A FITNESS guru is suing a self-defence school for over £40,000 over claims she had her hamstrings ripped off the bone by an “aggressive” instructor during a class.
Personal trainer Fiona Hayes, 47, says she suffered the brutal injury due to her instructor using a “dangerous and reckless” manoeuvre to floor her.
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The incident happened during a Muay Thai self-defence class at the Dynamic Self Defence Academy in Hendon, North West London, in November of 2019.
Fiona says she was engaged in a “light sparring session” with her coach Marcel Oladeinde-Adeyemi, a champion Muay Thai fighter, when he “aggressively” yanked her leg, causing her knee to “pop”.
The incident forced Ms Hayes to undergo major surgery to repair “a complete avulsion of the three hamstring tendons” from the bone.
Her lawyer Michelle Marnham says in court documents: “During the course of the sparring, the claimant kicked her right leg and Marcel Oladeinde-Adeyemi grabbed it, locking the right leg under his elbow.
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“He then pulled the right leg aggressively towards him and, as he pulled the right leg, the claimant felt a pop from the right leg. He then swept away the claimant’s left standing leg.
“The purpose of taking hold of the opponent’s leg with the technique is to disturb their balance so as to maximise the effect of the leg sweep on the supporting leg,” she said.
“Hardly any force is needed to achieve this. If Mr Oladeinde-Adeyemi had exercised reasonable care and skill in carrying out the technique, he would not pull the leg aggressively as the claimant describes.”
Ms Hayes, of Granville Road, Golders Green, North London, is now suing the self-defence academy, Proguard Armour Ltd, of St Albans, Herts, for over £40,000 in compensation for her injury.
The lawyer claims the champion Muay Thai instructor used “excessive force which was not required and which was dangerous in a light sparring session.
“Whilst the claimant accepts there is an element of risk, the injury of the kind and severity suffered is not one that would occur if reasonable care and skill were applied.”
Proguard solicitor Gideon Hajiof denies any blame and says his client was not negligent.
“In the circumstances of a Muay Thai class, during which physical contact between participants is accepted, the coach acted with adequate skill and care.
“The defendant’s coach did not perform a dangerous or reckless manoeuvre.”
He insists Mr Oladeinde-Adeyemi performed the “routine technique” in “a controlled manner,” adding that “he did not deliberately injure the claimant.”
“It is specifically denied that any such contact was deliberate or malicious.
“The claimant is put to strict proof that the defendant’s coach used aggressive force.
“It is denied that any such injury provides prima facie evidence that the defendant’s coach used excessive force.
“There was no force used in sweeping and guiding the claimant to the floor, which he undertook in a controlled manner.”
The case reached court for a brief pretrial hearing and is set to return for trial at a later date.
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