Founder and head instructor
Mr. Jason Wood
2nd Degree Black Belt · Army veteran · Founder of Crest
- 2026 NMAA Instructor of the YearNational Martial Arts Alliance
- 2026 World Champion
- 2026 Best of the Best
- State Champion2022 · 2023 · 2024 · 2025 · 2026
Mr. Wood started training as a child. Life pulled him away from the mat for three decades, and he found his way back as an adult. What keeps him training is the challenge: the only person to compete with is yourself, and the pursuit of perfection never runs out.
Before Crest, he served 12 years in the Army, including combat experience, and was a hand-to-hand combat instructor from 2011 to 2018. He brought that discipline, and the patience it takes to teach, to every class he leads.
“See setbacks as lessons, not failures.”
His first request of every new student is simple: give me your best effort today. Not his best, not mom or dad’s, just yours. He doesn’t need perfection or success. He needs effort, because success comes from adversity, and learning to overcome the hard thing is where students grow. His coach taught him that martial arts is about the journey, not the destination, and he teaches the same way.
He founded Crest to run a program the right way, with no limits on the decisions that matter. Every family should feel welcomed, like they have always belonged. No matter why you bring your child through the door, the Crest team is ready for it. No behavior is too extreme, and there is nothing to be embarrassed about. The team understands and can handle it.
Away from the dojang, you’ll find him with his family, working with his bird dogs, or doing manual work on their property. Nature is where he unwinds and resets.