122 Millennium - A Marquis Who’s Who Magazine MEDICINE, HEALTHCARE AND WELLNESS DUAYNE V. BOWERS JR. CO-OWNER, HEAD MARTIAL ARTS INSTRUCTOR Gracie Barra Sandy Sandy, UT Duayne V. Bowers Jr. has dedicated nearly a decade of his career to teaching others confidence, fitness and self-defense as a martial arts instructor and gym owner. Since 2017, he has operated Gracie Barra Sandy, a Brazilian jiu-jitsu gym where he also serves as the head instructor. A United States Marine Corps veteran, he enlisted after graduating from high school. He served from 1996 to 2000, attaining the rank of lance corporal. After being stationed in Japan, he was relocated to San Diego, California, where he spent two and a half years. During this time, he cultivated a love for surfing that reinforced his lifelong passion for sports and fitness. After leaving the military, Mr. Bowers worked as a certified aircraft mechanic for Hamilton Sundstrand. He remained at Sundstrand until 2016 and worked concurrently as a jet engine mechanic from 2007 to 2014. He was introduced to martial arts by his ex-wife, who brought him to a local boxing gym that offered jiu-jitsu classes. He continued to practice after moving to a new area, attending classes daily. The sport became a core part of his life, serving as an anchor through major life changes. In 2014, Mr. Bowers was awarded a black belt in Brazilian jiu-jitsu. Mr. Bowers opened a jiu-jitsu gym after departing from his job as a jet engine mechanic. Though confident in his direction and deeply fulfilled by the opportunity to share martial arts with others, he struggled to gain a foothold in the local market, where the community was largely unfamiliar with the sport. After opening Gracie Barra Sandy, he lived in the school’s office to help make ends meet, and his dedication to the business helped it survive a myriad of economic challenges. His resilience and clear vision were key during COVID-related shutdowns, when enrollment plummeted, and he endured a bankruptcy to help the company recover. By 2023, Gracie Barra Sandy had bounced back from its previous economic setbacks, becoming the top-ranked children’s martial arts program in Utah. It continued to cement its reputation as a key pillar of the Utah martial arts community, was named one of Business Rate’s 2025 Top Three Google-Reviewed Businesses, and received 2024,
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