From Mat to Courtroom: A Wake-Up Call for BJJ Coaches.

A coach at M5 Jiu Jitsu does a good job supervising the training in the gym.

In Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu, injuries are part of the game—but when negligence is involved, serious harm can lead to lawsuits. And no waiver will fully protect your gym if you're not actively keeping students safe.

On August 15, 2017, Ray Perada was attending his tenth training session at The Jiu Jitsu League in Long Beach. During a sparring round with a more experienced purple belt, he was caught in a chokehold. Before he could tap, the buzzer ended the match. Afterward, Ray showed clear signs of distress—he was out of breath, limping, and confused. No coach intervened. No medical attention was offered. This lawsuit highlights how critical proper supervision is during training. When early warning signs are missed or ignored, the consequences aren’t just physical—they can be legal and financial, too.

What Coaches Can Learn From This

While the court eventually dismissed claims against some of the parties, the case made one thing clear: coaches and gym owners have a duty of care to their students. You cannot hide behind a waiver while scrolling your phone during sparring sessions. You cannot leave pairings entirely up to the students and assume things will be fine.

You are the authority in the room—and with that comes responsibility.

Ways This Incident Could Have Been Prevented

1. Active Supervision During Sparring:
   Live rounds aren’t a break for instructors. Coaches must stay engaged, alert, and mobile during sparring, watching for signs of distress or dangerous mismatches in pace, weight, or experience.

2. Smarter Pairing Protocols:
   Newer students should be paired thoughtfully—not just based on belt rank, but also on intensity levels and rolling habits. Coaches who know their students can avoid risky pairings.

3. Education on Injury Symptoms:
   All coaches should be trained to recognize the early signs of a concussion, oxygen deprivation, or neurological issues. Confusion, imbalance, or sudden fatigue are red flags—not just signs of being “tired.”

4. Immediate Post-Round Check-Ins:
   A 30-second check-in after each round, especially when a student looks shaken, can help catch problems before they escalate. “You good?” isn’t enough—ask questions and observe.

5. Clear Injury Protocols:
   Have a system in place. If someone shows signs of injury, stop the session, assess the student, and involve medical professionals if needed. Document it. Protect your people—and yourself.

We stopped by our client Gabriel Sousa’s gym in Apex, North Carolina to check out one of their classes—and we were impressed. The coaches did an excellent job managing the rolls and supervising sparring, which is a great example of effective risk management in a Jiu-Jitsu gym. Check out the video below to see how this academy prioritizes safety while maintaining high-level training:

Waivers Don’t Cover Negligence

Too many coaches rely on liability waivers as a false sense of security. While waivers are helpful, they do not protect you if you're found to be negligent—especially in a scenario where a student is clearly showing signs of injury and nothing is done.

If your student ends up hospitalized—or worse—and there’s video or testimony showing you were on your phone or failing to monitor the mats, you can be held accountable.

Jiu Jitsu waivers don’t get you “off the hook”, but everyone should have waivers.

The Bigger Picture: Culture Starts at the Top

Creating a culture of safety doesn’t make your gym “soft”—it makes it strong, sustainable, and professional.

The top black belts in the world understand that real leadership isn’t just about technical skill—it’s about protecting your students, guiding their growth, and minimizing unnecessary risks. Your responsibility as a coach doesn’t stop when sparring begins. Now is the time to take a hard look at your gym’s risk management plan, make any needed updates, and ensure your safety policies are clearly communicated to your coaches, staff, and students on a regular basis.

We stopped by Misfits Jiu Jitsu in St. Charles, Illinois to talk with Coach Brad about how he approaches risk management in his academy. Check out the video below to hear his strategies in action:

Final Thoughts

Ray Perada’s story is a serious wake-up call for the Jiu Jitsu community. Regardless of how you feel about the legal outcome, the facts are clear: a newer student showed signs of injury, and no one stepped in soon enough. Could it have been prevented with proper supervision or sideline coaching? Possibly—but by then, it was too late.

Now more than ever, Jiu Jitsu coaches need to take safety seriously—not just on the mats, but behind the scenes. This means creating a clear safety plan, supervising with intention, and being proactive about risk management.

It also means protecting yourself. If you’re teaching at a gym, ask for a copy of their liability insurance and make sure you’re actually covered by name. If you’re not sure—or if you’re teaching independently—you should have your own coach liability policy in place. We can help you get covered for less than $500 a year.

If you need guidance, templates, or a quote, don’t hesitate to reach out. Your students—and your career—are counting on you.