Meet Sensei NICO CAMPAGNA

I’m 24 years old and have been training at Douvris Martial Arts since I was 10. My journey began a year earlier, at 9 years old, when my dad who had practiced karate in his youth encouraged me to give it a try. From my very first class, I was hooked, and I quickly fell in love with the discipline, focus, and excitement of martial arts.

Over the years, my passion grew alongside my skills, and in 2023, I had the incredible opportunity to open Douvris Kanata, where I now serve as owner and head instructor. It’s been a full circle moment starting as a young student learning the basics, and now guiding others on their own martial arts journey. The lessons I’ve learned along the way, both on and off the mat, continue to inspire me every day.

My most memorable martial arts moment was:

Winning men’s team sparring alongside some of Canada’s top fighters, including Robbie Lavoie, Tom Roberts, and Cody Diesbourg, at 18 years old. It was my first time competing in the men’s division at WKC Worlds, and having the chance to fight beside my role models and win gold for Canada made it unforgettable

Competition Highlights:

I’ve won multiple national and world titles as both a junior and adult in WKC.
I’ve won a NASKA open weight and a NASKA middle weight overall.

Since opening my karate school, my life has changed completely. I’m no longer just a fighter; I’ve embraced my role as an instructor and mentor. My goal is to be a role model, showing students how work ethic, respect, kindness, and confidence can shape both their martial arts journey and their lives.

I especially enjoy helping kids build confidence. True confidence starts in the dojo, showing up consistently, developing discipline, and believing in yourself. These lessons carry far beyond tournaments and stay with them for life.

I also love teaching seminars, sharing drills that work for my style while encouraging students to develop their own strategies based on their strengths. Seeing them grow as fighters and as people is the most rewarding part of being an instructor.

I believe everyone is capable of achieving amazing things in their life. With a disciplined schedule, consistency, and confidence, any goal is within reach. Even if it takes time, I’ve learned that staying consistent is always the key to success.

What’s next?:

This year, I plan to compete as much as possible. While balancing the dojo and competition can be challenging, I’m fortunate to have a strong group of instructors who ensure everything runs smoothly while I’m away.

My experience working with Mightyfist:

I’ve really enjoyed representing the Mightyfist uniform over the past few years. It’s super comfortable and loose, which is very important to me. I think the design and style of the pants and jacket in the tracksuit are amazing. I end up wearing my Team Canada and Team Douvris International tracksuits even outside the dojo. It truly is a special brand that continues to improve in quality and style.