Business Spotlight: Gracie Ohio Rolls into Westerville

One of the oldest Brazilian jiu jitsu academies in the country now calls Westerville home. Gracie Ohio opened its doors in the Windsor Bay Shopping Center (285 N. Sunbury Rd.) in February. Owner, instructor and sixth-degree black belt Robin Gieseler took the time to tell us all about the academy.

Can you tell us about the history of Gracie Ohio?

Gracie Ohio has a unique place in the history of jiu jitsu in America. Dr. Jeffrey Hudson and some students at a local Taekwondo school started training with the Gracie family in 1990. Dr. Hudson officially established the academy as a training association under the Gracie Academy in 1992. This made the academy the second Gracie Association in the United States and the first in the Midwest. Very early on [internationally renowned Brazilian jiu jitsu practitioner] Relson Gracie became Jeff’s main instructor and came to Columbus a lot in the early years.

Why did you decide to bring the academy to Westerville and, specifically, the Windsor Bay Shopping Center?

Being across the street from Westerville during the years we operated at the old location allowed us to explore the Westerville area, and we had grown fond of all it had to offer. While the old location was very convenient for our student base that comes from all over the greater Columbus area, we had grown to the point where we needed more space. With an extensive waitlist for two of our youth programs, we knew we needed to find a space that would allow us to serve as much of the public as possible. The available space in Windsor Bay not only fit our size and location needs for what we wanted for the future, and the surrounding area checked all the boxes. With Next Level Fitness in the same center, we knew our students (and parents of students) would appreciate having an amazing facility next door to utilize. Being right across from Hoover [Reservoir] makes for not only a beautiful location, but we look forward to having special events where we can get out on the water and enjoy the trails and nearby parks as well.

Tell us about the culture of the academy.

Gracie Ohio has an amazing culture. We teach self-defense to individuals of all ages and from all walks of life, and everyone’s “why” for choosing jiu jitsu is different. Because of the diversity of our community, we have something to offer for anyone out there. Our jiu jitsu family is a tight-knit group with a common love for the art and we all support one another’s goals and progress.

What renovations have you made to the space?

The space we moved into was basically an empty box at the time we first viewed it, but through the vision of our amazing architect and contractor, and the help of so many of our students, we have been able to turn the space into a world-class facility. Gracie Ohio now offers luxurious shower facilities and changing room spaces with complimentary towel service, a spacious lounge area, and seating for spectators/family members.

How was your experience working with the City?

Working with the Westerville City Council and Chamber of Commerce has been phenomenal. Although we’ve always loved Westerville, now that we are officially located within the City limits, the outpouring of support has blown us away. Gracie Ohio is proud to be a part of the City and has felt very welcomed and supported.

Learn more about Gracie Ohio at www.gracieohio.com