Instructors


Brett Bannon
BJJ 1st Degree Black Belt, started in 2005
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Brett is a Master Trainer and the owner and founder of South Bay Fitness Focus
(the gym where Elev8tion BJJ is located).
He is our head BJJ instructor.
Brett is a graduate of San Diego State University, majoring in Finance. He was born and raised in Torrance, California and went to South High.
He started training jiu jitsu in 2005 in San Diego, California. Brett has trained at different academies in San Diego and Los Angeles over his numerous years in the sport, and still trains regularly at Tsunami BJJ in Torrance, CA.
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Brett received his Black Belt in BJJ from Professor's John Ouano and Perry Hauck in 2019. He has competed in numerous tournaments at all belt levels, winning gold, silver, and bronze medals in his division.
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He enjoys teaching others the fundamentals and techniques of Brazilian Jiu Jitsu. His instructors instilled a sense of living life through ideals learned in martial arts, and Brett has continued that passion among his students.
"A black belt is a white
belt that never gave up"
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Sydni Tanaka
BJJ Purple Belt, started in 2013
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Sydni is a Personal Trainer and one of the
head BJJ instructors at Elev8tion BJJ.
Sydni was born and raised in Lakewood, California and currently finishing her BA in Exercise Science and AS in Psychology.
She got introduced to martial arts in 2011, and 2 years later started training in Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu. She received her Purple Belt in 2022 from Professor's Chris Wolford and Andre Lima.
In addition to jiu-jitsu, Sydni has numerous years training in various martial arts, including: boxing, muay thai, wrestling, and MMA.
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Having started training at such a young age, in an academy that was predominantly adult students, Sydni has a unique and extensive insight and understanding to the positive impacts of martial arts on youth as well as how to teach adults from beginner to advanced levels.
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