Round 01 · The fighter behind the lens
Hey, I'm Sai Abril.
I'm the photographer behind Strikeframes, based in Phoenix, AZ, and a purple belt in Brazilian jiu-jitsu. I shoot fight camps, fight nights, gyms and brands, from the gym floor to the media day backdrop.
I started photography because I’ve always had a passion for capturing moments and telling stories through a different perspective. What started as a creative outlet quickly became something much bigger, allowing me to connect with people, document their journeys, and capture moments that might otherwise be forgotten. Photography gives me the opportunity to turn my creativity into something meaningful and leave a lasting impact through my work.
Round 02 · The Mat
I don't shoot from the outside.
Purple belt · Brazilian jiu-jitsu
Before I picked up a camera, I was on the mat, and I still am. I know when a scramble is about to break open, when to get low, and when to stay out of the way. Gyms get content that looks like their room really feels, and brands get gear shot by someone who wears it.
Position before the shot
Same as jiu-jitsu: get to the right angle first and the moment comes to you.
Read the exchange
Years of training let me see the shot before it lands, not after.
Earn the room
Gyms let me in close because I move like a training partner, not press.
Round 03 · Camp to cage
A fight isn't one night.
It's eight weeks of early mornings, hard rounds and weight cuts. I document the whole run, from three weeks out to fight day, so fighters and their teams have a story to tell, not just a highlight.
See the gallery
