Elder Cruz

Elder Cruz was born on May 18, 1994, in Honduras, and relocated with his family to La Habra, California in 1998 at the age of four. His introduction to combat sports came at age 12, when he enrolled as a freshman at La Habra High School and joined the Highlanders wrestling team. That early decision laid the foundation for a grappling career that would eventually reach the highest levels of competitive jiu-jitsu.

Cruz competed for the Highlanders across all four varsity seasons, developing into one of the program's standout athletes through consistent growth and competitive drive. His senior campaign proved particularly accomplished: he claimed the Freeway League crown, won the CIF-Southern Section Southern Division championship, placed second at the CIF-SS Masters Meet, and qualified for the CIF State tournament. Those years of high-level wrestling forged the powerful takedown base and physical tenacity that would later become defining hallmarks of his BJJ identity.

Following his high school career, Elder Cruz set his sights on mixed martial arts. In March 2018, he joined Jeff Nolasco's UFC gym in La Mirada, California, with the goal of building a complete skill set for cage competition. As part of that pursuit, Cruz sought to sharpen his ground game — a search that ultimately redirected the entire trajectory of his athletic career.

Through his MMA training, Cruz discovered Lucas Leite and Checkmat La Habra, widely regarded as one of the premier grappling academies in the United States. His early interactions with coach Leite proved transformative. Cruz found himself drawn deeper into the competitive world of jiu-jitsu, and his MMA ambitions gradually gave way to a singular focus on BJJ. That pivotal connection with Leite — and the decision to commit fully to jiu-jitsu — became the turning point from which his international career would grow.

Under the guidance of Lucas Leite at Checkmat La Habra, Elder Cruz earned every belt from blue through brown and built one of the most decorated colored belt records in recent heavyweight history. His ascent through the ranks was rapid, and he quickly gained international recognition as one of the sport's rising stars in the heavier divisions.

Blue and Purple Belt Dominance

At blue belt, Cruz announced himself on the IBJJF circuit with gold at the 2019 IBJJF World No-Gi Championship, a runner-up finish at the 2019 IBJJF Pan No-Gi Championship, and multiple American Nationals titles. His purple belt campaign continued the momentum, highlighted by gold at the 2019 IBJJF Pan Jiu-Jitsu Championship and back-to-back American Nationals titles in both gi and no-gi formats in 2020.

Brown Belt Peak

The brown belt years represented the peak of his colored belt journey. Cruz claimed gold at the 2022 IBJJF World Jiu-Jitsu Championship in both gi and no-gi formats, added the 2021 IBJJF Pan Jiu-Jitsu Championship title, and continued accumulating American Nationals hardware across multiple seasons. Beyond the IBJJF circuit, he competed in high-profile no-gi events including the SUBVERSIV Invitational and the ADCC American Trials, establishing his reputation in submission grappling circles well before his black belt promotion.

Lucas Leite promoted Cruz to black belt in July 2022, formally recognizing a colored belt career that few heavyweights in the modern era have matched.

Cruz transitioned to black belt competition without missing a step, quickly confirming that his colored belt success was a preview of sustained elite-level performance. His black belt career took shape as one defined by dominance in no-gi formats and a consistent presence in the most competitive submission grappling events on the international calendar.

Back-to-Back No-Gi World Titles

The signature achievement of his early black belt years came at the IBJJF No-Gi World Championship, where Cruz claimed gold in both 2023 and 2024 — establishing back-to-back dominance in the heavyweight division. He reinforced that standing with additional titles at the 2023 IBJJF Pan No-Gi Jiu-Jitsu Championship and the 2023 IBJJF American Nationals No-Gi, building a black belt résumé that places him among the most accomplished heavyweights of his generation.

Submission Grappling Credentials

In submission grappling, Cruz posted runner-up finishes at the ADCC East Coast Trials in both 2021 and 2023, underscoring his standing in a competitive landscape that extends well beyond the IBJJF. His style — characterized by dynamic, high-pressure grappling and powerful takedowns rooted in his high school wrestling background — makes him one of the most compelling heavyweights to watch in the current generation of competitors.

Elder Cruz built his international career representing Checkmat, the team through which Lucas Leite developed Checkmat La Habra into one of the foremost grappling programs in the United States. Throughout his colored belt years and into his black belt career, Checkmat served as the competitive home from which Cruz accumulated his extensive title record and earned recognition on the global circuit.

Lucas Leite remained Cruz's coach and primary instructor from his earliest days on the mats through his black belt promotion in July 2022. That lineage under Leite remains a defining element of Cruz's identity as a grappler, regardless of team affiliation.

On September 6, 2025, Cruz announced his departure from Checkmat to join Pedigo Submission Fighting, a team recognized for its focus on developing elite submission grapplers and producing high-level competitors across multiple weight divisions. The move marked a significant transition in his professional career and reflected the kind of strategic realignment that top-level competitors increasingly pursue as submission grappling continues to grow as a standalone discipline. The technical foundation and competitive pedigree shaped by years under Lucas Leite and within the Checkmat system traveled with him into this new chapter.