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Our Instructors

Jason Sodenkamp - Head Instructor

Jason has trained exclusively under Rorion, Ryron and Rener Gracie since 2003. He holds a Brown belt. Jason had early success in tournaments but then decided to turn his focus toward the “street” aspect of Gracie Jiu-Jitsu. He interned for several years as an 

assistant Instructor at the Gracie Academy Headquarters in Torrance during which time he participated in the first and several subsequent Instructor Certification Programs beginning in 2008 and became officially Certified in July of 2012. Jason became the Head Instructor at the Certified Training Center in Hollywood in April of 2012. In addition to this achievement, Jason also currently teaches at the Gracie Jiu-Jitsu Academy in Beverly Hills with his instructor, Ryron Gracie.  Jason is committed to upholding the values and standards to which Grand Master Helio Gracie dedicated his life.

Chris  is one of a famous group of Jiu-Jitsu Black Belts known as “The Dirty Dozen”: the first 12 Americans promoted to Black Belt by a Gracie family member. He was the first American to receive his Black Belt by the legendary Rickson Gracie. Chris's Jiu-jitsu resume is too extensive to list here, so here is a brief timeline of his career:

 

Chris began taking privates in 1984 with Master Rorion Gracie in the original “Gracie garage”, as well as privates with Royce Gracie. He received his Blue Belt from Rorion.

 

In 1986, Chris traveled to Brazil for 6 months of groups and privates with Rickson Gracie. Upon his return, he was promoted to Purple Belt by Rorion via Hand written note from Grand Master Helio Gracie. Then in 1988, another 3 months in Brazil with 3 privates a week with Royler Gracie.

Chris Saunders - Instructor

Chris Saunders with Rickson Gracie

In 1993 Chris was promoted to Brown belt and in 1998, after several tournament wins in both the U.S. and Canada, he received his Black Belt from Rickson. As a Brown and Black Belt, Chris taught seminars all over the US and Canada and has continued to teach group and private classes in the US since 1995. 

 

In 2012 Chris returned to his roots and began training again at the Gracie Jiu-Jitsu Academy in Torrance. Seeing the street value and the teaching methodologies that have become “Combatives” while he was away, he decided (as a Black Belt) to go through the beginner program, and 8 months later tested for Combatives Blue Belt with Ryron Gracie.

 

In August of 2013, Chris graduated the Gracie Jiu-Jitsu Academy’s Instructor Certification Program. In 2014 Chris recieved promotions from both Rorion and Rickson Gracie, bringing him to his current rank of 4th degree Black Belt. He currently teaches group and private classes at both the Gracie Jiu-Jitsu Academy Beverly Hills, and Hollywood locations.

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