Business Spotlight: Gracie Gym Maine

A year has passed since Gracie Gym Maine first opened to the public in Windham and it’s safe to say that the facility has been a tremendous success story in the Lakes Region.

Gracie Gym Maine is celebrating its first
anniversary and offers Brazilian
Jiu-Jitsu training for ages 4 and up at its
7,000-square-foot facility in Windham.
COURTESY PHOTO

Gracie Gym Maine is located at 770 Roosevelt Trail #6 in the Shaw’s Plaza in North Windham and draws students from all over the state. It offers Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu lessons to everyone ages 4 and up and the program’s head coach, Vinicius Garcia, is widely considered one of the most elite Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu instructors in the world. Garcia has been training in Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu since the age of 16 and has competed in many of Brazil’s top events under renowned coach Rodrigo Castro who promoted him to black belt in 2015.

“We have kid’s classes, teen classes, beginner classes and advanced classes, both in Gi and No-Gi,” said Gracie Gym Maine owner Michael Smith. “Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu (BJJ) is a self-defense martial art system and combat sport, focused on grappling and ground fighting. It promotes the concept that smaller and weaker people can successfully defend themselves against bigger, stronger, and heavier attackers.”

Smith said that the one-year anniversary of Grace Gym Maine and its ongoing success is cause for celebration in the community.

“We are thrilled with the families and individuals we have been helping in their personal journey in Brazilian Jiu-jitsu and seeing people transform is what it is all about for us,” he said.

According to Smith, transforming lives through Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu is gratifying and is the reason that he decided to open Gracie Gym Maine in Windham.

“The transformation is really remarkable,” Smith said. “Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu will change your life. It is a profound mental, physical, and spiritual experience.”

He said that the size of its academy and facility at more than 7,000 square feet and featuring more than 3,000 square feet of mat space makes Gracie Gym Maine an exceptional experience for participants. Other amenities available at Gracie Gym Maine are a weight room and a recovery lounge with an infrared sauna and cold plunge. Additionally, there is plenty of seating and five changing rooms.

Smith said that Gracie Gym Maine provides an outstanding user experience that is second to none in Maine.

“The facility rivals Jiu-Jitsu academies in major metropolitan areas in size, amenities and instruction level but has been able to keep pricing below industry standard,” he said.

Originating in Brazil in the early 20th century, Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu focuses on using leverage and submission holds to defeat opponents, making it an effective form of self-defense for people of all sizes and abilities. It is an effective form of self-defense because it teaches practitioners how to stay calm and composed in high-pressure situations.

Along with teaching physical techniques, Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu also emphasizes the development of mental toughness and a strong, positive mindset. Its practitioners learn to be confident and mentally prepared for any situation, and its intense, full-body workout will help participants get in great shape and improve their overall physical fitness.

All Gracie Gym Maine professors are certified Black Belts through the International Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu Federation.

Thanks to its popularity, Gracie Gym Maine is currently expanding its onsite clothing store connecting with Skilled Violence, a lifestyle apparel brand, and has also created a dedicated area for kids and their parents to watch television while their siblings or loved ones are training.

Since Grace Gym Maine opened, another significant event has taken place.

“Our head instructor, Vinicius Garcia, and academy administrator Nayara Morais Cunha, had a baby, Miguel,” Smith said. “Vinicius and Nayara have been absolutely incredible with their dedication, as well as the half-dozen coaches that have helped out. And I’d like to give a special thanks to Amy, who ran our front desk while Nayara was away for maternity leave.”

In October, Gracie Gym Maine took fourth place at the Jiu-Jitsu New England Championships in Worcester, Massachusetts among 120 other academies, displaying immense dedication, skill, and discipline resulting in 12 gold medals earned at the event, which was sponsored by the Jiu-Jitsu World League. In December, some Gracie Gym Maine participants were honored for their hard work during a special belt promotion ceremony.

“At Gracie Gym Maine, everybody is important,” Smith said. “We’re here to help everyone experience a transformation, but it’s not easy. It’s hard and the mat is a great equalizer. We offer a personal, professional, and spiritual challenge from the very finest instructors.”

For more information about Gracie Gym Maine, call 207-383-2228 or visit https://www.graciegymmaine.com/ Find them on Instagram under graciegymmaine <

Business Spotlight: Sebago Outfitters

From hiking to kayaking to hunting and fishing, the Lakes Region of Maine offers plenty of opportunities for individuals to get outside and experience an active life. And now a new store, Sebago Outfitters in Raymond, provides the gear to explore the outdoors like never before.

Located at 1254 Roosevelt Trail next to the Aromas Joes in Raymond, Sebago Outfitters opened last fall and is a 2,000-square-foot retail shop providing an array of equipment to enjoy outdoor activities, guided tours by Maine Registered Guides, state fishing and hunting licenses, and FFL firearm transfers.

Owned and operated by Leah Drinkwater, Sebago Outfitters aims to get residents and visitors to explore more of the finest outdoor activities Maine and the Lakes Region has to offer.

“We have something for most anyone. We have the retail outfitter store for families, lake life, kids’ games, fishing, camping, hiking, and local Maine products,” Drinkwater said. “We also have an attached gun shop for the outdoor sportsman or woman.”

She said that the Lakes Region provides a diverse kind of atmosphere with gear that is perfect for family excursions and creating lasting memories for a lifetime while encountering nature at its best. 

“We’re local female-owned and operated,” Drinkwater said. “We focus on education, training and purchasing outdoor gear and whatever you need in a comfortable environment. We are a location where you can find something to do.”

Featuring exceptional customer service, invaluable expertise, a diverse selection of gear and equipment required for all types of outdoor adventures, trained and experience guides familiar with the Lakes Region, and a convenient location to shop close to home, Sebago Outfitters has rapidly become a local favorite in Raymond. 

Emphasizing “Old School Maine Culture” while leading a transformation and renovation of the facility into the first female-owned outdoors sporting goods store in the Lakes Region is a significant accomplishment that Drinkwater says that she’s proud of.

She said that as a local family-owned business that supports other local businesses, Sebago Outfitters strives to be a location where area residents and families can feel right at home.

“Everything from the sign out front and the build out for the renovations of the store were done by local contractors,” she said. “We feature ‘Made in Maine Products’ in particular. Most of our inventory has been supplied by local businesses.”

Drinkwater said Sebago Outfitters is a place where women can learn what they need to know about hunting, fishing or anything related to the outdoors.

“We have had great feedback on our women’s-based hunting and firearms classes last fall led by Maine Guide Emily Parker,” she said. “Across America hunting and fishing are becoming more popular activities for women and that’s evident here in the Lakes Region as well. We can help them do that.”

Surveys show that women are the fastest growing demographic in hunting and fishing nationally and are taking up outdoor activities in record numbers since the onset of the pandemic, reflecting an appreciation for nature and being outdoors, along with a passion for wildlife and public lands.

Drinkwater said families and children are always welcome, and that Sebago Outfitters offers “Wildlife in a box” classes over breaks from school for children that are fun and educational.

“The feedback we get from doing that is great and we’ll continue to offer upcoming classes for the summer and fall,” Drinkwater said.

Opening and renovating the store has been a vision come true for Drinkwater.

“I have my Federal Firearms License and I have personally been training with firearms for over a decade and encourage everyone to practice training, safety, and education,” she said. “You can always expand your knowledge. Our Maine Registered Guides that provide classes and tours must pass the state exam. Fishing and hunting licenses are provided by the state where we are a kiosk location. Everything outdoors has increased in popularity since the pandemic, and we look to help people explore more of the outdoors. Our goal is to have something for everyone. We want everyone to grab a fishing pole and explore more.”

Sebago Outfitters is open from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. Tuesdays through Saturdays.

For more information about Sebago Outfitters, call 207-655-3700 or visit Sebagooufitters.com or find them on Facebook and Instagram at Sebagooutfitters <