CCS grad gets silver at world Jiu-Jitsu championships

James Wood—better known as “Jay”—competed at the Las Vegas International Open International Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu Federation (IBJJF) Jiu-Jitsu Championship on Aug. 22-23.
Jiu-Jitsu is a form of martial arts that is similar to the wrestling Wood competed in at CCS. During his Longhorn wrestling career, Wood won the state wrestling title in Class C twice, in 2002 and 2003 in the 152 weight division.
He competes in a traditional gi, or “fighting kimono,” he said.
Wood, a 2003 graduate of Chase County Schools, lives in the Cincinnati area with his sons and wife Alisha (Large)—also a CCS grad.
During the day, Wood is a personal trainer, training anyone from CEOs to teachers. "Just anyone who wants some extra help,” he said.
Wood also trains six days a week for himself to be able to compete in events like the Vegas championships.
He started doing Jiu-Jitsu about a year ago, he said.
Before that, Wood was doing mixed martial arts.
“It was a different type of Jiu-Jitsu. You just don’t wear the gi,” he said.
Wood said he enjoys competing.
“It’s something I’m pretty fair at, I guess,” he said. “I picked it up pretty quickly.”