ABOUT ELEV8 MMA
BUILT BY PEOPLE WHO TRAIN.
ELEV8 MMA wasn't built by investors or fitness industry executives. It was built by two people who've spent their lives on the mats — and wanted to create the gym they always wished existed.
Daniel Kovacic started training karate as a kid. By the time he turned 18, he'd moved into Japanese Jiu-Jitsu — a discipline he trained for a decade, including time living in Japan where he immersed himself in Aikido. In 2008 he discovered Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu, and everything changed.
Then came the injury. A serious back problem forced Daniel off the mats for four years. Rather than walk away from martial arts, he used the time differently — he launched BUDO Fight Gear, an Australian martial arts apparel brand built from his knowledge of the sport. And he started strength training, specifically to rehabilitate his back and get himself back to training.
It worked. When Daniel returned to the mats, he came back with something he hadn't had before — a deep appreciation for what strength and conditioning does for a martial artist, and a renewed passion for BJJ that hadn't dimmed during four years away. That combination planted the seed for ELEV8: a facility that could offer world-class martial arts coaching and serious strength training under the same roof, built by someone who understood why both mattered.
HOW ELEV8 CAME TO BE.
THE FOUNDING STORY
"I wanted to build the gym I was always looking for. Serious coaching, real culture, and a space where the training — all of it — was done properly."
— Daniel Kovacic, Founder
Nicole Kovacic brought a different but equally serious athletic background. A competitive strength trainer, marathon runner, and sports nutrition specialist, Nicole's expertise covers the performance and recovery side of athletic training — the part that keeps athletes on the mats long-term. Together, Daniel and Nicole built ELEV8 to cover the complete picture: technique, conditioning, strength, and culture.
DANIEL & NICOLE KOVACIC.
THE FOUNDERS
Daniel Kovacic
CO-FOUNDER - HEAD COACH
Daniel's martial arts journey spans decades — from karate as a child, through ten years of Japanese Jiu-Jitsu including training in Japan, to BJJ since 2006. His path through injury and back to the mats gave ELEV8 its foundation: a gym built around the belief that serious training and genuine strength go together.
NICOLE Kovacic
CO-FOUNDER - OPERATIONS & NUTRITION
Nicole brings a performance athlete's perspective to ELEV8 — strength training, marathon running, and sports nutrition expertise that shapes both the programming and the culture. Her focus is on the athlete as a whole: performance, recovery, and longevity on the mats.
SERIOUS ABOUT THE CRAFT. RELAXED ABOUT EVERYTHING ELSE.
WHAT WE STAND FOR
Every coach at ELEV8 is legitimate at what they do. Not hobbyists. Not people who trained for a year and decided to teach. Our coaches have competed, won, and carry the kind of knowledge that only comes from years on the mat and in the ring.
But the culture here isn't intense. It's relaxed, respectful, and fun — the kind of gym where people actually look forward to showing up. Where the regulars know your name and the coaches remember what you struggled with last week.
When it comes to competition, though, we bring the heat. ELEV8 members compete and win at state, national, and international level across multiple disciplines. That reputation has been earned on the mat — not on a website.
THE ELEV8 STANDARD
Train hard. Help each other. Don't take yourself too seriously. Show up for your teammates when it counts. Win with humility, lose with character. That's the culture — and it starts from day one, whether you're a white belt or a seasoned competitor.
WHAT SETS US APART.
WHY ELEV8
ELITE COMPETITION RECORD
Our athletes compete and win at state, national, and international level across BJJ, striking, and fitness disciplines.
PREMIUM FACILITY
Purpose-built for serious training — clean mats, professional equipment, and a commercial gym space all under one roof.
AET AFFILIATE
Proud affiliate of the Australian Elite Team — the number one BJJ team in the country under head coach Ninos Dammo.
MARTIAL ARTS + STRENGTH
One of the few facilities in Melbourne's north-east that combines world-class martial arts coaching with serious strength and conditioning.
LEGITIMATE COACHES
Every coach has competed at the highest level of their discipline. Olympic representation, national titles, professional experience.
ALL LEVELS WELCOME
From complete beginners to national-level competitors. No joining fees, no contracts, no pressure. First class is always free.