Team Chitwood Martial Arts & Fitness

08/12/2026

✅ Click the link in bio to start a FREE trial at one of our locations!

🎯 Ages 4+

🎯 Established 1994

07/15/2026

It’s that time of the year that we all love but with that said please refresh your memory on mat hygiene.

Examples..
-If you worked outside all day-shower/rinse off before class
-If your kids ran around outside barefoot or sandals all day-wash their feet BEFORE class
-Do not rewear uniforms gi or no gi attire. They can carry germs from past exposure.

Thanks for your help keeping our school clean 🫶🏼

07/06/2026

(Pictured: Shawn Chitwood, Royce Gracie, Dr. Jeff Hudson)

I remember my first conversation with Jeff back in 1993. I had called Rorian Gracie from their ad in black belt magazine after I had been in a significant street fight. Rorian invited me out to train. I couldn't travel to California because I was in college. He said "You're in Ohio? Go train with my student Dr. Jeff Hudson" and then gave me Jeff's phone number.

I remember calling nervously. I was a 20 year old kid who loved martial arts and wanted to learn more. He told me "I don't have a school, just my training partner Vince and I and a few others practice at our TKD school and he invited me to join.

Jeff took this 20 year old kid under his wing and it meant the world to me. I enjoyed his enthusiasm for perfection in jiu-jitsu and I love that he loved God when we prayed in every training session. I drove 2 hours round trip multiple times per week often going home in silence from the humbling experience. I tell everyone, no one has smashed and beat me on the mats more than Jeff Hudson. No one.

His Jiu-jitsu was the definition of perfect. You knew EXACTLY what he was going to do and their was NOTHING you could do to stop him. You knew the play book but we're helpless to stop it from playing out. We called him the sloth. It was a slow, precise death on the mats when you rolled with him.

In 2006, I was dealing with debilitating back and neck pain with multiple herniations from years of athletics and fighting arts to the point I was gonna walk away from teaching and doing jiu-jitsu altogether.

Jeff found out, he reached out to me personally and said to come see him because he felt he could help as a doctor. That's the type of caring person he was; I received a personal phone call. Through his dedication and therapies I recovered without surgery and it changed everything for me. I am beyond blessed to have had him want to see me healed and back on the mats again.

It's been 33 years since I first trained with Jeff. He was there for me at my first class and he was there for me when Relson Gracie promoted me to black belt 14 years later. My jiu-jitsu schools are thriving, I have 650 students of my now and it was all made possible by what Jeff started here in the Midwest for me and almost everyone in Ohio. We all have a some sort of connection to Jeff.

He was an original investor in the UFC, business sponsor of the Gracie family for their visas, and one of the very first blue belts outside of California.

He was an American BJJ OG and has never really received the accolades that come with being an original because he just loved the art and didn't care much about publicity.

Things I think about when I remember Jeff:

Teacher, Mentor, Caregiver, Christian and my Friend.

I can say with absolute certainty that TEAM CHITWOOD would not be where we are today without this man leading the way and mentoring me.

This is a hard loss.

God Bless you Jeff, thank you for everything.

-Shawn Chitwood

06/29/2026

Our new Lewis Center Academy opens tomorrow, Monday, 6/29/26!

It's crazy how far that 21-year-old kid with a dream of building an academy has come in 32 years. The team of people who have chosen to follow me on this journey have given me more than I have ever given them. This team is amazing!!

LFG!!! Shawn

06/27/2026

The new Lewis Center Academy has been a labor of love and a ton of effort. We have put in massive hours on very short notice but many have rallied. Thank you my contractor, student and good friend David Smallwood. Thanks to my best friend Jody Aberts for taking off work and grinding. Thank you to my parents Marcia Mast and Gary Clever who always help. Thank you to the staff Melissa Carr AJ Sander Josh Sander, Jen Miller, John Christopher Belford & Jeff Podracky. Many students stepped up and helped Chad Ebert Patrick Bradley Alex Knipe Dr. Martin, Sean McCollam John Bradley Ryan Gill and many others. This would not have been possible without you guys. Looking forward to the next chapter starting Monday, 6/29 in our new awesome space!

06/02/2026

Head over to TeamChitwood.com and fill out a form to get started. Space is limited so act now!!

This is our Lexington location ONLY

05/18/2026

Congratulations to our very own Team Chitwood Tuff Chick, Gloria for her bravery in action while protecting and serving our community!

https://www.facebook.com/share/p/1EUCtxABeS/?mibextid=wwXIfr

05/18/2026

Pete the Cat had a great weekend at Team Chitwood but he misses his owner!! 💙

05/10/2026

🚨3rd ANNUAL ASSOCIATION TOURNAMENT RESULTS🚨

OVERALL

1 - Lexington (139)
2 - Lewis Center (98)
3 - Hinckley (79)
4 - Fritz (56)
5 - Bandit/5th Shield (22)
6 - Marion (16)

ADULTS

1 - Lewis Center (86)
2 - Fritz (56)
3 - Lexington (46)
4 - Hinckley (44)
5 - Bandit/5th Shield (22)
6 - Marion (14)

TEENS

1 - Lexington (93)
2 - Hinckley (35)
3 - Lewis Center (12)
4 - Marion (2)

If you're academy is looking for a new TEAM, reach out to see if we are a good fit.

Association Details & Benefits here 👇

​ Skyrocket Your Martial Arts Academy Success with Team Chitwood BJJ Association! Discover the Extraordinary Benefits of Joining an Esteemed Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu Association

05/09/2026

‘Twas the night before comp 🤙🏼

Tomorrow is the 3rd Annual Team Comp!

Doors Open at 8:30am ✔️
Mini/kids jitsu starts at 9:30am ✔️
Adults and Teens start at 12pm ✔️
Spectators are $10 CASH ✔️

Adults/Teens need checked in BY 12 (do not go off the smooth comp fight time it means nothing)

Brackets are made and mats are ready. Let’s do this 🤙🏼🤙🏼

Location 103 Clever Ln 44904