About Us

The Carlls

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, the third son of Shawn and Rachel, graduated from Gray-New Gloucester just a month after turning seventeen. Following in the footsteps of his oldest brother, he enlisted in the United States Marine Corps. Nick completed his service in 2019, achieving the rank of Sergeant and earning a Black Belt in Marine Corps Martial Arts during his tenure. While stationed in San Diego, California, he met his wife, Courtney, who is a co-owner of The Whitening Lab, a neighboring business in the plaza.

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.