Empire Brazilian Jiu Jitsu Maine

Empire Brazilian Jiu Jitsu Maine is led by Josh Blakely, a black belt who began training in 2003 under Jay Jack in Portland and earned his black belt in 2016 under Helio “Soneca” Moreira. After years of teaching and managing gyms in Tennessee, Blakely returned to Maine to establish Empire in Freeport, focusing on sharing his deep experience in Brazilian Jiu Jitsu, Judo, and Submission Wrestling. The academy traces its lineage through Mitsuyo Maeda, Carlos Gracie, Helio Gracie, Carlos Gracie Jr., and Helio Soneca Moreira, reflecting a traditional BJJ heritage with a broad grappling base. Students at Empire train across a range of programs tailored to age and skill. The kids and teens program, running year-round four days a week, blends Jiu Jitsu, Judo, and wrestling to build confidence and practical self-defense skills for ages 8 to 15, available in both gi and no-gi formats. For adults and teens 16 and older, classes start with a Basic curriculum emphasizing real-life scenarios and progress to Advanced sessions for blue belts and above, focusing on technical refinement and strategy. Open mats and live circuit training sessions provide additional practice opportunities. The academy also hosts specialized seminars, including women’s-only classes and law enforcement training. Empire’s approach combines traditional gi training with no-gi options and incorporates judo and wrestling techniques to round out grappling skills. The facility at 15 Depot Street is wheelchair accessible, supporting a diverse student body. With a focus on practical self-defense alongside sport application, Empire offers a structured environment for both recreational practitioners and competitive athletes in the Freeport area.

Amenities