Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu’s point system ironically values back control as a high-scoring position, yet many practitioners find themselves in frustrating stalemates when attacking from the back. John Danaher, the renowned BJJ coach behind the Danaher Death Squad, famously describes the typical back attack scenario in many gyms as “a complete disaster.” Students often end up “flailing around,” with little to no progress in securing a submission. This common struggle highlights a critical gap in understanding and applying effective back attack strategies.
John Danaher Back Attacks Instructional Cover
Danaher’s approach to Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu is built on the principle of gaining and exploiting advantages. He argues that traditional back attacks often fail because they lack this fundamental principle. In typical scenarios, both the attacker and defender are on relatively equal footing. The attacker attempts a choke with one hand, easily defended by the defender’s two hands. This equal footing results in frustrating gridlock and missed opportunities. John Danaher, however, advocates for a system where you never fight on equal terms, especially when you’ve achieved back control.
Back Control Frustration in BJJ
The John Danaher system transforms the back attack into a highly effective and dominant position. Instead of simply grabbing for a choke, Danaher-trained athletes immediately seek to create an asymmetry, an advantage that tilts the fight decisively in their favor. This often involves securing one side, capturing an arm, and systematically dismantling the opponent’s defenses. The result? A dramatically increased submission rate and a reputation for back attack mastery.
John Danaher's Advantage Based Back Attack System
This focus on systematic advantage creation is the cornerstone of John Danaher’s revolutionary approach to back attacks. His athletes don’t rely on brute strength or hopeful submissions. Instead, they employ a series of interconnected attacks, each designed to build upon the last, constantly amplifying their advantage until the submission becomes inevitable. This methodical and strategic approach has redefined back attacks in modern grappling.
Dominant Back Control in Jiu Jitsu
The effectiveness of the John Danaher back attack system isn’t just theoretical; it’s been repeatedly proven at the highest levels of submission grappling. The Danaher Death Squad (DDS) athletes have achieved remarkable success, securing submission victories over world-class competitors from the back. Champions like Yuri Simoes, Romulo Barral, Vagner Rocha, AJ Agazarm, and Luiz Panza have all fallen victim to the DDS back attack system. These aren’t just gym submissions; these are victories against the elite of the sport, demonstrating the system’s reliability under pressure.
Danaher Death Squad Athlete Secures Back Submission
Perhaps one of the most compelling examples of the John Danaher back attack system in action is Gordon Ryan’s victory over Yuri Simoes at ADCC. In a highly anticipated superfight between two ADCC gold medalists, Ryan, a Danaher student, utilized the system to perfection. He took Simoes’ back, methodically isolated and trapped an arm, and systematically dismantled Simoes’ defenses before sinking in the fight-ending choke. This wasn’t an isolated incident. Ryan replicated this dominance against Romulo Barral in Abu Dhabi, choking out the world champion from the back in mere minutes.
The influence of John Danaher’s back attack system extends beyond submission grappling competitions and into the realm of mixed martial arts. Georges St-Pierre, upon his return to the UFC in 2017 after years away, showcased the Danaher system in his championship-winning performance. It was with a rear-naked choke, a staple of Danaher’s back attack curriculum, that St-Pierre secured victory and reclaimed his title. This crossover success further solidifies the system’s effectiveness and adaptability across combat sports.
Georges St-Pierre UFC Championship Rear Naked Choke
The rear naked choke from back control is often considered the quintessential submission in grappling. It’s a powerful and versatile technique applicable against any opponent, provided it’s executed correctly. However, despite its significance, many practitioners neglect dedicated practice and innovation in back attacks. John Danaher has dedicated himself to precisely this area, achieving groundbreaking success and developing a system that elevates the back attack to an art form.
The dominance of Danaher-trained athletes in submission-only competitions further underscores the system’s effectiveness. In scenarios where athletes choose their attack position after regulation time, those trained by John Danaher consistently select the back. Remarkably, they achieve submissions from this position over 80% of the time. This jaw-dropping submission rate highlights the potency and reliability of Danaher’s back attack system, even against highly skilled opponents.
John Danaher Back Attack System Efficiency
For those seeking to transform their back attack game, eliminate frustrating escapes, and become a true submission threat from the back, the John Danaher system offers a comprehensive and proven solution. This system provides the strategies and techniques necessary to become a submission ace, regardless of opponent skill level.
John Danaher: The Architect of Modern Grappling
In the world of Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu, John Danaher’s name carries a unique weight, synonymous with innovation, strategic depth, and unparalleled athlete success. As a Renzo Gracie black belt instructor, Danaher has cultivated a mystique rooted in the consistent victories of his students and the perceived “secrets” behind their exceptional grappling prowess. His influence on modern grappling continues to expand as his students achieve ever greater heights in competition.
John Danaher’s approach to BJJ is truly distinctive, seamlessly integrating methodology, technique, and strategy in a way that sets him apart. His academic background in philosophy, combined with an intense focus on the fundamental principles of Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu, has fueled his journey to develop some of the most effective and efficient grappling systems in existence today. Danaher is often described as a “warrior-poet,” capable of articulating not just the “how” of a technique, but also the “why,” “when,” and “how to improve it.”
This unique perspective has sparked a revolution in sport Jiu-Jitsu. Danaher’s athletes are not point fighters; they are relentless submission hunters, utilizing superior game plans and systems to overwhelm opponents. The Danaher Death Squad has dominated sub-only tournaments like EBI and Polaris, and figures like Gordon Ryan have become global grappling superstars, achieving electrifying victories at prestigious events like the Abu Dhabi Combat Championships.
John Danaher Explaining Grappling Principles
Danaher initially gained recognition for his groundbreaking work on leg locks, a previously underappreciated aspect of BJJ. Leg locks were often dismissed as unsophisticated or desperation moves. While some practitioners showed proficiency, few at the elite level prioritized them. John Danaher recognized the untapped potential of leg attacks and dedicated years to experimentation and refinement, ultimately developing a robust and replicable system.
Currently the head coach at Renzo Gracie’s New York City academy, John Danaher deviates from the typical martial arts instructor mold. Holding a JD in philosophy from Columbia University, his instruction often resembles a physics lecture or a logic puzzle more than a traditional martial arts class. He is known for his exhaustive approach to teaching, leaving no detail unexplored for those willing to learn and apply his principles. This deep dive into the fundamentals of fighting has attracted even elite MMA fighters, with champions like Georges St-Pierre and Jake Shields regularly seeking out Danaher and the DDS for instruction.
The mystique surrounding John Danaher and his methods has only grown as practitioners witness the blend of art and science inherent in his approach. The Danaher Death Squad is not simply a collection of specialists relying solely on leg locks or opportunistic foot attacks. They are well-rounded, highly skilled athletes who trust in their coach’s guidance to continuously reach new levels of performance.
Explore the John Danaher Back Attack System
This revolutionary system is detailed in the “Back Attacks: Enter The System” instructional series, covering a wide range of principles and techniques across multiple parts:
Part 1: System Overview, Fundamental Principles of Back Control and Offense/Defense.
Part 2: Core Principles including Neutrality, Primacy, Percentage, Top Position, Hidden Hand, and more.
Part 3: Underarm Side Control, Grips, and Neck Penetration Systems.
Part 4: One-Handed Strangles, Rear Naked Choke Mechanics, and Overarm Side Attacks.
Part 5: Auxiliary Systems, Rear Triangle, Diversifying Attacks, and Troubleshooting.
Part 6: Advanced Attacks including Leg Attacks, Arm Attacks, Twister Transitions, and Crucifix Strangles.
Part 7 & 8: Establishing Hooks and Rear Mounts, Entries, and Rolling Techniques.
This comprehensive series offers a complete roadmap to mastering the back, guided by the insights of one of the most influential figures in modern Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu, John Danaher.
