Ultimate Ninjas
Ultimate Ninjas Academy Deerfield
meet the team
Meet The Owner
Jen Brody
Founder & Owner, Ultimate Ninjas Academy Deerfield
Jen Brody is the heart behind Ultimate Ninjas Academy Deerfield — a place where kids build strength, confidence, and resilience through movement and play.
With a master’s in early childhood education and over a decade as a first-grade teacher, Jen combines her love of learning and fitness to create an environment where every child can thrive.
Her career includes top fitness clubs like Equinox, Midtown Athletic Club, and Lake Forest Recreation Center, where she’s helped people of all ages discover their strength.
Inspired by her own daughters’ love for ninja training, Jen opened the Deerfield franchise location to share that same joy and empowerment with other families. She leads with positivity, safety, and a mission to help kids believe they can achieve anything!
When she’s not in the gym, Jen enjoys gardening, workouts, and family game nights with her husband Trevor, their daughters, and their energetic pup, Teddi.
Jen’s motto: “Building strength, inside and out.”
Sarah Maza
Coach
Sarah Mazza’s journey spans fashion management, healthcare, and more than a decade in fitness instruction, including years teaching at Shred415 in Deerfield and Midtown Athletic Club in Bannockburn. Known for her incredible energy and positivity, she motivates everyone around her and brings a vibrant spirit to the Ultimate Ninjas Academy Deerfield community.
A proud mom to Dominic (14) and Francesca (12), Sarah can often be found cheering them on at volleyball and baseball games. Outside of the gym, she enjoys spending time outdoors with her Chocolate Lab, Enzo, relaxing at the lake with family, and working out with friends.
Sarah is passionate about coaching at Ultimate Ninjas, where she finds joy in helping kids build confidence, learn new skills, and discover their own strength.
Jason gross
Coach
Jason brings a unique blend of athletic intensity, creative problem-solving, and a deep-seated passion for youth mentorship to Ultimate Ninjas. With a background coaching high school lacrosse in Barrington and Bryn Mawr, and years spent sparking curiosity as a docent at the Lincoln Park Zoo, Jason knows how to connect with young learners and turn any challenge into an opportunity for growth.
At Midtown Athletic Clubs, Jason leads high-energy boxing classes where he teaches that resilience is built one punch at a time. He brings that same "find a way" mentality to the Ninja course, helping kids navigate obstacles not just with strength, but with the confidence and self-belief to try again when they fall.
Beyond the gym, Jason is a true "creative athlete." Whether he’s lifting weights, creating art, or navigating complex worlds in a long Dungeons & Dragons campaign, he lives by the idea that discipline and imagination go hand-in-hand.
A devoted husband to Sandy and a proud father to Harley (12) and Phoenix (14), Jason’s favorite part of coaching at Ultimate Ninjas is watching kids discover strengths they didn’t know they had. He doesn't just coach athletes; he helps build "ultimate" confidence that lasts long after they leave the gym.
Alex S.
Gabby W.
Lyla M.
Melissa T.
