Jury Awards BJJ Student 46 Million Dollars after this Testimony 

"bjj is absolutely unsafe wtf guys" Such a poetic way to summarize all our thoughts.

I thought he overstepped when he sold every member of the jury a Quickflip hoodie.

My old coach would purposefully partner the newer people with the more advanced practitioners for safety . I Never saw a newer person get injured with that pairing . It was almost always when it was two newer people .

“It’s actually industry standard to f*** your move up because you suck at jiujitsu.” Gold! This definitely is industry standard!

I don't know about you guys, but if my coach broke my neck during casual sparring because he couldn't execute a technique safely, I'd be pretty angry...

The bright side of the whole tragedy is the large amount of awareness it created in the BJJ community to the SAFE way to perform that back take

The editing and entertainment value of these videos are improving at a ridiculous rate 😅 well done

Hope your well out there. Cant wait to see you back 💪💪💪

hope you guys are doing okay would love to see some content from you two just to know how you're doing 💜

I'm an ex-instructor under Rener, and I'm still in their system as a student. I agree with you. What Rener got right, what he got wrong (overreach), 100%. I left partly because he's all about money, and I just want to teach jj to my community without all the hassle and random payments. For example, you guys don't know, he invented a re-certification scheme which any instructor under rank of black belt has to pay money every 2 years to keep their license. I walked.

What happened brother? Why dont you upload

Honestly I can't lie I thought rener did a pretty honest job. Big point he emphasized was accidents don't exclude liability. When I'm rolling with my training partners it's my responsibility to make sure they don't get hurt especially if they're white belts. Accidents happen, this was an accident, but it doesn't change the legality of the situation. The reality of the situation is the black belt did something that injured the white belt, in addition to that it was done improperly, and in addition to THAT it was just generally one of the least safe options he had from turtle in order to obtain back control.

11 years training so far resulted in 3 surgeries, broken toes/fingers, countless sprains etc. i have competed but wouldn’t say I am a serious competition guy. We just train hard and injuries happen.

For you to say Rener’s BJJ is watered down? His grandfather is Helio. I train at a Gracie U and I do so because they don’t believe you have to roll hard every time. Many older blackbelts can’t or don’t any more because they are injured or hurt. Nothing wrong with training at a level that is sustainable especially if you don’t desire to compete. As for the accident, should there be a higher standard for a blackbelt especially an owner and 2nd degree world class practitioner to practice safer moves on a student regardless of skill level? Why should the onus be on the student to react correctly in a split second when there are way more safer moves available? Rener is correct in his assessment and Rener is a great ambassador for BJJ because he is making it more accessible for everyday people.

Such a great editorial I watched it twice! Thanks Andrew!

Rener is a born salesman, with all the good and bad that comes with it… That said, I really enjoyed training at his school, and the environment they’ve created. It is definitely more of a hobbyist school, but the jiu jitsu knowledge there is definitely deep.

We need more videos!! Where you at!?

This happened in 2018. The verdict would have come out sooner, but have you seen how long it takes Rener to get to the technique in his videos?

Life is better with Wiltse content ❤

Personally, I think some injuries are expected in BJJ. It isn't a safe sport. You're an idiot if you think you'll never get hurt. On the other hand, I do NOT think it is reasonable for a student to expect that his instructor might break his neck and make him a quadriplegic. So, I may not agree with all of Rener's testimony, but I still think the jury got the decision correct.

Pretty much agree 100%. I'm not on the Rener hate train but he seems like a very strategic choice for an expert witness considering his philosophy on white belts training differs from the entire rest of the bjj community, and he is very good at charismatically describing jiu jitsu to an uneducated audience.

It’s been a minute since you all posted. I hope you all are doing well and taking care of yourselves!

Thank for sharing your feelings on this, and definitely agree. Great info!

Andrew is becoming a wizard with the edits 🤣, keep the content coming bro!

I think it was pretty clear that Reners business model was to sell out every possible marketing opportunity even slightly related to bjj. Eventually, they gave him enough money for him to be willing to sell bjj out itself.

Great analysis and insight, thanks for the video

I love how you have Rener peaking out behind your chair when you mention him! Lol! Spit my coffee out on my computer, LOL!

A simple rule I once saw on a Gyms wall was "If you Injure somebody here then you can return when they do, no exceptions!" .. I agree with it

This video correctly mentions how injuries can happen with BJJ and sparring. This is really an issue separate from this case. As someone age 61 who has done Judo competitively starting age 12 until the joints stopped cooperating, and BJJ for decades, I understand that people I randori-spar with can be bad training partners (especially strong white belts) and put me at risk for injury even though I think I am pretty good at protecting myself. However, when a student is learning from an instructor and paying that instructor to teach him, white belt with no vs some experience or a belt with some color, not good for the instructor to be doing a dangerous move that the author of the video stated was not properly performed. If I am to be injured and get my neck broken from improper technique, I could imagine that happening by sparring with someone in the class that is unsafe. I would not think of it the same way if it came from the black belt instructor I was paying to teach me. I would bet my neck it would not happen if I were sparring with Rener, which I have done many times. There is a distinction between sparring with people in your class or in competition and being a student of the person you are paying to teach you, and that distinction is really not addressed in this video. Just my 0.02.

It's up to the defense team as to what to pay expert witnesses. "bjj is absolutely unsafe wtf guys" Brilliant, let's try to make it even more unsafe by negligently and incorrectly performing techniques as a black belt. Great plan.

Glad you spoke out

Love the courtroom background! Judge, Jury, and Executioner Wiltse.

I'm gonna transition to online jiujitsu now lmao

Thanks Andrew. That was informative,

Wiltse Bros are a gawddamn treasure! Thanks for this gem! 😆😆😆

Bro, when will be your next video? Don't be a RU-vid blue belt pls 🙏

Now this is some quality content.

Coach Brian from Teach me Grappling made a pretty good case that this was a case of negligence

One thing people may not be aware of is the gym itself is not on the hook for the $46 mill - the insurance company used by the gym is responsible for the compensation. This verdict will definitely drive up the premiums clubs pay for insurance in the future though 😅💰

Seeing the video where Rener explain his analysis of the move that happened is pretty compelling, and white belts don't usually know where to roll or when to tuck. And coming from his own coach makes me think that he should be a little bit more concerned, specially when your student don't know what to defend the move.

the edit on the elites popping up on screen is absolute gold

Awesome video Andrew

Its been a minute since you guys uploaded vids. Hope u and bird are all good

Why no videos in the past few months?

Best breakdown I’ve seen so far. Very fair to both sides. We’ll done.

Thanks for posting this, especially for the hilarious candor and memes! If possible, can you post a video on how to defend/counter this Leo Viera backtake when in turtle? Any content on how to be offensive while in turtle would also be greatly appreciated.

I’ve trained karate for 35 years and have always made a point of cross training at any dojo that’ll have me. When you’re the new kid especially from another discipline you’re seen as a scalp so you get a harder session. I think that’s what has happened here - although a low grade he was apparently tough and experienced so got a harder session. I got my mcl torn in the same circumstances - a jitsu guy wanted to show me how good he was and got carried away.

Injuries are common in BJJ . I've torn ligaments in both my kneecaps in competition and also slipt disk in lower back during takedown training. I feel sorry for the coach because of the guilt he must have felt injuring a student and also hope that the injured student makes a 100% recovery with he's health.

Well, now we know from the Reddit thread what's going on with you. It's great to hear things are on the up and up for you now. It's pretty obvious, from all the threads and people that you are well loved in the community. Hope that helps you feel better in the long run. Take your time, well, not toooo much time, 😄, and feel better and return when possible. Stay close to your brother, because he's the rock in your life right now.

Thank you for this!!! Oss 🤙🏿

The most accurate take on this whole thing I've seen so far.

Great breakdown.

Love the videos keep going

I actually stopped training because I realized how messed up you can get. I had to weigh out the benefits after I got rolled weird on my neck. Too much on the line right now to get that jacked up

Dang, this channel is gold

Damn man. I just found your content. I'm new to grappling. 38 years old. White belt jiu-jitsu. Like really green. I searched all these videos and yours are the only ones that I connect with. I found your shit and fell in love. Watched all of it. Connected with your depression, anxiety, ADHD and bi-polar confessions. All your shit hits home with me even though I'm a peasant old white belt. Your content is Gold! And if it means that much to me then I know it touches thousands. Your real as fuck and that's what we need. Don't know what's going on in your life but I hope your okay. Can't wait for your next video. God bless you.

Super even-handed response thanks

the rolling back take is one of my fav moves i can execute well and never have i thought of the danger generally you dont roll over you roll at an angle

Thank you for telling the truth and publicly expressing these observations.

As an MMA guy and dad, I have visited a lot of BJJ gyms, including Rener's affiliates, and I'll be honest, I agree with some of their safety practices and thought some of it should be standard. I'll say this, if it's about JUST self defense, you only really need a blue belt to defend yourself. If you can't defend yourself against an untrained guy at blue belt, change gyms. BJJ at the most part, only become injury prone when they do extra shit that don't work, or shouldn't be done for self defense anyway. Like berimbolos, inverting, heel hooks, etc... These moves are VERY injury prone and is unnecessary for self defense. Like take the video, wtf does a white belt need a rolling back take for? White belt should be all about stuff like kuzushi, elbow escapes, and triangles.

"it's actually industry standard to fuck your moves up" lol lol 😂 this hits too close to home

I have a cervical injury, and both shoulder laburnums torn. And an MCL tear that healed well. 11 years of bjj.

Tried panda for the first time last night. Scooped up some orange chicken. I have my first tournament at the end of the month and need all the help I can get. Thanks bro.

Meme avalanche! Love the green screen and editing! Was laughing the whole time❤😂

Rener just announced that he's donating the 100k to Spinal Cord Injury Network International, so take that into account when making a judgement.

Well done. I think I still land on the opposite side of things but this was a very fair and well argued/explained opinion, thanks.

Pretty balanced response. I'm a fan now...everyone knows you stomp guys out and now I see you've got the gift of gab

Without being able to read the trial transcript, it’s impossible to determine to what extent his testimony affected the case. I’d like to see exactly what he said, what the cross was, and what the defense experts said.

Man, you are the best!

Did Rener really say "industry standards"? I didn't hear that from Rener's video statement. Does anyone know if that's a direct quote, and if so, is there a transcript somewhere of his testimony?

Andrew, will you please explain the logo character? What is it?

great videos haha love it

Oh man so perfectly said!

Rener looks like the type of person who would split the money with the student...

At this point the BJJ community would be a lot better off if the Rorion side of the Gracie tree would just f*ck off into obscurity.

where have you been?

I wouldn't say Jack was temporarily a quadriplegic. He still has a lot of everyday difficulties, has a limp, a cane, and will likely be effected by this for the rest of his life.

Good job to Rener and to you also. Thanks.

can u make a video on how to make the best of a bad school? we only have one school in my area and I just want to work on some basic self defense

I see comments saying Renner is a snake. Idk-if you’re totally wrecked for life from a freak accident like this, it changes things. I doubt many calling him a snake would just shut up and move on with their quasi-life after an accident like that.

Agree ... 100%. It is indeed, Industry Standard to execute moves in 'less-than-perfect' fashion ... after all, our partners (in rolling) are NOT COMPLYING!! I'd ask Rener if he has ever witnessed an injury on his mat - if he has - then there it is, an instance of 'less than perfect' execution ... if he denies ever having witnessing an injury on his mat - I would suggest he's telling fibs. let's keep in mind, one of the main thrusts of BJJ, is to dominate and submit a non-compliant training partner; as such, it is a semi-violent and constantly changing dynamic, taking place between two people - and it would more the exception rather than the rule, wherein both participants were fully aware of each others capabilities and responses. A Jiu Jitsu mat, is to a large degree, a chaotic environment. Injury is part an parcel of Jiu Jitsu practise ... in stepping onto the mat, we all accept the risks ... just as we do when driving our car, swimming the ocean, hiking, etc. People will be injured playing lawn bowls FFS! I won't presume to guess at Rener's motivations - he is correct of course, in pointing out the 'sub-standard' execution of the technique in question; but if this sets a precedent (unsure of how the law works in the USA) then the Jiu Jitsu landscape might be in for a shock, moving forward. One can foresee a myriad of lawsuits in the future, a massive hike in insurance costs s - or worse, the practise of Jiu Jitsu might even become an 'uninsurable' activity. Yikes! My feeling is that Rener put the focus on 'improper execution'; (in that I agree) - but I don't feel that's where the focus should be ... perhaps that should have been the purview of the defending attorneys. Combat Sports are inherently dangerous activities ... in short - shit happens! As instructors , we can do a lot to mitigate injury, but no matter how diligent we are in bringing such measures into effect - people are people, they will react in weird ways, do weird things, execute sub-standard versions of techniques they know well, etc ... even monkeys fall out of trees.

Rolling back take, elite move taught in beginners classes world wide. Between these and scissor takedowns when I was a whitebelt, I’m surprised I escaped with my life.

You are the goat andrew

Great videos. I agree 💯

Dig your videos. When and who is your next match? 🤘

I find it disgusting that this guy (wistle)would try to blame the white belt for his injury in such a disingenuous manner. He brings shame on the martial arts community, caring more about insurance costs than the welfare of people. 1s, he tries to downplay the man's injuries..."temporarily paralized"... who here would sign up to be paralyzed for a week, let alone several years fighting to get some movement back, never to be the same again. Then, to be deceptive, pretty much flat out lie about the man climbing a mountain....he would have you think the man is climbing mountains like Tom Cruze mission impossible.... if you actually watched the film, he walked a mountain trail with several people assisting him along the way. Walking a mountain trail and climbing a mountain are two different things. Then, to say the white belt spiked his head.... how?? The video shows the instructor launching himself over the man's head, holding him in basically a one arm in bear hug, forcing the man over his own head. By that logic, if someone punches you in the face, it's your fault for running into his fist. Explain how a white belt "failed to tuck his neck." How can you fail to avoid a move you don't see coming? How is Greener supposed to know what the black belt was planning to do. He could have just rolled to the side he trapped the arm on... what a sensible person would do. Why trap the arm and then roll over the man's head? Where do you think most of that money went?? Do you think they doctors and lawyers worked years for free? Wistle talks about how much a soul is worth.... how much is your spine worth? The ability to run and complete at the highest level.... how much is that worth? I'm pretty sure Mr. Greener didn't see half the number you came up with. It appears this man cares more about insurance costs and winning a throphy than actually people, and that's sad.

You knows what's crazy at the current gym i train at the black belt instructor was kinda having a go at me for warming up before class, I said I was slightly injured from training and he was like people dont get injured in bjj, i was like what the fuck is this guy talking about and then after class I wasn't rolling with everyone so he mentioned I don't roll enough and asked to roll with me I was like alright, mid roll he ends up cranking my elbow we both heard around 3 or 4 pops. That was about 3 weeks ago and my elbow is still sore 😫

I find it extremely hard to believe that a black belt instructor breaking a white belt's neck is not negligent in extreme

A few things I believe were taken out of context: 1. BJJ is known as the gentle art based on being able to subdue an appointment without causing catastrophic harm i.e., knocking someone out or slamming them on their head, and I believe it is agreed upon that it is the most gentle art if compared it to the big 4:boxing, muay thai, judo and wrestling. 2. I don’t know how we you are telling a man who’s family basically invented the art, how the art is supposed to be practiced. 3. The student was originally getting zero compensation for medical bills which is why Rener decided to testify on his behalf and donated his compensation to spinal cord research so Im also not sure why he is being besmirched in this video. He is a stand up guy who devoted his life to the art of jiu jitsu and his family is responsible for it being where it is today period. 4. Not all his students “suck” starting with Brian Ortega who went from white to black belt under him and has fought for the UFC feather weight title twice, getting there mostly with his jiu jitsu. You can also thank his family for the UFC existing.

Love this breakdown. Always on point-keep them coming Andrew!

Great points made...personally I think there was a lack of control in the roll which considering the level of the black belt equals negligence. I tell my students all the time to look out for each other as well as to tap early and often. I express often that loss of control and the failure to tap will most likely result in injury. The culture that we are building on my team is one of camaraderie. We train hard but we look out for each other. Thank God Mr. Green made a recovery. Don't really have any comments on Rener, he is what he is.

I feel you’ve made a lot of valid points on this video. Definitely game me some food for thought 100% agree with the BJJ is unsafe. It is just a case of WHEN not IF you get injured I am currently a member of a BJJ school associated with Gracie University. I'd be reluctant to say "we all suck" I myself have taken opportunities to cross train at sports BJJ clubs on a handful of occasions and I did surprisingly well when rolling against their students. Something I took away from those experiences was just how different the training mentalities between the clubs were, but putting that point to one side for the moment, at it's core we were all just doing the same things, Throwing up triangles, hunting for heel hooks, going for back takes. It's all Jiu Jitsu, we all have a deep love and a vested interest in this awesome martial art!

Fair review

rumor is he back with daisy fresh but now we get 0 content casue there so scared for someone else to release content from there place .. kinda cringe them acting like there to good for somneone elses content not rembering andrew was the face of there brand but they forget that

I remember when I first started, a few months in, I was rolling with a blue belt who was a wrestler (not very good at wrestling, just big and explosive) and he hit a fireman’s carry on me. But while I was going down, not knowing what I was doing, I stuck my head up and landed on it and cracked my neck. Luckily I was completely uninjured apart from minor pain that lasted only a day or two, but it was pretty scary and definitely taught me a lesson to always duck when getting taken down in that way. It scares me seeing this and knowing that this could’ve been me had I been less fortunate.

I always use that back take move and nothing ever happened to my opponent...I alsmot injured myself from the jumping and slipping...I do it on lightweights, heavyweights, white belts, black belts

It’s definitely industry standard that people don’t react correctly to moves either. With live resistance there’s so much variability in how someone is going to react, and due to this I don’t think it was negligent on the professors part given that the white belt had sufficient experience in my opinion. If it was his first or second month with no prior experience I would probably think differently

Great video

There are few things as dangerous as two white belts going at it so I think it should be standard to pit them against higher belts as much as possible rather than the other way around.

I teach jitz at a college and always have day 1ers and spazzy young bucks coming in. I PREACH safety. In this life nobody leaves unscathed.