Taekwondo academy · Families and competitors

Kick higher. Stand taller.

Olympic-style taekwondo for families and competitors — from four-year-olds finding their balance to athletes chasing a national podium. Your first two classes are free.

Try two free classesSee the schedule

A taekwondo athlete holding a high side kick in an avenue of trees — Spring training camp — the team runs the park loop before every Saturday session.

Olympic-style taekwondoTwo free classesAges 4 to adultPoomsae teamSparring team31 national medalsNo contractsEst. 2009

Programs

Six programs. One standard.

A wide taekwondo class lined up on a blue mat, kicking in unison — 01Ages 7–12 · 45 min · Mon · Wed · FriJuniors

A young girl in a taekwondo dobok sitting on the mat, waiting for her turn — 02Ages 4–6 · 30 min · Tue · ThuLittle Kickers

Two athletes in chest protectors sparring in a gym — 03By selection · Mon · Wed · SatSparring team

An athlete holding a standing split beside a heavy bag — 0418+ · 60 min · Tue · Thu · SatAdults

Two teenage girls in headgear sparring in class — 05Ages 13–17 · 60 min · Mon · Wed · FriTeens

The silhouette of a martial artist mid-kick on a beach at dusk — 06By selection · Tue · ThuPoomsae team

Not sure where to start?

Come to two classes, meet the coaches and let us place you. Nobody has ever been put in the wrong room twice.

The belt path

Six belts, earned one kick at a time.

1

White

Where everyone starts. Stance, the first kicks, and how to tie the belt.

2

Yellow

Taegeuk 1 and 2. Front kick, roundhouse, the first partner drills. About four months in.

3

Green

Combinations and counter-kicks. Students begin light sparring in full protection.

4

Blue

Speed and height. Spinning kicks appear, and team selection opens at blue.

5

Red

Power under control. Red belts help teach Little Kickers and lead the warm-ups.

6

Black

First dan. The average student reaches it in three and a half to four years.

Weekly schedule

Every class, every week.

Juniors17:00

Mon · Wed · Fri · ages 7–12, all belts

Teens18:00

Mon · Wed · Fri · ages 13–17

Sparring team19:15

Mon · Wed · by selection, electronic hogu

Little Kickers16:15

Tue · Thu · ages 4–6, thirty minutes

Poomsae team18:00

Tue · Thu · by selection

Adults19:00

Tue · Thu · 18+, beginners welcome

Adults sparring20:00

Tue · Thu · green belt and up

Open mat18:00

Fri · all programs, coached drills

Family class09:00

Sat · train with your child, all ages

Adults10:00

Sat · technique and conditioning

Sparring team11:15

Sat · competition preparation

Black belt class12:30

Sat · dan grades and candidates

Arrive ten minutes early for your first class. Wear clothes you can kick in; we lend a dobok for your trial, and yours is included when you join.

Coaches

Coached by people who have stood on the podium.

Master Daniel Park

Head coach · 6th dan · Former national team

Fought at −68 kg for the national team for six years and coached the state junior squad for ten. Built Ascend in 2009 around a simple rule: the best athletes in the room are also the kindest.

Coach Elena Vasquez

Sparring team · 4th dan · 2× national champion

Two-time national champion at −57 kg and a Pan American medallist. Runs the sparring team with a stopwatch and a video camera, and still gets in the ring with her athletes every Saturday.

Coach Marcus Oyelaran

Poomsae team · 5th dan · International referee

A poomsae specialist who judges at national championships and coaches the way he judges: frame by frame. Teaches the Tuesday Adults class and swears it is the best hour of his week.

The record

Numbers we keep score of.

31

national medals since 2016

Poomsae and sparring

6

athletes on national team rosters

Junior and senior

240

students training every week

Ages four to sixty-two

12

black belts promoted last year

First to fourth dan

4.9

from 318 Google reviews

Our daughter started at five, shy and quiet. She is nine now, a blue belt, and she corrects my posture.

Rachel M.Juniors parent

I came for fitness at thirty-eight and ended up fighting at state. The coaches never once made me feel like the old guy in the room.

Tom K.Adults, red belt

Coach Vasquez changed how my son competes — calmer, smarter, and he actually enjoys it now. Two medals at nationals.

Dana & Luis P.Sparring team parents

Tuition

Three plans. No contracts.

Starter

$129per month

Two classes a week
Dobok and first belt included
Belt testing every three months
Pause or cancel any month

Little Kickers, Juniors, Teens or Adults.

Start with two free classes

Questions families ask

How young can my child start?

Little Kickers takes children from four. At that age the goal is balance, listening and joy — the kicks come on their own. Most children move up to Juniors around their seventh birthday.

Is sparring safe?

Sparring is optional, padded and refereed. Children spar in full head and body protection, with electronic scoring where possible, and only against partners of similar size and level. Nobody spars until their coach says they are ready.

Do we have to compete?

No. Most of our students never enter a tournament and progress through the belts exactly the same way. The teams are there for the students who want them.

What should we wear to the free classes?

Comfortable clothes you can kick in, and bare feet. We lend a dobok for the trial, and yours is included when you join.

How long does it take to earn a black belt?

Training twice a week, three and a half to four years. We test every three months, and we would rather a student test a little late than a little early.

Are there contracts?

None. Tuition is month to month; pause for a season or cancel with two weeks’ notice. The only thing we ask is that you tell us why, so we can do better.

Two free classes

Come kick with us.

Tell us who is coming and we will match you with the right class. Two free classes, a loaner dobok, and no pressure to sign anything.