Lack Of Financial Support Center Of Black Belt Champion Protest

The Brasileiro No Gi Open was held last weekend and Thiago Gaia emerged as the champion. Yet his accomplishment, though impressive, was not the highlight of the event. It was his silent protest during the awarding ceremony that drew the most attention from the media.

Gaia held up a sign that said “#Fighters don’t eat medals” while holding his gold on the podium. He posted a photo of the incident on Instagram reiterating that fighters deserve more than tokens for their hard work. He accused the organizations that govern BJJ of exploiting the athletes and called for greater financial support.