A Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu instructor has been dismissed and faces legal action after striking a gym employee who reminded him about the facility’s closing time in Campo Limpo Paulista, São Paulo, in May 2023.
The incident involved instructor Rodrigo Silva, known as “Cabelo,” and 26-year-old receptionist Raul, who had been employed at the academy for just one week. Video footage captured the confrontation, which began when Raul performed his routine duty of alerting Silva about the gym’s scheduled closing time.
According to Raul’s account, the instructor did not respond well to being reminded about the schedule. “I told him twice, first when it was ten minutes to closing and then again when it was five minutes to closing. He got stressed and angry because he didn’t want to close,” Raul explained.
The situation escalated as Silva’s students allegedly encouraged their instructor to confront the young receptionist.
“His students kept shouting at me, asking who I thought I was and saying that he was only getting ready to leave. But he wasn’t actually leaving; he was just talking,” Raul recalled.
Despite Silva’s claim that he was preparing to depart, Raul had already decided to leave the keys with the instructor so Silva could secure the facility himself. Before Raul could exit, Silva delivered a forceful slap to the young man’s face.
The receptionist showed remarkable restraint following the assault, choosing to leave on his bicycle and contact authorities rather than escalate the confrontation further.
Legal experts note that Silva’s actions carry potential consequences across multiple areas of law. The assault could constitute real injury under Article 140 of the penal code, particularly when violence is used to humiliate a worker in public. If the aggression resulted in physical harm such as hematomas or auditory damage, the instructor could face body injury charges under Article 129 of the penal code.
Beyond criminal implications, the incident has labor law ramifications. Silva’s conduct provided grounds for dismissal with just cause and direct termination of his contract. The civil sphere also offers recourse, as Articles 186, 927, and 932 of the civil code grant Raul the right to seek financial compensation for the embarrassment and psychological harm he experienced.
While Silva has been dismissed from his position and a police report has been filed, no public criminal conviction with a final judgment has been reported in the media as of the time of the incident’s documentation.
[Editor’s Note: Quotes have been translated and edited for better clarity and readability.]
Levou um baita tapa só porque pediu ao professor de Jiu-jitsu que cumprisse o horário de fechamento da academia. pic.twitter.com/UTzGXPelsC
— Adnan Peixoto (@AdnanvpPeixoto) August 7, 2026
