Nicolas and Raphael Ouellet are steadily making their mark within the mixed martial arts community of Powell River, with the siblings now aged 22 and 20.
That momentum picked up notably after the brothers assumed control of Powell River Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu (Powell River BJJ), stepping into dual roles as owners and lead instructors.
Even at such a young age, Nicolas recalled that accepting the leadership position at Powell River BJJ felt like an obvious choice.
"It didn't require much thought — turning down a chance to instruct jiu-jitsu back home just wasn't something I considered," Nicolas explained during a conversation.
"Things have been fantastic. We run sessions daily and get to practice alongside them, which is about as good as it gets, honestly."
The opportunity to step into the Powell River BJJ role arose after outgoing head coach Andrew Thistle relocated to Pacific Top Team in Penticton.
Raphael noted that because they already spent every day training at the facility prior to the transition, the shift felt natural for both of them.
"Passion drove us. We were showing up every single day already, so Andrew recognized us as the right people to carry the torch and maintain operations," Raphael shared in an interview.
"We jumped in headfirst and couldn't believe how fortunate we've been."
Champion Growth
Most recently, Nicolas captured the BFL amateur lightweight championship at BFL 61 this past June, deploying techniques he regularly instructs at Powell River BJJ to secure a first-round submission via inverted triangle choke that ended the contest.
Following his belt victory, Ouellet observed a noticeable uptick in gym attendance from newcomers exploring MMA.
"I think people are finally taking notice of the sport here, largely because MMA hasn't had much presence in Powell River," Nicolas observed.
"Once word spread about my title win, several folks started walking through the doors asking to begin training, so it's certainly been beneficial for the business."
Although enrollment numbers and overall visibility have expanded considerably since the brothers took the helm, they acknowledge that their efforts are far from complete.
Nicolas emphasized that the gym represents more than mere income for him and his brother. Their ambition centers on maximizing the business's growth and establishing a stronger reputation within the sport.
"Our ultimate objective is making this our career — showcasing what we can do while building the business," Nicolas stated.
"One day I'll be happy—being a pro fighter, building my business, growing my brand, and having a blast while doing it."
Brotherly Love
Jiu-jitsu may be their specialty today, but Nicolas and Raphael got their start in karate, training in the discipline as kids before branching out into boxing and kickboxing.
Because both brothers are passionate about martial arts, they always found plenty of competitive rounds to go around—one-on-one battles across karate, kickboxing, and jiu-jitsu.
Raphael says a key reason he picked up MMA so quickly in just the past six years is the competitive drive they share as siblings.
"My brother didn't go easy on me when I first got into jiu-jitsu. Even as kids, we were always roughhousing, wrestling, and throwing on MMA gloves in the backyard," Raphael said.
"Even before jiu-jitsu, we were always sparring in the back—taking it to the ground and working jiu-jitsu without even realizing it. My brother's a huge part of my success, and I'm sure the same goes for him."
Siblings inevitably squabble—whether it's arguing over the TV remote, who left the bathroom light on, or whatever else sparks an argument.
But those childhood disputes fade away once gloves go on. In the gym, it's pure support and motivation.
"We're constantly trying to help each other improve. We've been competing for a while now, and it's more supportive than anything," Nicolas said.
"I'd say we definitely inspire each other. Him having a fight, then me following with another—it's like we're climbing that ladder together. It's not really a competition between us."
Smart Minds Think Alike
Beyond building and expanding Powell River BJJ, Nicolas and Raphael, like every fighter, carry the dream of stepping onto the sport's grandest stage.
All fighters share that dream, but few have the rare advantage of having an immediate family member chasing the exact same goal.
"I'd make a run at it either way, but having my brother there pursuing the same thing gives me extra motivation," Raphael said.
"It's incredible—I'm really happy about it. I'm grateful we're both into this because if I was alone, there wouldn't be many others to spar with. When nobody else is around, my brother is always there," Nicolas said.
The Ouellet brothers certainly trade plenty of grueling, competitive sparring sessions in the gym—but that's where their rivalry ends.
No matter the stakes or the opportunity, Raphael insists they'll never truly face each other inside the octagon.
"My brother, man—that's blood," Raphael said.
"I can't just step into the cage and adopt that mindset that I'm going in to hurt him."
