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Review of Case Materials
Reviews records, documents, testimony, data, and other relevant materials and consults with counsel regarding technical issues related to the matter.
Provide Expert Analysis
Applies specialized knowledge and experience to evaluate the technical or professional issues involved.
Form Expert Opinions
Develops independent, supportable opinions based on the available evidence and relevant standards.
Prepare Expert Reports
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A suitably qualified martial arts expert can review the technique being practiced, participant experience and rank, instructor directions, sparring format, intensity of contact, protective equipment, mat configuration, supervision, video, witness accounts, and the sequence immediately before the incident. The expert should also identify the particular martial art because rules governing permissible techniques, scoring, contact, equipment, and competition areas differ among disciplines. Current governing materials illustrate those differences: USA Karate publishes 2026 competition rules, the International Judo Federation maintains 2026 Sport and Organisation Rules, and World Taekwondo maintains its own competition rules and equipment requirements.
“Martial arts” encompasses activities with substantially different techniques and rules. Karate competition can distinguish kata from kumite; judo centers on its own throwing, groundwork, scoring, and prohibited-action framework; taekwondo has separate competition and protective-equipment requirements; and sanctioned mixed martial arts operates under a different rules structure involving striking and grappling. An expert should therefore identify the discipline, organization, competitive or recreational context, participant level, and rules or policies in effect at the time rather than applying one generic martial-arts standard.
Depending on the discipline, relevant evidence may include headgear, gloves, mouthguards, chest or trunk protectors, shin or forearm protection, other approved equipment, mats, padding, equipment condition, fit, inspection records, manufacturer information, and governing-body requirements. ASTM F2397-18 addresses performance requirements for protective headgear used in martial arts such as karate, wushu, and taekwondo where repeated participant contact not intended to produce injury is contemplated within the standard's stated scope. World Taekwondo rules separately require specified approved uniforms and protective equipment for covered competitions. Those requirements should not be generalized to unrelated disciplines or organizations. Detailed opinions concerning product design, material failure, impact testing, or defective protective equipment may require specialized sports-equipment, product-design, materials, or other appropriate engineering expertise.
Prepares clear, well-supported expert reports outlining methodology, analysis, findings, and opinions.
Provide Deposition Testimony
Explains findings and opinions under oath and responds to questioning during deposition testimony.
Testify in Court
Presents specialized findings and opinions clearly to judges, juries, arbitrators, or other decision-makers.
A suitably qualified martial arts expert may analyze and, where the available evidence permits, reconstruct the activity that produced the injury, including the technique attempted, participant positions, permitted or prohibited actions, level of contact, training or competition format, supervision, matting, equipment use, and event chronology. The expert's sport-specific analysis should remain distinct from diagnosing the injury or determining whether a strike, throw, fall, joint technique, or other event medically caused a particular condition. Medical diagnosis and specific medical-causation opinions typically require appropriately qualified medical or other health-care expertise, subject to the jurisdiction and the particular opinion, while detailed analysis of forces, loading, movement, or injury mechanics may require separate biomechanical expertise.
Useful materials may include class, sparring, or competition video; photographs; participant enrollment and rank records; instructor credentials; class and lesson plans; sparring rules; competition rulebooks; organizational policies; mat and facility photographs; equipment specifications; inspection records; waivers and orientation materials where relevant to factual context; incident reports; witness statements; and communications concerning prior incidents or training conditions. When matting or protective equipment is disputed, preserving photographs and the actual equipment before alteration, replacement, or disposal can be particularly important.
