Highlights from the Lacerda Cup All Army Combatives Championship at Fort Benning, Georgia, Apr 2026

The Lacerda Cup All-Army Combatives Championship is the premier hand-to-hand combat tournament for the United States Army. It is a grueling, multi-day event held annually at Fort Benning, Georgia, designed to test the physical and mental limits of Soldiers through the Modern Army Combatives Program (MACP).

Here is a breakdown of what makes the Lacerda Cup significant:

1. The Namesake
The competition is named in honor of Staff Sgt. Pedro Lacerda, a legendary figure in the Army combatives community. Lacerda was a member of the 75th Ranger Regiment and was the first Black Belt professor of Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu within the regiment. He was a driving force behind the development of the Modern Army Combatives Program before his passing.

2. The Format & Rules
The tournament is designed to be as realistic as possible while maintaining safety. It typically follows a tiered progression of rules:
Early Rounds (Basic): Often focused on grappling (submissions) to narrow the field.
Intermediate Rounds: Strikes are introduced, typically using open-hand palm strikes to the head and closed-fist strikes to the body.
Finals (Advanced): The championship rounds often take place in a "cage" (similar to MMA) and allow for full-contact striking, kicking, and grappling.

3. Weight Classes & Teams
Soldiers compete in eight weight classes (ranging from Bantamweight to Heavyweight). While individual belts are awarded to the winners of each class, the Lacerda Cup is also a team competition. Units from across the Army—including active duty divisions like the 82nd Airborne, Special Operations Command (USASOC), and the National Guard—field teams to compete for the overall team trophy.

4. Recent Noteworthy Results (2026)
The most recent championship concluded in April 2026 with several historic milestones:
National Guard Dominance: The National Guard fielded two multi-state teams, finishing 3rd and 6th overall out of 21 teams—their strongest performance in tournament history.
Jeremiah Slagle: Sgt. Jeremiah Slagle (Ohio National Guard) secured his third consecutive title in the cruiserweight division, becoming only the second Soldier in history to achieve a "three-peat."
Individual Champions: Other winners included Spc. Isaiah Castellanos (Bantamweight) and Staff Sgt. Alexander Myers (Heavyweight).

5. Why It Matters
Beyond the "bragging rights," the Lacerda Cup is a validation of the Warrior Ethos. The Army views combatives not just as a sport, but as a critical survival skill. The tournament reinforces the "willingness to close with the enemy," tactical composure under extreme physical stress, and the resilience required for modern ground combat. Receive SMS online on sms24.me

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