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He's now known as ''Big Country.'' He has been hanging out with ''Old School'' and going toe to toe with the likes of ''Mr. Wrestling No. 4'' and ''The Association.''

While clearly just pulling out of the parking lot on a journey he hopes will take him to the upper echelons of professional wrestling, Jody Kristofferson has come a long way from his days at Hana High School.

Earlier this month, Kristofferson made his official debut in a three-man tag-team event in Northern California. He teamed with Dylan Drake and ''Old School'' Oliver John in a match that team lost to ''The Association'' --- Dalton Frost, ''Malachi'' and Vinnie Massaro.

Kristofferson is the son of songwriter, actor and activist Kris Kristofferson. Jody, the Maui Interscholastic League champion at 189 pounds in 2003, was working security for one of his father's concerts when he started to consider becoming a pro wrestler.

''I had always been in love with pro wrestling as a kid,'' Kristofferson said last week. ''I didn't really start thinking of it until 2004 when I saw a live show in Dublin. I was working security and we saw this show in conjunction with my dad's concert. It was so cool, I said to myself right then, 'I've got to do this.' ''

Kristofferson enrolled at All Pro Wrestling in Hayward, Calif., in July 2007. He recently graduated from the two-year school and lost to ''Mr. Wrestling No. 4'' on Aug. 7 as a tuneup for his official debut a week later in the tag-team match.

''I started off at Menlo College and then Morepark College in L.A. for acting in 2005, 2006,'' Kristofferson said. ''I officially started at All Pro Wrestling in 2007, on

July 5. It is a school where they train you to become a pro wrestler, train you to take the falls, train you to perform in front of crowds. It is a two-year program. I did the whole two years even though a lot of people told me I was ready, but my coach said I needed a lot more tuning. I am glad I did that because I am a lot more ready now.''

Kristofferson's coach Roland Alexander agrees.

''Jody has the work ethic and passion required to succeed in pro wrestling, probably more so than some who have already succeeded,'' Alexander said in a release. ''If he continues with that ethic and passion, he'll make it.''

Kristofferson is in the minor leagues of pro wrestling --- he said he made $20 from his debut night in front of about 100 fans --- as he eyes a shot at being part of World Wrestling Entertainment.

Kristofferson said Alexander has prepared him to make the jump to the big time.

''He is awesome,'' Kristofferson said. ''He is the guy who recruited me for the camp, the guy who showed me the ropes, how to train and how to become a pro wrestler. Since I have been here, he has been a good friend to me.''

At least one other person is hoping Kristofferson makes it.

''I am proud of Jody's determination and hard work in going after his dream of becoming a professional wrestler,'' Kris Kristofferson said in a release. ''He has loved to wrestle since he was little. In high school, he was the county champion in his weight class. A wise man once told me to follow my heart when facing difficult life decisions and I'm glad to see Jody doing that.''

Jody Kristofferson, now a 6-foot-2, 245-pound 24-year-old, knows the road to pro wrestling stardom can be tough. He does have some role models in mind, however.

''I have to tell you, a lot of people have kind of shaped the way I try to perform,'' he said. ''Shawn Michaels, 'Stone Cold' Steve Austin, but I would have to say my main influence, the guy who got me into the business is Hulk Hogan. I just watched him as a kid and he could get the crowd going no matter what the circumstances. He was just like an inspiration for me growing up.''

Jody Kristofferson doesn't pretend that the wrestling is real, but insists that ''some of it is.''

He also knows that a lot of the top performers in the industry got there with the help of performance-enhancing drugs.

''Personally, you know, I have never seen the actual use of steroids but there has been a lot of talk about it and I know a lot of independent wrestlers out there do it,'' he said. ''A lot of people discourage it. My take on it is I don't like to judge people but I would never do it. The training is already hard enough --- you don't need any other problems.

''My dad actually voiced his concern about it because he knows that I don't use steroids and he was worried I might get thrown around like a rag doll by guys who do. I just said, 'I will show them what a real athlete can do.' ''

As a kindergartner, Kristofferson met Arnold Schwarzenegger, and he has recently run into wrestling old-timers ''Honky Tonk Man,'' Rob Van Dam and Pat Patterson.

Kristofferson said he has learned a lot about performing from his father.

''I used to go on tour with him and I used to see him perform in front of everyone,'' he said. ''I always liked the feelings after a show. You could tell people loved him. I just like to make people smile and I know my dad does, too. I am just doing this for the fans, but also for myself --- I couldn't think of anything better to do right now.''

Robert Collias is at rcollias@mauinews.com