Meet the Instructors

Nic Koch

Head Instructor

Nic Koch began training in Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu in 2007 and earned his black belt in 2022 under Bill Scott. His approach to grappling has always extended beyond a single rule set or style, focusing instead on developing well-rounded, adaptable athletes.

In addition to BJJ, Nic holds a judo green belt under Shintaro Higashi and is both a Justin Flores and Vlad Koulikov affiliate instructor, further grounding his teaching in high-level judo, wrestling, and sambo methodology. In 2025, he earned his Luta Livre black belt under Ross Kellin, tracing directly to the Hugo Duarte lineage, adding a strong no-gi and catch-influenced foundation to his system.

Nic also holds a black armband in Muay Thai (2024), reinforcing his belief that effective grappling should exist alongside competent striking awareness and clinch control.

His coaching philosophy blends Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu, Judo, Sambo, Wrestling, and other proven combat arts into a cohesive, pressure-tested style built for real performance—on the mat, in competition, and beyond. Nic emphasizes intelligent movement, positional dominance, and adaptability, helping students develop skills that translate across disciplines rather than locking them into a single sport identity.

Jake Bancala

Strength & CONDITIONING coach
BJJ InstructoR

Jake Bancala is the Strength and Conditioning Instructor at Adaptation Jiu-Jitsu and a purple belt under Professor Nic Koch. With over 8 years of experience in the fitness industry, Jake brings a deep understanding of strength development, athletic performance, and injury-resistant training tailored specifically for grapplers.

Jake holds both NASM and ISSA certifications and has worked with high-level athletes across multiple sports, helping guide several toward successful professional careers. His approach blends proven strength science with practical, mat-tested conditioning—building athletes who are strong, durable, and hard to break.

Known for a 535 lb personal record bench press, Jake emphasizes intelligent strength over reckless lifting, ensuring students develop power that directly translates to jiu-jitsu performance. On the mats, he’s particularly fond of reverse side control, embodying his philosophy of pressure, control, and efficiency.

Jake’s classes focus on building resilient, powerful athletes who can train longer, recover faster, and perform better—on the mats and beyond.

Nick Romano

Kids Bjj Instructor

“Rick Romando”

bio bio

Rank: Brown Belt

Drew Clementino

BJJ INstructor

“The Hammer”