Instructors
Nancy Rothenberg has a never-ending passion for instilling confidence in everyone she teaches. She loves people, young and old and believes in everyone’s ability to overcome hardship and reach their fullest potential and greatest happiness.
Nancy starting training in the martial arts in 1985 and founded Spirit of the Heart in 1993. She is the owner, director of operations and is still actively teaching classes each week!
She has taught for the National Women’s Martial Arts Federation (NWMAF) and the Pacific Association of Women Martial Artists Training (PAWMA) Camps since 1991. Nancy has taught at Hampshire College, Holyoke Community College and Smith College.
She has a special passion for teaching self defense to women and girls. She created the STRONG® Program that integrates physical and mental self defense strategies, assertiveness training and personal empowerment skills.
Mostly, Nancy take great pleasure in working with children. Her blend of focused attention and light-heartedness is truly special.
Morgan Kent has trained in the art of Indonesian Kung Fu since he was 11 years old. He first started training in this style because of the spectacle found in martial arts movies, but soon found that a life in the martial arts could be so much more than fancy stunts and flashy kicks. He has come to the conclusion that this art belongs at the center of his life, and its benefits should be spread to as many people as possible.
Morgan holds the rank of 4th degree black belt and is the head instructor at Spirit of the Heart. He is a true student of the art, finding meaning and purpose in every technique.
He has a special talent in teaching children and young adults who are atypical and need extra attention and patience. His ability to connect with people of all ages and abilities, with a great sense of humor, helps keep everyone in an open frame of mind to learn.
Morgan continues to expand his skillset as a practitioner and a leader in his role as Facilitator of Western Mass Open Sparring, where people studying different martial arts come together to safely learn from each other while they spar. In 2023 he was the recipient of the Martial Arts Pioneer Award for facilitating this event.
