Nathan Skoufis named to Guelph 40 under 40
Nathan Skoufis is a fourth-year business student at the University of Guelph who was recently named to the Guelph 40 under 40 list. Despite having a lot on his plate in his last year of school, Skoufis also owns and operates his own martial arts gym. When he’s not in school or teaching, Skoufis is training to compete at tournaments all around the world.
Skoufis started martial arts when he was six years old. “I remember going and I was the worst kid in the class. I couldn’t focus on anything,” said Skoufis. “My mom, she told me I needed to stay in it and reach my black belt.”
Skoufis said that if he hadn’t stayed in martial arts, he may never have made it to university. There is a common misconception that martial arts are only about teaching someone to fight. For Skoufis, it also taught perseverance, dedication, and the ability to focus and cope with stress.
“Winning tournaments is great, being the best in the world is great, but if you can make a positive impact in a child’s life—I think that’s the biggest thing you can do.”
Skoufis started his gym, Guelph Family Martial Arts, in his first year of university. Although people questioned why he would take on so much in his first year, Skoufis said there is no wrong time to follow your passion.
“When I was learning martial arts, a lot of the instructors were super hard on you and they were really negative,” said Skoufis when asked what inspired him to open his own gym. “Winning tournaments is great, being the best in the world is great, but if you can make a positive impact in a child’s life—I think that’s the biggest thing you can do. So, I thought maybe martial arts is the way that I’m going to be able to touch the most people as possible.”
This year, Skoufis, who specializes in karate, was picked up by Hayabusa—an international team that sponsors the best martial arts fighters from around the world. Having already won over 150 championship titles by the age of 20, the now 22-year-old is getting ready to compete at his biggest tournament yet, the Diamond Nationals World Karate Championships in Minneapolis.
“If you can be involved in martial arts, it’s more than just a sport, it’s a lifestyle that you’re choosing.”
With the additional training and travel he has been able to complete with the guidance of Hayabusa, Skoufis thinks that he has a strong shot at winning the title this year. He will be entering the tournament ranked number one in the world and will be looking to hold that spot.
“It’s a tournament that everyone wants to win a couple times in their career,” said Skoufis. “This is the big one that I’m training for, this is the one where I’m hopefully going to get my world title number 10.”
Being named to the 2016 Guelph 40 under 40 list was a special moment. “When I was younger I would read the list with my parents and it just shows that you’re doing something bigger than yourself within Guelph and within the community,” said Skoufis. “Seeing all the other people who were in attendance there and to be standing with them, it’s really humbling to see.”
Skoufis wants people to know that martial arts are so much more than just learning to fight. “If you can be involved in martial arts, it’s more than just a sport, it’s a lifestyle that you’re choosing. I’m not training for a specific person, or tournament, I’m training for the lifestyle.”
Photo by Rebecca Thompson.