ABOUT ASCEND
A professional Brazilian Jiu Jitsu academy in Ashford, Kent — built for long-term development, not short-term attention.
Why Ascend Exists
Ascend was created to do one thing well: provide a clear, structured, and trustworthy path into Brazilian Jiu Jitsu.
We believe jiu jitsu should be taught properly. That progress should be sustainable. That people should feel safe, supported, and respected — from their first day to their thousandth.
Many gyms sell intensity, toughness, or personality. Ascend is built on structure, education, and trust.
The Ascend Way
What "built for the long term" actually means
This is not a tagline. It is how Ascend operates.
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Training systems designed for longevity, not burnout
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A culture that rewards patience and repetition
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Leadership that prioritises trust over attention
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Facilities, coaching, and standards that improve continuously
Members should feel more confident after six months, more capable after a year, and more connected after several years.
Ascend is a place people grow into, not cycle through.
The Coaching Team
Ascend is led by a team of experienced instructors who work from a shared curriculum and teaching philosophy. Every coach upholds the same standards, so the quality of your training never depends on which class you attend.
What unites the team:
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A commitment to clear, purposeful instruction
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The ability to teach beginners and advanced students with equal care
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Calm authority — leading through consistency, not volume
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A shared belief that coaching is about guiding, not dominating
Sam Hall
Head Coach | First Degree Black Belt | 16 Years in BJJ
Sam has been training Brazilian Jiu Jitsu for sixteen years and teaching for ten. A first degree black belt and qualified personal trainer, he brings a deep understanding of both the sport and the body to every session.
His coaching philosophy is built on understanding. Sam teaches students why something works, not just how to do it. Progress isn't about perfection. It's about small improvements stacking up week after week, with safety as the foundation everything else builds from.
For beginners, Sam is a calm and reassuring presence. A friendly face, equal respect for everyone, and the time to give people the information and confidence they need before stepping on the mats. No pressure. No expectations. Just support.
For advanced students, the approach shifts. Sam's willingness to let his students test themselves against him, to work through problems in real time, is how he helps experienced grapplers sharpen their game. The learning goes both ways, and he values that.
What Sam emphasises most in his coaching: community, progress over perfection, and the belief that jiu jitsu is for everyone.
His proudest moment? Receiving his black belt. His favourite thing to teach? Half guard.
Away from the mats, Sam spends time with his family, walks Scamp the spaniel, reads, and lifts heavy things before putting them back down.
"We built the academy out of love for the sport. We care about it and we care about doing this the right way."
Ian Hall
Head Coach & Founder | Second Degree Black Belt | 16 Years in BJJ
Ian has been training in Brazilian Jiu Jitsu for over sixteen years and teaching for ten. A second-degree black belt under Ross Nicholls, he built Ascend on a simple conviction: that jiu-jitsu, taught well, changes lives.
His coaching philosophy centres on clarity and problem-solving. Rather than drowning students in technique, Ian helps each person identify what isn't working and find the moves that solve it for them. Early in his teaching career, the focus was on granular detail. Now it's understanding. Not everyone learns the same way, and Ian coaches accordingly.
For beginners, the message is straightforward: zero expectations. The academy is calm, the training is structured, and there is no rush. Ian remembers being new himself, the awkwardness, the uncertainty, and has built an environment where those feelings are normalised, not judged.
For advanced students and competitors, the relationship is collaborative. Ian offers his perspective, respects a differing opinion, and recognises that jiu jitsu grows and changes every day. He works to grow and adapt with it.
Away from the mats, Ian is learning photography, videography, marketing, and what he describes as "white belt level chess."
His favourite thing to teach? A beginner's first lesson. Watching someone walk in with zero experience and leave using legitimate jiu jitsu concepts in under an hour.
"If you know us and are interested in starting but have reservations, just come and have a chat any time. We'd love to have you come along for a try."
Nick Daynes
Senior Coach | Black Belt | 18 Years in BJJ
Bio coming soon
Matt Whitt
Coach | Brown Belt | 8 Years in BJJ
Bio coming soon
Tim Rowan
Coach | Brown Belt | 8 Years in BJJ
Bio coming soon
Arash Kallaghi
Coach | British Champion (Gi) | 10+ Years in BJJ
Arash brings over a decade of jiu jitsu experience to Ascend, with a competition record that speaks for itself: British Champion in the Gi, well over 100 matches, and a finish rate above 90%. He is also a certified ADCC Class C referee with experience officiating under IBJJF and AJP rules.
His coaching is built around one idea: teach people to solve problems, not just memorise solutions. Arash develops intentional, goal-based problem-solving ability in his students. The kind of understanding that carries over across positions, rule sets, and experience levels.
For beginners, Arash takes a gradual approach. Nothing is compulsory. New students are introduced to unfamiliar territory the way you'd test water. Slowly, with support, and at their own pace.
For advanced students, Arash draws on a deep well of technical knowledge. He stays current with new developments in the sport and brings that understanding to every session. His competition experience means he coaches with the kind of detail that matters when it counts.
His favourite technique to teach? The rear naked choke.
What he values most about Ascend: the space itself. From the welcoming community and high-quality training partners to the design of the academy.
"Give a man a fish, feed him for a day. Teach a man to fish…"
Ellie Osbourne
Women's Coach | 7 Years in BJJ | 20 Years in Kickboxing
Ellie's martial arts journey spans over two decades. She trained kickboxing for twenty years and karate for twelve, winning national championships in both, before finding Brazilian Jiu Jitsu seven years ago. A gold medallist at the English Open as a white belt, with not a single point scored against her across all matches, Ellie is now preparing to return to competition.
Her path into coaching came through experience. As a woman training in male-dominated spaces for most of her martial arts career, Ellie understands what it means to be the only woman on the mats. That experience shaped her belief that women's classes aren't just helpful. They're important. They give women a chance to be introduced to the sport in a supportive environment, develop techniques that work specifically for them, and build the confidence to train however and wherever they choose.
Ellie's coaching is practical and collaborative. She works with students to solve problems as they come up, focusing on building confidence alongside technique. Community is central. Joining the women's class means joining a team. Beginners are supported not just by Ellie but by every experienced woman in the room.
For competitors, Ellie is all in. Preparation rounds, troubleshooting, cornering on the day. If you have matches, she's there.
Outside jiu jitsu, Ellie trains strength and runs, sometimes taking on marathon-distance challenges to raise money for charity. Both feed directly back into her BJJ.
Her favourite thing on the mats? Pressure and the top game. But what she most loves to coach is something simpler: the belief that you can do it.
"I came to Ascend initially just to get a bit of extra mat time. But I quickly realised this was really my kind of place. Top-notch coaching, attention to detail, friendly, respectful, and free of ego."
Steve Passfield
Supporting Coach | Blue Belt | 2 Years
Bio coming soon
