For Zander Alcala, knowing the agony of defeat makes winning all the sweeter for everyone − especially his rivals.
After taking first place at a Brazilian jiu-jitsu (BJJ) tournament this summer in Dallas, Zander displayed sportsmanship and empathy by inviting the competitors who finished 2nd, 3rd, and 4th to share the top spot on the podium. Zander’s gesture prompted his proud papa to post a TikTok video, with the title “God gave you a talent. Humility is how you honor it.” Intended as a family moment, Zander’s gesture has earned more than 27 million views, 5 million likes, 219,000 shares, and a Musial: an impressive resume for a 6-year-old.
Zander understands how it feels to lose. “That’s why I invited them,” he says, “because that’s when you’re sad. I wish someone had done that for me.”
His parents, Yadiz and Edgar Alcala, were eager for Zander to learn BJJ with his brothers, Giovanni, 14; Ezekiel, 12; and Lucas, 8. Perhaps a little too eager. “When he was 4, he just sat there,” Yadiz says. She credits Keiser Girao “for making it fun.” In most sports, Girao would be called a coach; in Brazilian jiu jitsu, he’s referred to as a professor. The distinction matters.
“He’s a words-of-affirmation guy and praised Zander for whatever he did,” says Yadiz, who also was concerned that Zander needed to learn self-defense to ward off bullies. But in short order, Zander turned her fears into pride, both on the mat and the podium of kindness. Again, she credits professor Girao for instilling the sport’s foundational virtues. “Kindness and respect are very big in the jiu jitsu world,” she says. “When we saw what it did to his confidence and physical fitness, we dropped out of everything else because this was the biggest tool I could give my son.”
Still, the results of the tournament and the aftermath of Zander’s actions exceeded everyone’s imaginings. Zander had recently been promoted to a gray belt and faced tougher opponents. “We weren’t expecting him to win,” Yadiz says. “He was an underdog. But he worked so hard. To see him invite the others was sweet.”
He also emulated his role model, Mikey Musumeci, UFC BJJ bantamweight world champion. Like Zander, Mikey started competing at age 4. Like Zander, Mikey wears glasses and is known for respecting sportsmanship and the rules.
After the surprise victory and spontaneous act of kindness, Yadiz and Edgar were unprepared for the world’s reaction. “At first I was shocked,” she says. “But with so much negativity and sadness, the moment was a breath of fresh air. It gives people hope.”
She also thinks the varied ethnicities of the kids adds to the initial video’s impact. “It focuses on the humanity,” she says. “Regardless of our differences, we can also come together. So it was a lot deeper than that moment. Kids don’t see color; they see heart. Can we learn from this as human beings? I hope so.”
Since then, Zander has extended his grace in victory to include friendship building. Another video, shot a month later and watched by a scant 24,000, shows him hugging an opponent he has defeated, then playing a game of Rock Paper Scissors with him off to the side. “He tries to talk to other competitors,” Yadiz says. “He reminds them, ‘You’re not my enemy. Tomorrow, I could be the one losing.’”
Win or lose, we can’t wait to see what Zander does at his next tournament in December.
Since 2005, the nation’s best sports have come together in St. Louis for the Musial Awards, the most inspiring night in sports. Named for baseball hall of famer Stan Musial, the Musial Awards honor the year’s greatest moments of sportsmanship and the biggest names in sports who embody class and character.
Visit MusialAwards.com to learn more.
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