Florence Brazilian BJJ

At Florence Brazilian BJJ, students find a schedule built around both traditional gi and modern no-gi Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu, with classes running from early morning through the evening. Whether it’s a 7am no-gi session, a lunchtime gi class, or evening MMA grappling and striking, the academy keeps the mats busy throughout the week. Open mats on Friday and Saturday mornings give everyone a chance to roll at their own pace, and dedicated beginner classes help newer students get their footing. Head instructor Hayden Nichols leads the team, having earned his black belt under Michael Mann, the academy’s previous owner. Hayden started his martial arts journey over 17 years ago and brings a deep background in both jiu-jitsu and MMA. The morning program is run by brown belt German Roca, whose experience spans wrestling, international BJJ training, and a background in exercise science. MMA striking classes are handled by Dustin O’Kelley, a purple belt who has focused on developing a complete martial arts skillset since he began training at Florence BJJ in 2016. Florence BJJ places special emphasis on its kids’ program, led by instructors with backgrounds in military combatives, social work, and youth coaching. Micheal White, a Marine Corps and Army veteran, and Daniel Kelly, who brings both Army combatives and sports science experience, work with children to build confidence, resilience, and technical skill on the mats. The kids’ classes are closely supervised and structured to help young students learn how to handle adversity in a safe, supportive setting. The academy welcomes adult drop-ins and maintains a practical focus on both self-defense and competition, with students regularly entering BJJ tournaments around the country.

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