LUCK CRUZ WINS 2ND STRAIGHT IBJJF GOLD

Rising Brazilian Jiu Jitsu standout Levi “Luck” Cruz claimed first place at the IBJJF Orange County Open over the weekend, marking his second consecutive IBJJF Open championship in as many months. Luck won gold last month in the IBJJF Los Angeles Open. This recent victory further cements his reputation as one of the most promising young competitors in the youth Jiu Jitsu scene.

Luck was quick to mention, “I’m really proud to represent Guam and Hawaii, and show that we belong on the biggest stages in the world.”

Luck’s path to gold was far from easy. His bracket included two current Pan Kids Champions, making the field one of the toughest of the tournament. In his opening matchup against the first Pan Kids Champion, Cruz showcased sound technical control, quickly dismantling his opponent’s guard and maintaining dominant position for the duration of the match.

The finals featured a highly anticipated matchup against a competitor from Art of Jiu Jitsu who is widely regarded within the Jiu Jitsu community as the consensus number one athlete at his belt and weight class. The match, against a 4x Pan Champion, was tightly contested, with neither competitor able to secure positional advancement. Luck ultimately earned the victory on advantages, generated by multiple high-level submission attempts that kept the pressure on until the final seconds.

Luck’s momentum follows a dominant 2025 campaign in the ADCC no-gi circuit, where his performances earned him an early invitation to the prestigious ADCC Youth World Championships. The 2026 ADCC Youth Worlds will take place in Austin, Texas on August 9, 2026.

Luck trains out of Island Jiu Jitsu under Professor Jay, Professor Jason, and Professor Migs, and represents Carbs Jiu Jitsu under Professor Carbs, Professor Byron, and Professor John.

“None of this happens without my professors and my teammates,” Luck continued, “they pour into me every single day, and I carry them with me onto the mat every time I compete.”

Looking ahead, Luck has set his sights on one of the sport’s most prestigious achievements: the IBJJF Grand Slam. The Grand Slam requires victories at the European Championships, the Brasileiros (Brazilian Championships), and the Pan Kids Championships—an accomplishment reached by only a small group of elite competitors worldwide.

Luck is proudly sponsored by Day by Day and Crowns Guam.