Del Mar Jiu-Jitsu Injury Case Concludes with $56M Payout: What It Means for our Industry.
Chris Martin interviews Michael Phelps at Del Mar Jiu Jitsu club September 2024.
In November 2018, Jack Greener, a 23-year-old Brazilian jiu-jitsu student, sustained a catastrophic spinal cord injury during a class at Del Mar Jiu-Jitsu Club in California. Instructor Francisco Iturralde performed a maneuver that placed his full body weight onto Greener’s neck, resulting in crushed cervical vertebrae and temporary quadriplegia. Greener, who was weeks away from graduating college and beginning a career as a surf instructor, spent months hospitalized and suffered multiple strokes during his recovery.
In 2023, a San Diego jury awarded Greener over $46 million in damages. In May 2025, the California Supreme Court declined to review the case, finalizing the jury’s decision. With post-judgment interest included, the total compensation now exceeds $56 million.
The jury found that the instructor’s actions went beyond the assumed risks associated with jiu-jitsu training and constituted gross negligence. Legal professionals noted that while martial arts carry an inherent level of risk, instructors and gyms may face liability when those risks are significantly elevated by conduct outside normal practice.
Attorney Gabe D’Antonio, a Brazilian jiu-jitsu black belt wrote an analysis of the case detailing its implications for martial arts liability. He emphasized that participant safety must be proactively addressed and that gym owners should not assume traditional waivers or general liability coverage will fully protect them.
D’Antonio noted several areas of exposure:
Insurance Coverage Gaps: Many martial arts facilities maintain general liability policies that exclude participant injury claims—the exact type of incident at the center of the Greener case.
Risk Management Oversight: Instructors should follow structured safety protocols, regardless of rank or competition background.
Legal Accountability for Conduct: Courts are drawing a clearer line between assumed risk and negligent conduct, especially when techniques cause severe injury.
Chris Martin, CEO of JiuJitsuInsurance.com, has been closely following this and other legal actions involving injury claims in martial arts. Martin has conducted interviews with legal experts, gym owners, and others involved in recent lawsuits, including the Atos v. Perada case and other injury claims currently unfolding in California. This documentation is being released as part of a broader content series focused on emerging liability risks in the combat sports industry.
The Greener verdict is now one of the most significant legal judgments in martial arts injury litigation. According to legal observers and insurance providers, the ruling reflects a broader shift in how the courts evaluate instructor responsibility and gym owner liability in high-contact training environments.
Further industry analysis, insurance options, and case commentary are available through JiuJitsuInsurance.com and its affiliated blog.
Legal Precedent and Key Takeaways
According to legal experts, the affirmation of this verdict sends a clear message: instructors and martial arts facilities can be held liable when their actions go beyond what is reasonably expected in training.
What Gym Owners Need to Do Right Now
The team at JiuJitsuInsurance.com has published a detailed breakdown of what this verdict means for the martial arts community. The article highlights three critical actions for gym owners:
Enforce Standards — Regardless of Rank:
No one is exempt from basic safety and conduct standards. Even black belts must be held accountable to rules that prioritize student safety.Communicate Risks Clearly to Participants:
While BJJ and other martial arts involve contact and risk, gym owners must ensure those risks are disclosed in writing and acknowledged via signed waivers and clear instruction.Review Your Insurance Policies — Today:
Many gyms assume they’re covered, but often, standard general liability insurance excludes participant injuries— the exact kind of claim involved in this case. Gym owners are urged to consult with specialists to review their coverage and consider adding supplemental accident insurance, especially given the rise in litigation.
The Bigger Picture: This Will Not Be the Last Lawsuit
"This isn’t a one-off case," says Chris Martin, CEO of JiuJitsuInsurance.com. “We’ve already seen an uptick in lawsuits across California and other states. As more gyms open and more students join, these risks — and the financial consequences — only grow.”
Chris Martin after training Jiu Jitsu at Del Mar Jiu Jitsu club September 2024.
Martin emphasizes that instructors must understand the weight of their actions on the mat. “The line between a competitive roll and an unsafe one isn’t always clear — but courts are showing less tolerance for ambiguity when someone gets hurt.”
A Call to Action for the BJJ and Martial Arts Community
The Del Mar verdict is a harsh reminder that passion, tradition, and martial values are not legal defenses. The martial arts community is being called to evolve: not just in skill and technique, but in accountability, professionalism, and business practices.
Chris Martin leaving Del Mar Jiu Jitsu after interviewing the owner of the gym.
For gym owners, this means upgrading insurance, training staff, enforcing safety standards, and protecting their students — and their livelihoods.
For students, it’s a reminder to advocate for safe training, understand their rights, and ensure they’re covered in the event of injury.
If you operate a gym or train regularly, now is the time to review your insurance and risk policies. Learn more or request a free coverage review at JiuJitsuInsurance.com.
References
“Paralyzed Man Awarded $46M After Injury During Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu Lesson in Del Mar,” NBC San Diego, May 2025. Link
“$46M Verdict Cemented for Young Man Paralyzed During Del Mar Jiu-Jitsu Lesson,” Times of San Diego, June 2, 2025. Link
D’Antonio, Gabe. “The Del Mar Jiu-Jitsu Case: Implications for Martial Arts Liability and Insurance,” JiuJitsuInsurance.com, May 2025. Link
“Jiu-Jitsu Student Wins Huge Sum After Being Paralyzed During Lesson in California,” Daily Mail, June 2025. Link
“The Incident Unveiled: McDojo Breakdown Exposes $46 Million Lawsuit and Challenges Jiu-Jitsu Gym Owners to Prioritize Safety,” JiuJitsuInsurance.com, June 2025. Link
“Revamping Safety: Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu's New Era of Risk Management,” JiuJitsuInsurance.com, June 2025. Link
