In a landmark ruling that reverberates through both legal and athletic communities, Jack Greener, a former college student and surf instructor-in-training, has been awarded $56 million after a catastrophic injury during a jiu-jitsu training session left him paralyzed from the neck down.
The case, which unfolded over several years and culminated in a California Supreme Court decision, has not only delivered justice to Greener but also raised significant questions about the responsibilities of sports instructors and the limits of acceptable risk in high-contact sports.
A Routine Sparring Match Turns Tragic
In 2018, Jack Greener, then a 23-year-old college student and white-belt jiu-jitsu beginner, walked into the Del Mar Jiu-Jitsu Club in California. Like many athletes eager to learn a new sport, Greener sought expert instruction, and he turned to Francisco “Sinistro” Iturralde—a second-degree black belt with a reputation for an aggressive grappling style. What was meant to be a standard sparring session quickly escalated into a nightmare.
During the roll, Iturralde applied a maneuver that placed his full body weight onto Greener’s cervical spine. The immense pressure resulted in a devastating injury—Greener’s cervical vertebrae were crushed, rendering him instantly quadriplegic. As he lay motionless on the mat, Greener’s mind was flooded with panic. In a video shared years later, he recalled the moment: “The first thought that came to mind was, ‘I’m going to be okay,’ and then the second thought was, ‘Oh s—, I can’t move.’”
Beginner Paralyzed After Jiu-Jitsu Move—$56M Verdict Upheld 🥋
— Intrigue Archive (@IntrigueArchive) June 6, 2025
San Diego, 2018: 30-year-old Jack Greener was left paralyzed from the neck down after a jiu-jitsu sparring session with black-belt instructor Francisco Iturralde, known as "Sinistro."
🎥Video shows Greener on all… pic.twitter.com/V8fyZXGfFp
The physical consequences were immediate and severe. Greener spent several months in the hospital undergoing intensive treatment, during which he also suffered multiple strokes. The incident occurred just weeks before he was due to graduate college and begin a career as a professional surf instructor—a dream that was shattered in an instant.
Legal Battle and Landmark Verdict
Following the life-altering injury, Greener and his legal team pursued justice through the courts. At the core of the case was whether the injury resulted from the inherent risks of Brazilian jiu-jitsu or whether Iturralde’s actions went beyond those risks. While Brazilian jiu-jitsu is undoubtedly a combat sport with inherent dangers, the jury in the 2023 trial found that Iturralde’s actions “unreasonably increased the risks” to Greener.
The jury agreed with Greener’s attorneys that the instructor had acted negligently, and his grappling maneuver created a risk level far beyond what a beginner should have been subjected to. This ruling carried significant implications for sports law in California. It affirmed that while athletes accept some level of risk when participating in sports, instructors have a legal duty not to unreasonably amplify those risks through reckless or negligent behavior.
Greener was awarded $46,475,112.33 in damages by the court after a lengthy trial. The defendants appealed the verdict, but on June 3, 2025, the California Supreme Court declined to overturn the ruling. With post-judgment interest, the compensation now exceeds $56 million. This amount is intended not only to cover medical expenses and long-term care but also to compensate for the profound emotional and psychological toll that the injury has taken on Greener’s life.
Attorney Rahul Ravipudi, who represented Greener, emphasized the importance of the decision. “This ruling 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,” he said in a statement.
A New Chapter in Athlete Protection and Accountability
The outcome of Jack Greener’s case sets a crucial precedent. Traditionally, sports injuries have been dismissed under the assumption that athletes consent to certain risks. However, this case shifts the paradigm, highlighting that the duty of care held by instructors does not disappear because of a sport’s inherently dangerous nature.
Instructors, particularly those with high levels of experience and authority like Iturralde, bear a responsibility to gauge the skill and physical readiness of their students. They are expected to foster a safe learning environment and avoid maneuvers that could result in catastrophic harm—especially when training beginners. The jury’s conclusion that Iturralde’s conduct was negligent opens the door for greater scrutiny in similar cases where athletic injuries are potentially avoidable.
Furthermore, this case serves as a wake-up call to martial arts academies and sports facilities across the country. It emphasizes the need for comprehensive safety protocols, rigorous training standards for instructors, and clear guidelines about what constitutes acceptable techniques—especially in settings where physical disparity between instructor and student is significant.
Jack Greener’s case also resonates beyond jiu-jitsu circles. It touches on broader issues within organized sports, from youth leagues to professional training facilities. It brings attention to power dynamics between coaches and athletes and reinforces that the trust placed in instructors must never be abused, either through carelessness or unchecked aggression.
In the years since his injury, Jack Greener has become a symbol of resilience. While the injury drastically altered the trajectory of his life, he has used his voice to raise awareness about the risks inherent in contact sports and the need for instructor accountability. The multimillion-dollar settlement, while monumental, cannot fully restore what was lost. But it does offer a form of justice and a cautionary tale that may help prevent similar tragedies in the future.
As for Francisco Iturralde, a once-celebrated practitioner known as “Sinistro” for his intense fighting style, his career now bears the heavy stain of a judgment that found his actions negligent and damaging beyond repair. What once seemed like a prestigious martial arts path has now become mired in controversy and legal rebuke.
In a world where sports often blur the line between challenge and danger, Jack Greener’s story underscores a simple yet powerful truth: safety must never be sacrificed in the pursuit of skill, and responsibility must always accompany authority.