One of the most iconic faces in the BJJ world who isn’t a comparator is legendary coach John Danaher.
It’s a well-known fact that Danaher has had several medical issues, but it seems like they have finally caught up with him.
The legendary coach, known for developing some of the greatest grapplers in modern history—including Gordon Ryan—has been battling chronic injuries for years. Now, faced with a long road of recovery, Danaher is questioning whether he can continue coaching at the highest level.
Danaher’s journey in BJJ has been nothing short of incredible. Though he began the sport later in life with a severe leg injury, he quickly established himself as an elite coach, first gaining prominence as the grappling mastermind behind the UFC great Georges St-Pierre. From there, he created the Danaher Death Squad, a team that dominated the submission grappling scene with Gary Tonan and Gordan Ryan. Sadly, as the team grew, there was a split.
Danaher went on to build New Wave Jiu-Jitsu, which picked up right where the death squad left off. While former team members formed the “B Team.”
However, Danaher’s own physical struggles have been an ongoing battle. He has long dealt with severe hip and knee issues, which have progressively worsened over time. He previously underwent a hip replacement surgery eight years ago, which allowed him to continue coaching. But in the years since, his other hip deteriorated, and his knee—the original source of his problems—has reached the point where it must now be replaced as well. Alongside these major joint surgeries, Danaher is also undergoing a bilateral inguinal hernia repair and eye surgeries to correct his vision.
In his statement, Danaher said that the toll his injuries have taken on him has forced him to reconsider his future in the sport:
“You have to work with what you’ve got: In my Jiu jitsu journey one of the biggest issues was always my own body. I began the sport late with a crippled leg. I always tried to live as active a life as my body would permit. Unfortunately, when one part of the body is compromised, other parts have to take an added strain, which, in the long term, will cause problems.”
With four surgeries lined up this year, the recovery and rehabilitation process will require a lot of time off and physical therapy. As a result, Danaher has admitted that his role in Jiu-Jitsu may have to change.
“The doctors say that generally this is the end of any kind of Jiu jitsu type movement at high level. As such I will most likely have to make a reappraisal of my role in Jiu jitsu coaching. I hope that given enough time I can return to high level coaching but it may be that I have to switch focus to more recreational Jiu jitsu coaching,” Danaher said.
Danaher does remain optimistic about the legacy he has built. He noted that his students have grown into excellent teachers themselves and will continue to develop and refine the techniques and the philosophies he has instilled in them.
“If I do have to step away from coaching professional athletes, my students are without exception, truly outstanding teachers so I am extremely confident that they can represent what we espoused far better than I ever did and contribute greatly to the sport’s continued growth,” Danaher explained.
For the BJJ community, it’s a pretty big shift. Danaher has shaped the modern game more than almost any other coach, and his influence on leg locks, positional control, and a systems approach to grappling has left an indelible mark on the sport. While his coaching career at the highest levels remains uncertain, his impact will undoubtedly endure.
Now, with one operation down and three more to go, Danaher faces his biggest challenge yet—rebuilding his body and determining what the next phase of his journey in Jiu-Jitsu will look like.
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