The Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu community recently witnessed one of the most inappropriate displays of poor sportsmanship at a Grappling Industries tournament. A viral video captured a father first mocking and then flipping off a young female competitor, sparking widespread criticism and debate within the community.
The incident, which quickly gained traction online, was recently addressed by respected BJJ instructor Dante Rivera during an interview on the Jits and Giggles podcast. Rivera clarified that the father in question is not a Jiu-Jitsu practitioner himself.
“No, he does not train Jiu-Jitsu at all,” Rivera stated. He explained that initial reports misinterpreted the young girl’s actions, adding, “I mistook her for doing crying eyes at him… somebody pointed out to me from another video that she wiped her hair out of her face.”
Grown man mocks and gives the finger to a little girl at Grappling Industries
by inbjj
Despite the misunderstanding, Rivera firmly condemned the father’s behavior. “Even though he’s my friend, there’s no reason to give the girl a finger. I don’t care what she did. You’re an adult. She’s a kid. Period.”
The Fallout and Public Reaction
According to Rivera, the backlash against the father has been severe. “The man called me up crying,” he revealed. “People even wrote bad reviews on his business that hurt his business.” While acknowledging that the father acted inappropriately, Rivera also expressed concern about the level of backlash, particularly the threats directed at the man’s family.
In an attempt to show goodwill, Rivera stated that he purchased a lifetime membership for the young competitor through social media. The mother of the girl, Heidi Underwood Krogstad, has since urged the community to stop the harassment, stating, “I really hope the threats to the Mother of this boy stop immediately!!! No mother deserves this.”
Father’s Explanation and Apology
After the video went viral, the father finally spoke out, explaining the events leading up to his outburst. He claimed that the young girl had mocked his son after defeating him in competition.
“What was not seen in the video was after the match ended, which my son lost, he was crying. The girl in the video turned to my son and made the crying face at my son and told him to cry about it. The ref warned her to stop, she then walked towards me and said the same thing, which is when I lost my cool.”
However, he admitted that his reaction was unjustifiable and took full responsibility for his actions. “It should have never happened, and I should have never lost my cool. Two wrongs don’t make a right, and all I can do is apologize.”
Expressing remorse, he continued: “I should have acted like an adult. Unfortunately, I didn’t. I am disappointed with myself for how I conducted myself. This should have never happened. All I can say is I am truly sorry.”
He concluded his statement by directly apologizing to those affected. “I’m sorry to the girl in the video and to my son. Also, to our gym. I’m sorry for my actions.”
A Lesson in Sportsmanship
The incident has sparked a broader discussion within the BJJ community about proper behavior at youth competitions. Many practitioners and coaches have praised Rivera for his balanced approach in addressing the misconduct while cautioning against excessive retaliation.
Rivera stressed the importance of measured consequences, stating, “The punishment should be on level with the incident.” He urged the community to maintain perspective and avoid unnecessary aggression.
This controversy serves as a strong reminder that, as adults in the sport, it is crucial to set positive examples for young athletes, reinforcing the values of respect, composure, and sportsmanship in competitive environments.
Sloth Jiu-Jitsu: you can be slow and unathletic and still kick butt in Jiu-Jitsu.
