Our Coaches
JAMES BURNS, ASCEND Marlborough
James has been training ninja since 2018 and coaching since 2019. Starting off training at home after being a long time fan of ANW he fell in love with the process and has continued to learn everything he can about ninja. James competed on American Ninja Warrior seasons 14 and 16 and was a course tester for season 17. He always aims to make the most of every minute in the gym and wants to help others do the same
Before ninja he was always looking for outlets for creativity and with ninja he has found a real passion for obstacle design and course rigging. James is looking forward to building a strong community in Marlborough and is excited for what the future holds.
MATT D'AMICO, ASCEND Kingston
Matt has had an unwavering love for the sport of ninja since he was 14 years old, and he aims to foster this love in the new generation. He has been training and coaching for almost 10 years and his hard work has been showcased on seasons 14 and 15 of American Ninja Warrior. In both seasons, he made it to the Las Vegas finals, and even reached the last obstacle on Stage 3 of his rookie year. His time is not just spent doing ninja, he also has an extensive background in parkour and is a member of the Boston Celtics dunk team. Matt is excited and ready for the next chapter of his life which includes providing young athletes with a training space and pushing them to reach their full abilities. And remember, every course is a speed course!
JONATHAN GODBOUT, ASCEND Kingston & Marlborough
Jonathan Godbout has been coaching ninja for seven years. He is a three-time American Ninja Warrior national finalist who also competed on ANW Junior at the ages of 13 and 14. Jonathan holds a BA in Physical Education from Bridgewater State University and is an American Council on Exercise Certified Personal Trainer and Group Fitness Instructor. He uses his education and experience to help both kids and adults get stronger.
GAVIN OBEY, ASCEND Marlborough
In 2017, Gavin Obey walked into his first ninja gym and was hooked. After training for a year he began to compete competitively in a few different ninja leagues. Gavin qualified for the World Ninja League finals and placed in the top 10 six times. One thing led to another and in 2024, he competed on season 16 of American Ninja Warrior making it all the way to the finals in Vegas. Gavin enjoys competing but has found his true passion in coaching and teaching aspiring ninjas. Gavin enjoys working with students just getting into the sports, as well as coaching students to the world championships.In 2017, Gavin Obey walked into his first ninja gym and was hooked. After training for a year he began to compete competitively in a few different ninja leagues. Gavin qualified for the World Ninja League finals and placed in the top 10 six times. One thing led to another and in 2024, he competed on season 16 of American Ninja Warrior making it all the way to the finals in Vegas. Gavin enjoys competing but has found his true passion in coaching and teaching aspiring ninjas. Gavin enjoys working with students just getting into the sports, as well as coaching students to the world championships.
LUCAS REALE, ASCEND Kingston
Lucas has been training and coaching ninja for almost 10 years. Starting out as a Ninja Warrior superfan, he was quickly drawn to the sport when he discovered it and has been training weekly ever since. Lucas competed on seasons 10-14 of American Ninja Warrior, making it as far as Stage 3 in Las Vegas in his best season! Now Lucas has shifted his focus towards training the next generation of ninjas. Seeing people find their love for ninja and providing a space for them to train has always been a huge goal for Lucas and he is thrilled to be able to share his passion with others!