John Danaher

Date: 2021-05-28 | Duration: 3h 27m

Episode Overview

John Danaher dives deep into the evolution and intricacies of grappling and mixed martial arts, emphasizing the importance of submission-focused competition formats. He critiques how some rule sets encourage stalling or “gaming the system,” advocating instead for matches without strict time limits to allow athletes to fully engage in high-level problem-solving on the mat. Danaher shares memorable stories from martial arts history, including the origins of key techniques like the triangle choke and the Kimura, highlighting how the sport’s technical knowledge has evolved over the past century. The conversation also explores the physical and mental attributes essential for success in combat sports. Danaher discusses how flexibility, strength, and mental discipline interplay in training, using examples like Gordon Ryan’s rapid rise and unique skill set. He reflects on coaching philosophies that prioritize technique and adaptability over raw power, stressing the value of pushing athletes into disadvantageous positions during training to build resilience and problem-solving skills. Throughout, Danaher offers insights into the balance between tradition and innovation in martial arts, underscoring the ongoing refinement of grappling as both an art and a science.

About John Danaher

John Danaher is a renowned Brazilian jiu-jitsu coach and a pivotal figure in the sport, celebrated for his innovative teaching methods and deep understanding of grappling. As the head instructor at the famed Danaher Death Squad, he has guided numerous athletes to success, including UFC stars like Georges St-Pierre and Gordon Ryan, earning a reputation for creating champions. Danaher is known for his analytical approach to technique, emphasizing the importance of strategy and mindset in martial arts, which has captivated both practitioners and fans alike. His appearance on Joe Rogan Experience episode #10011 provided fascinating insights into the evolution of Brazilian jiu-jitsu and the intricacies of competition, making him a compelling voice in the world of combat sports.

Key Moments

– Mixed Martial Arts
– Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu
– Submission Grappling
– Combat Sports Training
– Athlete Development
– Martial Arts History
– Physical Conditioning
– Injury and Recovery
– Mental Discipline
– Fight Strategy
– Rule Sets and Scoring
– Coaching Methodologies
– Boxing Techniques
– Striking Arts
– Leg Locks
– Sports Nutrition
– Electric Vehicles
– Technological Innovation
– Ethics in Sports
– Sports Psychology
0:00:49 – Importance of sport organization for development
0:03:26 – Pushing action towards submission holds
0:06:56 – Avoiding contact leads to boring matches
0:10:07 – Athletes gaming overtime rules
0:12:00 – Potential for very long matches
0:15:49 – Discussion of a martial arts life story movie
0:19:00 – Graphic injury and gold medal outcome
0:25:13 – Skill improvement sometimes harms grappling
0:27:33 – Jiu-jitsu fundamentals regardless of opponent
0:31:28 – Crowd incentivizing athletes to attack
0:35:14 – Jiu-jitsu as one of the greatest products
0:37:11 – Jiu-jitsu learned to avoid in MMA
0:40:20 – Historical origins of triangle choke
0:42:06 – Naming conventions: Kimura and Americana
0:46:38 – Discussion on incredible defensive skills
0:49:37 – Boxing evolution with nutrition and recovery
0:52:42 – Thai boxing training methods
0:57:59 – Taekwondo training emphasizing power
1:04:26 – Power as a martial arts superpower
1:10:15 – Mental discipline in athlete success
1:14:11 – Conflict and violence in human society
1:18:38 – Martial arts as high-level problem solving
1:22:28 – Coaching to reduce decision-making time
1:28:05 – Success of a 42-year-old grappling competitor
1:31:46 – Observations on elite athlete attributes
1:34:22 – Reasons for sex divisions in jiu-jitsu
1:39:56 – Mike Tyson's early prodigy status
1:44:42 – Roadblocks to combat sports success
1:48:22 – Devastating knockout power in boxing
1:51:34 – Kickboxing matches and notable fighters
1:54:33 – BJ Penn's rapid black belt achievement
1:59:06 – Using legs effectively in grappling
2:04:47 – Power vs technique in boxing and jiu-jitsu
2:07:59 – Strategy in ground fighting with George St. Pierre
2:13:16 – Gordon Ryan's health and training challenges
2:16:07 – Emotional impact of athlete health issues
2:22:29 – Jordan as a future influential coach
2:28:51 – Managing ego clashes in group classes
2:34:06 – Dealing with infections and hygiene in gyms
2:40:07 – Impact of severe hamstring injury
2:44:16 – Sustainability of martial arts training over time
2:50:11 – Travel's impact on skill development
2:53:22 – Challenges of slow transportation in Puerto Rico
3:01:24 – Car weight and handling comparisons
3:06:10 – New electric pickup truck introduction
3:09:06 – Tesla's charging infrastructure advantages
3:12:26 – Emerging aluminum-based battery technology
3:17:31 – Gene manipulation and ethical concerns
3:22:00 – Human problem-solving and adaptability
3:23:30 – Validity of old school leg locks

Transcript Excerpt

Starting point is 00:00:00 the Joe Rogan experience Starting point is 00:00:49 um a true key in the development of any sport is some kind of uh organization which showcases it Starting point is 00:01:41 So it's a very encouraging thing. Starting point is 00:01:55 watch it together, and they'll be like, Starting point is 00:02:37 That's correct, yes. Starting point is 00:03:26 you can do is to push the action towards submission holds. And submissions function Starting point is 00:03:53 I find it appealing to win on points. Starting point is 00:04:16 Like as impressive as judo, wrestling are as sports, the mechanism by which they win, in judo's case, the Ippon throw, they do have submissions in judo, Starting point is 00:04:42 and still kept fighting and won. Starting point is 00:05:23 extra distance and try to win by submission. Starting point is 00:06:08 They represented the ideal of control to submission. Starting point is 00:06:56 used it not as a means of encouraging submission, but actually avoiding any form of contact and making for a very boring first five minutes in many cases. Starting point is 00:07:55 in order to get the result they seek, so too an athlete can find any interpretation of the rules Starting point is 00:08:32 is the pro is you're forced to, you're in a real bad situation from the jump, either back mount or Starting point is 00:09:25 resources on the overtime and they can win in the overtime. So it creates the same sense in Starting point is 00:10:07 So unfortunately even EBI runs into the same problem of athletes gaming the system. Starting point is 00:10:40 That's the way you find out. Starting point is 00:11:09 and the other day I'm going to have a scientist Starting point is 00:11:28 say Gordon's healthy again, why would you have a time limit on that? Starting point is 00:11:51 Start at 5 p.m. Run that pitch till midnight. Starting point is 00:12:00 This match in front of me could be four hours long. Starting point is 00:12:27 limit. Ideal...

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Frequently asked about this episode

Who was the guest on Joe Rogan Experience #10111?

John Danaher was the guest on JRE #10111. This page includes the episode overview, topics discussed, and related resources.

What topics were discussed on JRE #10111?

On Joe Rogan Experience #10111 with John Danaher, topics include Mixed Martial Arts, Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu, Submission Grappling, and Combat Sports Training.

Where can I read the transcript for JRE #10111?

The full searchable transcript for Joe Rogan Experience #10111 with John Danaher is available on this page, along with key topics and timestamps.