What’s the most important skill to have in Jiu-Jitsu, in order to be successful at it?
According to John Danaher, it is not some sort of a guard, a type of a razor-sharp submission or another, or anything similar…
But rather, he says that all of the most successful Jiu-Jitsu athletes have two skills that are a part of their character.
Wonder what they are?
Danaher shared all about them in a recent social media post:
All the most successful people I met and trained in Jiu jitsu had an insatiable desire for knowledge and a tremendous willingness to do the physical work to transform that knowledge into skill.
Throughout his experience as a coach, Danaher has clearly seen these two skills stand out:
There were great differences among them all, but those two commonalities stood out as clearly as the sun and moon.
View this post on Instagram
Danaher has spoken about this in other ways as well, including his opinion that you should not aim to become a black belt, but rather someone who is tremendously skilled:
The only thing that counts is the skills you have. I know plenty of black belts that suck. There’s a lot of them out there. Don’t lower your standards by saying: “I want to get a black belt.”
Ask yourself something much more important: “How good do I want to be?” [And the answer is] you want to be damn good, right?
You want to be the best that you can…Wearing a belt around your waist doesn’t guarantee that. Build skills, focus on that.
Sloth Jiu-Jitsu: The Ultimate Guide for Calmly Beating Bigger, Younger Opponents
💥 What if slowing down was the fastest way to win?
💭 Tired of Getting Smashed by Younger, Stronger Grapplers?
It’s not your age. It’s your strategy.
If you’re a passionate grappler over 35 who’s sick of getting outpaced, outmuscled, or out-cardio’d by opponents half your age — this 120 page e-book was made for you.
🔓 Unlock the Power of Sloth Jiu-Jitsu:
Build Sustainable Strength—Without Wrecking Your Joints, Energy, or Jiu-Jitsu
Tired of waking up sore and burnt out after lifting? Sloth Strength is a proven blueprint for grapplers over 35 who want to get stronger—without the pain, burnout, or injuries.
Developed from 25 years on the mats, this no-burnout approach is made specifically for BJJ athletes in their 30s, 40s, and beyond.


