Conversations with Anthony Cruz

Today we’d like to introduce you to Anthony Cruz.

Hi Anthony, so excited to have you on the platform. So before we get into questions about your work-life, maybe you can bring our readers up to speed on your story and how you got to where you are today?
At a young age, I learned how to manifest things into my life without even knowing I was doing it. I started to do magic after being inspired by watching Lance Burton in Las Vegas at the age of 14. After the show, we went into a magic shop called “Houdinis Magic Shop” which is where I got my first magic kit. On our way out, I told my mom and aunt “When I get my first job, it’s going to be at a place like this.”

I began practicing as a hobby and performing tricks at school for students and teachers. One day, my drama school teacher asked if I would be interested in performing a show. I was nervous but accepted. To this day, I still remember I charged $70 dollars which for a kid in middle school, I thought that was a lot and felt on top of the world. As the years went on, I continued to practice and hone my craft.

When I was 17, I went to Disneyland with a friend. On my way out, I saw a magic shop. I went to talk to the manager and applied. A few weeks later, I was hired. The place was called “Houdinis Magic Shop” which was the same magic shop where I got my first magic kit and where I said I would get my very first job. At 18, I debuted at the Magic Castle and continue to perform until today.

Through magic, I feel I developed a lot of my personality and sense of humor. I grew up in a Spanish Christian Church where my grandma was the pastor. My whole family is musically inclined so music was inevitable for me to do. We all moved to Hollywood in December of 2011 where I attended the Musicians Institute for the guitar program. During my first two weeks there, I got the “Hollywood” experience.

My then modeling manager discovered me in a shoe store. After a few test shots, I got my first modeling job shooting with Brucer Weber for Moncler and continued to book after that. In those same two weeks of living in Hollywood, there was a flyer on my car that was promoting Jiu-Jitsu. I have always been intrigued with MMA and watching the UFC fights but wanted to have a better understanding of the sport.

So I went in for the trial class, got submitted by a cross collar choke, almost passed out because I was using too much energy and at the end of class, I ended up signing up. There was no looking back from there. I ended up graduating from Musicians Institute getting my AA in guitar and music and also during that time had one of my songs “Me Vuelas La Cabeza” chart on Latin Billboard for Top Latin Airplay (peaked at 38).

I continued my journey through Jiu-Jitsu and after 8 consistent years, I got my black in November of 2019. When everything shut down in 2020 due to Covid, I decided to start a new Instagram called Jitscruz so that I could post my Jiu-Jitsu content. I had thought of a reel to shoot for fun and posted it. The reel did well so then I did another and another and you guessed it, another.

Before I knew it, I was creating comedy skits based around Jiu-Jitsu and other ideas that I just thought were funny along with sharing some of my other passions. Towards the end of 2021, I got cast on a reality show for Telemundo called “Por Amor o Por Dinero” which I finished 5th on.

It was a great experience and the show finished in the new year of 2022. I continue to train and teach Jiu-Jitsu, act, create content, do magic, and music and work hard towards my goals every day. It’s a fun journey and every day brings something new.

I’m sure you wouldn’t say it’s been obstacle-free, but so far would you say the journey has been a fairly smooth road?
I had a great childhood but growing up sometimes was tough. My mom was a single mother and raised my sisters and me on her own. Although sometimes it was tough, she gave us the best life she could and we were all very happy. I grew up with a lot of love in my home and a lot of support from my mom in whatever it was I wanted to pursue.

The school was also tough. I always found myself wandering off in class. I enjoyed going to school but didn’t enjoy going to class. I just wouldn’t apply myself because I knew at a young age what I wanted to do. Although I was a natural athlete and very good at sports, I couldn’t play baseball because I didn’t have a 2.0-grade average.

This is where I do feel the school system is flawed because I feel there are many talented kids who don’t get to play sports because of this and sometimes, it just has to do with someone not being interested in wanting to do something. That is how I really got into doing magic.

Since I didn’t have to have a minimum grade average to do that, I would just practice and practice and practice till before I knew it, I had gotten pretty good at it.

Thanks for sharing that. So, maybe next you can tell us a bit more about your work?
It’s hard to say what exactly I specialize in since I do a few things. I am a martial artist and Jiu-Jitsu black belt. I teach during the week and also train. I also work with some influencers for boxing. One of them has a fight coming up on June 11th. His name is EvilHero and has 3.5mil on TikTok.

Last year, I got to be part of the Logan Paul camp for a little bit when he was getting ready to fight Floyd Mayweather. I had brought two elite boxers for him to spar with during his camp. Also, a content creator, and I post content 4-5 times a week on my Instagram and TikTok (@jitscruz) as an actor.

What I would say, I’m most proud of is when my song charted on LatinBillboard top 40 for Top Latin Airplay. It was great to see all my hard work come to life a little. Second I would say getting my blackbelt in Jiu-Jitsu. A lot of people quit in the process and that was just proof that consistency is key.

What was your favorite childhood memory?
My favorite childhood memory would be when I was playing baseball. Saturdays were my favorite. Wake up, go to the field to go play. My family was in the crowd cheering for me.

After the game, going to eat with my team and then spent the evening at home with my mom, stepdad, and sisters watching movies and eating junk food.

Contact Info:

• Email: [email protected]
• Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/jitscruz/
• Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/jitscruz
• Twitter: https://mobile.twitter.com/jitscruz
• Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/c/JitsCruz
• Other: https://www.tiktok.com/@jitscruz?lang=en

Image Credits
Bruce Weber, Blanca Marisa Garcia, Kane Truillo, EvilHero, Logan Paul, Beyond Paranormal, and Alberto Crane