Ascend
Growth is practiced one honest step at a time.
Team Ascension
Meet the Instructors
Skills matter. So do the courage, discipline, imagination, and belonging a person carries out the door.
Our point of view
The person comes before the program.
Team Ascension began with martial arts and grew into something larger: a place where movement, education, creativity, and care work together.
We teach traditional and modern martial arts, gymnastics, music, art, fitness, and after-school programming because people do not grow in only one dimension.
Our standard is serious instruction without losing joy, warmth, or the knowledge that every student deserves a real place on the team.
Excellence
Teach the details. Celebrate earned capability.
Belonging
Every person deserves to be known and coached.
Responsibility
Strength exists to protect, serve, and build.
Ascension Character Practices
Character is practiced—not labeled.
Character development is personal, so we never reduce a child to a label or score. Instead, instructors look for specific, age-appropriate moments of growth—trying again after a setback, applying feedback, regaining composure, contributing to the group, or supporting another student. We recognize those moments and help each student practice the next attainable step.
During each 90-day cycle, a student may focus on one character practice that is especially relevant to their goals. When appropriate, the progress report includes a respectful, concrete instructor observation describing what the student demonstrated, the setting in which it occurred, and an encouraging next step for continued growth.
Perseverance
Tries again after difficulty.
Leadership
Contributes to the group.
Composure
Uses an appropriate recovery strategy.
Coachability
Applies feedback on the next attempt.
Compassion
Supports another participant appropriately.
Led locally
Barbara Haney
& Team Ascension
A family-built, community-facing team bringing championship martial arts instruction and whole-person programming to the Brainerd Lakes area.
Championship roots
Train hard. Train well. Love what you do.
Team Ascension instructors bring competitive experience across martial arts disciplines—and the conviction that high standards and human care belong in the same room.
Our instructors
Meet your team.
Brent Haney
Martial Arts • Striking & Self-Defense • Curriculum
Brent teaches martial arts with a focus on capable technique, striking, self-defense, conditioning, and curriculum development. His coaching connects practical skill with disciplined practice and clear next steps.
Lizzie Haney
Gymnastics • Brainerd & Pequot Lakes
Lizzie leads gymnastics instruction in Brainerd and Pequot Lakes. She helps athletes build strength, flexibility, balance, tumbling, and body control through understandable progressions and steady encouragement.
Tosher Haney
Martial Arts • Gymnastics Support
Tosher supports Team Ascension’s martial arts and gymnastics instruction. The work centers on helping students participate safely, build confidence, and make meaningful progress from their own starting point.
Photo coming soon
Ethan Haney
Program Support • Team Operations
Ethan supports the family-built Team Ascension program and helps with the work required to keep classes, events, and community activities moving forward.
Photo coming soon
Justin White
Jiu-Jitsu Instructor
Mr. White leads Tuesday and Thursday Jiu-Jitsu instruction and supervised open roll. Students practice leverage, positioning, transitions, escapes, control, and calm problem-solving with training partners.
Gemma Peterson
Art • Creative Programming
Gemma supports Team Ascension’s art and creative programming, helping students develop ideas, use materials purposefully, revise their work, and gain confidence in their own creative choices.
Photo coming soon
Kendall Haney
Reading • Academic Support
Kendall supports reading and academic development. Her work helps connect learning goals with encouragement, useful practice, and a clearer path through challenging material.
Photo coming soon
Saxon Haney
Mathematics • Academic & Operational Support
Saxon contributes mathematics support and behind-the-scenes operational work. He helps Team Ascension connect strong instruction with the planning and systems needed to serve multiple programs and locations.
Our nonprofit
Black Belts Don’t Quit
Black Belts Don’t Quit is our nonprofit, working to make fine arts and foundational athletic skills available to people of every age and demographic.
Mike Olson
Supports Black Belts Don’t Quit in its work to expand access to fine arts, foundational athletic skills, scholarships, mentoring, and meaningful opportunities to participate.
Photo coming soon
Kendall Haney
Supports Black Belts Don’t Quit in its work to expand access to fine arts, foundational athletic skills, scholarships, mentoring, and meaningful opportunities to participate.
Gemma Peterson
Supports Black Belts Don’t Quit in its work to expand access to fine arts, foundational athletic skills, scholarships, mentoring, and meaningful opportunities to participate.
Photo coming soon
Janet Merzenich
Supports Black Belts Don’t Quit in its work to expand access to fine arts, foundational athletic skills, scholarships, mentoring, and meaningful opportunities to participate.
Your first step is the hardest one.
Tell us what you want to build. We’ll help you choose the right place to begin.