About Brett Sanchez-Smith

Hi, I’m Brett

I’m a San Juan Capistrano personal trainer with over 15 years of passion for fitness and more than a decade of competitive bodybuilding experience. If you had told me back then that I’d one day be running my own full-time business in personal training, bodybuilding coaching, and sports massage therapy, I wouldn’t have believed it. Yet here I am — doing what I love every day and helping lifestyle clients and competitive athletes unlock their full potential.

What excites me most about this journey is continually discovering just how incredible the human body really is. Watching athletes push their limits — and seeing how proper nutrition, strength training, recovery work, and bodywork can transform both performance and long-term health — is what drives my passion every single day. As a personal trainer in San Juan Capistrano, I get to work closely with clients of all levels, from beginners building confidence to serious competitors preparing for the stage.

In addition to in-person personal training at SJC Strength & Vitality, I also provide online fitness coaching for clients across the country. Whether you train with me in the gym or remotely, my goal is always the same: to help you become stronger, healthier, and more capable than you thought possible.

How It All Started

My fitness journey began back in high school during my sophomore year. With extra free time after class, I started with the basics — push-ups, sit-ups, and bodyweight exercises. Soon after, I discovered the small community gym in our housing complex, equipped with dumbbells, barbells, and cable machines. From that moment, I was hooked on strength training and the bodybuilding lifestyle.

By the time I was 17, I had landed my first job and was proud to start buying my own “bodybuilding food” to fuel my workouts and muscle growth. One of the most memorable moments from that early journey was when my grandmother told me how proud she was of the progress I was making. At that time, I was lifting purely for myself, so hearing her encouragement meant everything to me. Her words stayed with me and became even more powerful after her passing — fueling my drive to keep pushing forward in bodybuilding and eventually helping others pursue their own fitness goals.

Entering the Fitness Industry

One day, while grocery shopping, I noticed an ad for Gold’s Gym on a cart and thought, “That’s where the serious lifters go.” Not long after, I signed up for a membership and got my foot in the door by working at the front desk. It was there, in the fall of 2012, that I met my first coach, Mike Cambra.

Mike introduced me to the world of competitive bodybuilding and guided me through the process of preparing for my first competition. By 2013, I stepped on stage and proudly won Mr. Teen California at just 19 years old.

Over the next seven years, I continued training under Mike, learning advanced bodybuilding techniques, gaining insight from other incredible coaches, and building connections with professional athletes across the fitness industry. These experiences shaped not only my approach as a bodybuilding coach and contest prep coach, but also my passion for helping others achieve their full potential in the sport.

A Passion for Bodywork

Around 2014, I began getting regular massages to support recovery and improve my performance in bodybuilding training. Each session made a difference, but I kept searching for therapists who truly understood the needs of athletes. That’s when I realized I wanted to do more than just experience temporary relief — I wanted to provide real solutions that help people move better, feel better, and perform at their peak.

By 2015, I started touring massage schools with the dream of becoming a licensed sports massage therapist. At the time, balancing a full-time job made it impossible to enroll, and I worried the goal was out of reach. Still, the passion for bodywork and recovery never left me — and it planted the seed for what would later become one of the most important parts of my career working with athletes and active individuals.

New Beginnings

Fast forward to 2021: I won the NPC Muscle Contest Mr. California as a super heavyweight (225.25 lbs+). That same year, I competed in my first national show, the 2021 USAs, but the results were far from what I’d hoped. Determined to improve, I began working with coach Justin Compton fall 2022. Together, we won the NPC Muscle Contest Excalibur later that year.

Now, as I continue preparing for higher-level competition, I bring everything I’ve learned from years of training, setbacks, and wins into the way I coach my own clients — whether they’re training for everyday strength and confidence or stepping on stage for a bodybuilding show.

Looking Ahead

My journey in fitness and bodywork has taught me resilience, the importance of constant learning, and the power of helping others. Today, I work as a personal trainer in San Juan Capistrano, a bodybuilding and contest prep coach, and a licensed sports massage therapist helping athletes and lifestyle clients move better, recover faster, and perform at their best.

Whether it’s through in-person training at SJC Strength & Vitality or structured online coaching, my mission is to help you push past your limits and become the strongest version of yourself.

Thank you for being part of my journey — I’m excited to see where it takes us next.