Nikos Gougoulas
Nikos Gougoulas moved from karate into BJJ, developed a northern Greek teaching network and guided Kinesis students through their belt progression.
Biography
Sources for this profile
BJJEE, June2013 Gougoulas Q&A(opens in a new tab)
Nikos Gougoulas is Greek and based his training in Halastra, near Thessaloniki.
Where in the source: Answer1, Greece and Honbu dojo.
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His martial-arts background was Shotokan karate; in 2013 he described himself as a JKA third dan and former national champion.
Where in the source: Answer2, karate background.
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He began BJJ in 2000 after meeting Brazilian teacher Roberto Santana, who taught him the fundamentals and introduced him to André Ushirobira.
Where in the source: Answer2, Santana and Andre Ushirobira.
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He became a BJJ black belt in 2011.
Where in the source: Answer1, black belt since2011.
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In 2013 he represented Robson Moura Nova União in Greece and described a growing national scene with increasing championship participation.
Where in the source: Answers3–4, scene and representation.
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With few local opponents at his rank, he said he had not yet had the opportunity to compete as a black belt and was preparing for the 2014 European Championships.
Where in the source: Answer1, competition limitation and plan.
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He credited Ushirobira with inspiring his love of BJJ and described his students as a family who helped him improve both as a fighter and teacher.
Where in the source: Answer6, thanks to teacher and students.
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Panhellenic Martial Arts Guide, northern Greece Cup announcement(opens in a new tab)
A 2013 announcement named the Halastra club as organiser of a northern Greece gi and no-gi cup, with Gougoulas as its contact.
Where in the source: Opening event announcement and contact.
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Kinesis Gym, June2017 Ushirobira seminar report(opens in a new tab)
His Halastra gym hosted André Ushirobira for a June10–11,2017 seminar attended by Kinesis and clubs from Katerini, Thessaloniki and Halkidiki.
Where in the source: Report opening, venue and attending clubs.
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Kinesis reported that Gougoulas received his second BJJ dan at that 2017 seminar.
Where in the source: Seminar promotion paragraph.
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By June2017 Kinesis in Kilkis reported two years of BJJ classes under his supervision; its young karate students were also learning BJJ techniques.
Where in the source: Paragraphs after promotion, Kinesis teaching and children.
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Kinesis Gym, December2018 belt awards(opens in a new tab)
Kinesis described an ongoing relationship with Gougoulas: his seminar preceded its December2018 belt awards, attended by several northern Greek clubs.
Where in the source: Opening report and seminar paragraphs.
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IBJJF, Rome2018 final results(opens in a new tab)
At the 2018 Rome IBJJF Open he took bronze in male Master3 black-belt medium-heavyweight, representing Ushirobira JJ Greece.
Where in the source: Male / Master3 / Black / Medium Heavy88.30kg podium.
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Japan Karate Association, Greek dojo directory(opens in a new tab)
The Japan Karate Association lists Gougoulas Nikos with Karate Chalastras Dojo in its Greek club directory.
Where in the source: GR-001-0006, Karate Chalastras Dojo.
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Japan Karate Association, European branches(opens in a new tab)
The JKA European branch directory names him as liaison officer for JKA WF Hellas, alongside chief instructor Anastasios Panousopoulos.
Where in the source: Greece / GR-001 / JKA WF Hellas, named roles.
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UAE Jiu Jitsu Federation, RMNU Gougoulas Team registration(opens in a new tab)
The UAE Jiu Jitsu Federation club register identifies him as the person in charge of RMNU Gougoulas Team in Halastra.
Where in the source: Club521, person in charge and contact.
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Kinesis Fight Club press release, July2025 seminar(opens in a new tab)
At the July5,2025 Gougoulas Team seminar in Halastra, he taught leg-lock techniques to teams from across Greece.
Where in the source: Kinesis press release, seminar subject.
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Kinesis instructor Antonis Giannakidis progressed to four stripes on his brown belt at that July2025 gathering.
Where in the source: Participant list, Antonis Giannakidis.
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Kinesis Fight Club press release, December2025 promotions(opens in a new tab)
At the December13,2025 assessments at Gougoulas Team headquarters, Gougoulas examined the Kinesis group and Antonis Giannakidis received his black belt.
Where in the source: Opening examiner paragraph and promotion list.
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Kinesis Fight Club described Gougoulas as a fourth-degree BJJ black belt in December2025.
Where in the source: Examiner paragraph,4ου βαθμού.
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DynamicSports, February2025 Drakos seminar report(opens in a new tab)
He led Drakos Kallithea’s annual BJJ seminar and belt assessments on February22,2025, hosted by coach Antonis Moschonas.
Where in the source: Main report paragraph, annual seminar and chief instructor.
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Lineage
No teaching connections are shown on this page.
Open lineage