CHARLOTTE, NC — Ryan Alcala, a 28-year-old software developer and seven-month white belt at Centurion Jiu-Jitsu, was pulled aside after Wednesday’s open mat for a 20-minute lecture on respect and hierarchy after muttering “that’s messed up” when he was skipped for the third consecutive round.
The lecture, delivered by Professor Damon Kerrigan, 46, covered the nature of respect in martial arts, the importance of understanding one’s place, and why “the way things work here” should never be questioned aloud. It began at approximately 7:42 PM and concluded at 8:03 PM — a span that included the exact round Alcala had been waiting for.
“He needs to understand that mat time is earned,” Kerrigan told sources afterward, still wearing his black belt over a rash guard that read LEAD BY EXAMPLE. “You don’t just walk in here and demand rounds. That’s not how this works.”
Alcala, who pays $189 per month, had arrived at 6:55 PM, warmed up on his own, and sat against the wall through three consecutive partner rotations. When asked by a training partner what happened, he reportedly said, “I just said ‘that’s messed up’ under my breath. I didn’t even say it to him.”
Witnesses confirmed that during the lecture, at least four rounds took place on the mat behind them. One purple belt who had arrived 15 minutes late was paired immediately.
“Professor told me I need to show patience and earn my spot,” Alcala said, still in his gi at 8:47 PM, having rolled zero rounds. “He said the upper belts get priority because they’ve put in the time. Which, sure. But I’ve been here five days a week since October.”
Kerrigan’s lecture reportedly touched on his own 22-year journey in the art, a story about training in Brazil where “nobody complained, ever,” and a three-minute tangent about how social media has ruined the younger generation’s ability to accept hierarchy.
Alcala is the fourth student this year to receive the lecture. The previous three have since left the gym.
One of them, Marcus Webb, a blue belt who departed in February, confirmed via text message that he’d reached out to Alcala after hearing about the incident.
His message read, simply: “Run.”
At press time, Kerrigan had posted an Instagram story with a black background and white text reading, “If you can’t handle being uncomfortable, martial arts isn’t for you.” It received 11 likes, nine of which were from other gym owners.