Professor Hayden Nichols
OWNER/HEAD INSTRUCTOR
Coach Hayden began training in 2014 under Professor Michael Mann (previous owner of Florence BJJ) and received his black belt from coach Michael in 2024. After discovering mixed martial arts 17 years ago, Hayden has been obsessed with martial arts ever since. He is primarily a jiu-jitsu practitioner, but has spent extensive time working on his striking and MMA skillset as well. Chronic injuries have kept him from pursuing his competition goals, but that fire continues to burn bright in his role as a coach, working day in and day out to produce the best martial artists he can. In his free time he enjoys spending time with his wife and friends, and playing guitar.
Professor German Roca
MORNING CLASS INSTRUCTOR
German began training in 2017 at Enterprise Jiu-Jitsu in Enterprise, Alabama after training wrestling in high school for two years. Enterprise was his home gym for his first five years of training. Since then, school and work have given him the chance to travel and train at different gyms across the country and internationally, including in Miami, Las Vegas, NYC, Mexico, and Bolivia. Now as a brown belt, German runs our morning program (7-8 am). He has blossomed into an incredible instructor. Outside of BJJ, German has a background in exercise science and strength and conditioning, with experience as a personal trainer and Olympic weightlifting coach, as well as some competitions in powerlifting.
Professor Dustin O'Kelley
STRIKING INSTRUCTOR/MMA COACH
Dustin began his martial arts journey here at Florence BJJ in 2016. Like coach Hayden, he too shares a deep passion for mixed martial arts, so he has focused on developing himself as a complete martial artist since day one. He is currently a purple belt in jiu-jitsu and one of the best grapplers at Florence BJJ, but his love for striking has found him as the head striking instructor at our academy. He and coach Hayden make a great duo for the MMA program due to their commitment to the craft and attention to detail. He graduated from the University of North Alabama with a degree in Industrial Hygiene and Chemistry. In his free time he enjoys spending time outdoors, working on projects, and spending time with friends and family.
Professor Micheal White
KIDS CLASS INSTRUCTOR
Micheal began training at Florence BJJ in 2022. Due to his fierce dedication to the craft he earned his purple belt in 2025. Micheal is retired from the military with 21 years of service. He is a Marine Corps and Army Veteran. In the Marine Corps, he earned a USMC Green belt in the Marine Corps Martial Arts Program. In the United States Army he earned a brown belt in the Modern Army Combatives Program under Professor Matt Larsen. Micheal has 3 kids, so he has become such an integral part of our Kids Program due to his ability to communicate and display fundamentals in a digestible way. He has a masters degree in Social Work with a concentration in Family and Children theories. His favorite quote is - "What I see when I watch your child on the mat is different from what you see from the lobby. Not because you don't know your child. You know them better than anyone. It's because a different environment brings out a different version of them." - Royce Gracie
Professor Daniel Kelly
KIDS CLASS INSTRUCTOR
Daniel began his BJJ journey in 2021 at Shah Mat Jiu-Jitsu in Enid, Oklahoma. After stepping away from training for approximately two years, he returned to the mats in April 2025 at Florence BJJ, where he continues to train and develop as both a practitioner and instructor. Daniel has 2 kids, so like coach Micheal, he provides invaluable insight and ability within our Kids Program. He has served in the United States Army for 16 years, including service within the Special Operations community. His military career introduced him to the Army Combatives program, where he earned level 2 certification and the rank of Grey belt. His experience in the Army has also given him opportunities to work with and coach military athletes, contributing to his interest in physical performance, strength, conditioning, and the development of well-rounded athletes. He is currently pursuing a degree in exercise and sport science at Keiser University.
