Jiu-Jitsu Student Paralyzed by Instructor Awarded $56 Million in Landmark Injury Case

Jack Greener has been awarded $56 million after being left paralyzed by his jiu-jitsu instructor

A California man who was left paralyzed from the neck down during a jiu-jitsu training session has been awarded more than $56 million after a court ruled that the instructor’s actions went beyond the acceptable risks of the sport.

Jack Greener, 30, was a beginner-level white belt at Del Mar Jiu Jitsu Club in San Diego when he sustained a life-altering spinal injury while sparring with his instructor, second-degree black belt Francisco “Sinistro” Iturralde, 33. The incident occurred in 2018 and left Greener a quadriplegic.

Greener (pictured on his Instagram on August 9, 2024) has become an inspiration for paralyzed athletes, documenting his journey online after the accident

Video footage of the session captured the moment when Greener, positioned on all fours, was forcefully flipped forward by Iturralde, causing his neck to twist violently and rendering him instantly immobile. Rener Gracie, a renowned Brazilian jiu-jitsu expert who testified in the case, stated that the maneuver placed the instructor’s full body weight on Greener’s neck, leading to immediate loss of limb function.

At the time of the injury, Greener was just weeks away from graduating college. He was hospitalized for months and suffered multiple strokes as complications from the spinal trauma. The devastating injury drastically altered the trajectory of his life.

Greener's instructor, Francisco Iturralde, nicknamed “Sinistro,” or “Sinister,” was a second-degree black belt at the Del Mar Jiu Jitsu club

Greener filed a lawsuit against the Del Mar Jiu Jitsu Club and Iturralde, who is known in the jiu-jitsu community as “Sinistro” — a nickname reflecting his intense and aggressive grappling style.

In 2023, a San Diego jury awarded Greener $46 million after determining that the instructor’s actions exceeded the inherent risks of the sport. The club appealed the decision, but both the California Court of Appeal and, most recently, the California Supreme Court refused to overturn the ruling.

The incident happened on November 29, 2018, at the Del Mar Jiu Jitsu club in San Diego, California

With post-judgment interest, the award now totals more than $56 million.

Greener’s attorney, Rahul Ravipudi, emphasized the broader significance of the court’s decision, stating that the outcome “cements a critical legal victory not only for our client, but also for injured athletes across California by reaffirming that sports instructors and facilities may be held accountable when they unreasonably increase risks beyond those inherent in the sport.”

Despite his injury, Greener has become a mountain climber and motivational speaker, inspiring others through his resilience and determination.