Jiujitsu fighter loses action

A FORMER weightlifting champion who injured his right knee and foot in a jiujutsu martial arts session and has not worked since has lost his action for damages in the High Court.

Neil Bradley, aged 40, of Lammy Walk, Omagh, Co Tyrone had brought proceedings against Letterkenny Community Centre Ltd, Co Donegal, and Josie Murray, a five-time Olympic champion in the martial arts and an instructor in jujitsu who organised and ran classes at the centre.

Mr Bradley told the court he was engaged in a “take down procedure” with his opponent on November 22 2005, at the centre. As they attempted to knock the legs from under each other, Mr Bradley said the mats, which had been locked together, moved and his foot went between them.

As he tried to return his right leg back to the ground he suddenly felt something in his knee and fell down. The pain was unbelievable, he said.

Six days later he went into hospital for surgery but it was still not right. He had to wear a foot wrap splint, had no upward movement in his foot, had problems with his ankle, knee and hip, and faced the possibility of further surgery.

In his judgment Mr Justice Iarfhlaith O’Neill said the mats were the standard type and were entirely suitable for the jujitsu classes.

The mats were only two years old and it was highly unlikely they would move in the activity involved.

Thus, the evidence of the plaintiff and a supporting witness had an air of improbability about it and Mr Justice O’Neill concluded that the accident did not happen in the manner alleged.

The judge said the plaintiff initiated his claim for damages on March 21, 2006 — four months after the accident — and made no mention of the mats moving in that letter, but had sought to blame the matter on a failure of supervision.

The evidence had persuaded the judge that the accident was not caused by the movement of the mats creating a gap but by the unexpected tripping attempt by Mr Bradley on his opponent, which resulted in him coming down on Mr Bradley’s outstretched leg.

Mr Justice O’Neill dismissed the claim.