Sensei Nick Theodorou is the founder and head instructor of the Theodorou Academy of Jiu Jitsu. Sensei Theodorou is a 5th degree (Godan) Black Belt in the Japanese martial art of Hakko Ryu Jiu Jitsu. He began his martial arts training in the early 1980's practicing Shotokan karate, Chinese Kenpo and kickboxing. Then in 1985, Sensei Theodorou began training in American Jiu Jitsu (Hakko Ryu) directly under O'Sensei Joe Puleio, achieving the rank of Shodan (1st Degree Black Belt) in 1989, Nidan (2nd Degree) in 1992, Sandan (3rd Degree) in 1995, Yodan (4th degree) in Jan 2002 and Godan (5th degree) in September 2005. During his 24 years of martial arts training, he has studied American Jiu Jitsu (Hakko Ryu), Philippine stick and knife fighting, aikido, judo, grappling and karate. A dedicated instructor, he has promoted 28 students to the rank of Shodan (1st degree black belt) and six to the rank of Nidan (2nd degree). Sensei Theodorou is an expert and specialist in hand-to-hand combat, joint locks and weapon defense. From 1990 to 2001, Sensei Theodorou was the head instructor of the self-defense program at Boston College in Chestnut Hill, Massachusetts. During that time, he trained over 1,100 students in realistic self-defense techniques. Sensei Theodorou has operated a school in Watertown, Massachusetts since 2001, teaching adults and teens practical and effective street self-defense.