next level requires
03
Relational Wealth
Building success that strengthens your home
04
Legacy Architecture
Designing influence that outlives you
In Collaboration With
Hosted by
Ironclad.
Hosted by Ironclad Martial Arts, in partnership with the operators who built this movement. Media captured by Mint Media.
Ironclad Martial Arts
RISE4MORE
CoachXpert
Better Legacy
Ultimate Weapons
Ultimate Athlete
FitXP Events
Build Live Events
M.A.R.S.
Ironclad Readiness
Evolve Beyond
Mint Media
Venue & Logistics
The house
that's hosting.
Location
Ironclad Martial Arts
335 Main St
Wilmington, MA 01887
Greater Boston Area
Parking
Coming soon. Lot details and overflow parking will be confirmed and posted here, plus emailed to every registered attendee a week before the event.
Lodging
Group rate hotel and booking code coming soon. We'll email it directly to registered attendees so you can lock in the discount.
What to Bring
➤ Training uniform or athletic wear
➤ Water bottle
➤ Notebook or journal
➤ Willingness to participate
Several sessions are hands-on. Come ready to move.
JUL
24–26
Greater Boston · 2026
Greater Boston · July 24–26, 2026
This is your room.
Take your seat.
#IronSharpensIron · #RiseNationSummit · Captured by Mint Media
