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Thirteen-year-old Cruz Hooper has been named to Team USA and will represent the United States at the 2025 UWW Grappling World Championships in Loutraki, Greece. He is among a select group of youth athletes competing in the international event, scheduled for November 1–4 and featuring contenders from more than 30 countries.
Hosted by United World Wrestling (UWW), the global governing body for Olympic and non-Olympic wrestling disciplines, the tournament launches an international platform for youth grapplers with the debut of the 15 & Under category.
Earlier this summer, Hooper secured his spot on Team USA with a standout performance at the USA Grappling World Team Trials, the national qualifier for UWW-sanctioned events. In one of the weekend’s most memorable matches, he sealed victory with the “Hindu-Ninja,” a submission of his own design. Rare even among adult competitors, pulling off an original submission in a national qualifier further cemented his reputation for innovation.
“It’s a huge honor to represent my country,” said Cruz. “I train with some of the best grapplers in the world, and I want to make them—and my team—proud.”
Competing under Eddie Bravo’s renowned 10th Planet Jiu-jitsu banner, Cruz trains primarily at 10th Planet Austin (10PATX), where he has logged more mat time than anyone in the gym’s 10-year history, while also cross-training at 10th Planet San Antonio and 10th Planet Georgetown to gain exposure to a range of styles across 10th Planet’s central Texas network. Known as “Combat Cruz,” he complements his jiu-jitsu with wrestling, Muay Thai, boxing, and tumbling—an approach that has fueled a 75% win rate, with 80% of those victories ending by submission. His aggressive style and unorthodox techniques have built a reputation for creativity, including original submissions like the “Hindu-Ninja” and “Von Cruz.”
“Keeping jiu-jitsu fun, Combat Cruz is always cooking something up,” said black belt Ben Eddy, a coach and competitor at 10PATX.
Combat Cruz has advanced his career through standout performances, a distinctive style, and an engaging online presence—drawing sponsorships from Phalanx, a leader in high-performance jiu-jitsu gear, and Knoxguards, makers of custom-fitted mouthguards. His Instagram (@combatcruz) is nearing 12,000 followers, with reels topping 30,000 views. His reach has led to moments most young athletes dream about: receiving on-camera advice from legendary coach John Danaher, rolling with UFC featherweight champion Alex Volkanovski, and meeting UFC commentator Joe Rogan. Together, these encounters have amplified his status as one of the most recognizable youth athletes in the U.S. jiu-jitsu scene.
Cruz’s selection is more than a personal milestone—it reflects USA Grappling’s mission to build a clear pathway from youth divisions to elite international play, with the long-term goal of collegiate and Olympic recognition for jiu-jitsu. In this inaugural year of the 15U division, athletes like Cruz are not just competing— they’re helping define the future of the sport.
Courtesy photo
