Jiu-jitsu instructor must pay $56 million to novice student for causing irreversible damage to him

A California court has upheld a $56 million payout to Jack Greener, a beginner-level jiu-jitsu student who was left paralyzed from the neck down following a devastating injury during a 2018 training session.

Student left quadriplegic by training injury

Greener, who was a 30-year-old white belt at the time, suffered a catastrophic spinal cord injury while training under Francisco “Sinistro” Iturralde, a second-degree black belt known for his “dynamic and aggressive” style. The incident occurred at Del Mar Jiu Jitsu Club in San Diego and was captured on video, which later became key evidence in court.

According to medical and martial arts experts, Iturralde applied a technique that drove the full weight of his body into Greener’s neck, far exceeding what would be considered a normal risk in jiu-jitsu. The maneuver rendered Greener quadriplegic.

“Dangerous technique, poorly applied”

The case attracted widespread attention in the martial arts community and beyond, in part due to the expert testimony of Rener Gracie, one of the most recognizable figures in Brazilian jiu-jitsu and co-owner of Gracie University. Gracie testified that the move in question went beyond the accepted standards of training safety, saying: “It was a dangerous technique, poorly applied, and it caused irreversible harm.”

Greener’s life was turned upside down just weeks before he was set to graduate from college. He spent months in the hospital, endured multiple strokes, and underwent a grueling rehabilitation process. Today, he has reinvented himself as an adaptive climber and motivational speaker, using his platform to advocate for resilience and athlete safety.

Precedent set for similar cases?

Greener sued both Iturralde and the Del Mar Jiu Jitsu Club for negligence. In 2023, a San Diego jury awarded him $46 million in damages. The defendants appealed, but both the California Court of Appeal and the California Supreme Court upheld the verdict. With added interest, the total compensation surpassed $56 million.

His attorney, Rahul Ravipudi, emphasized the case’s broader implications: “This verdict confirms that instructors and sports facilities can be held accountable when they escalate risks beyond what’s inherent in the sport.”

Legal analysts say the ruling could set an important precedent for similar cases involving injuries in high-risk athletic environments, putting greater responsibility on coaches and training centers to prioritize student safety.

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