About Us

The Carlls and the Town Of Gray

CCBJJ is a Brazilian Jiu Jitsu school located in the heart of Gray, Maine. The school may be new, but the Carll family that owns the school has a long and rich history in the town of Gray. In 1969 Thomas Carll, his wife Sherry, and their two children (Shawn and Lori) moved to Mountain View Road in Gray. Thomas worked as the plant engineer for the family owned Oakhurst Dairy for over thirty one years. Sherry, known in Gray as "Coach Carll" (AKA "Sarge") a nickname she earned  for her years of no non-sense coaching style of the Gray-New Gloucester Cross County and Track & Field teams. Sherry produced several state champions including her own son Shawn.

Shawn Carll was known in Gray mostly for his running accomplishments. In his high school he was voted by his classmates as the "Class Clown" and most "School Spirit". After high school Shawn served in the military and also attended college where he received his Bachelor degree.  Shawn met his wife Rachel who grew up in New Gloucester, at a local church in Gray and has been married to her for over thirty years. Shawn and Rachel have four children that graduated from Gray New Gloucester High School and two grandchildren.

Nick, Shawn and Rachel's third son, Nick graduated from Gray-New Gloucester a month after his seventeenth birthday and followed his oldest brother footsteps and joined the United Stated Marine Corps. Nick recently finished his service with Marine Corps as a Sergeant and earned his Marine Corps Martial Art black belt while in the service. Nick met his fiancé Courtney in San Diego California. Courtney recently moved to Maine and is excited to continue to share her passion for health and fitness through Beachbody Live classes.

Shawn and Rachel have actively taught hundreds of women's self defense. They are both are certified Rape Aggression Defense (R.A.D.) instructors and have been part of the award winning Auburn RAD program. The Carll family considers it an honor to open a martial arts school in the town of Gray. The Carll family looks forward to continuing it’s journey with the town of Gray.