Danaher Death Squad is one of the rare teams that’s managed to covet the attention of mainstream media. Previously Tonon was featured in Rolling Stone, even though they weren’t so good about always spelling his name and finer details. After all the mainstream media refers to bjj as “aggro” work out that’s in trend. For better or for worse.
John Danaher has managed to keep a degree of mystery to himself even though his monologue rants or instagram are achieving cult status.
New Yorker observed him teach a guillotine class – guillotine is a trademark of the Renzo Gracie Affiliation.
“The problem with most approaches to the sport is that they offer a simple solution to a simple problem,” he told the class. “If the solution doesn’t work because the opponent is resisting, there’s nothing else to offer.” Danaher’s approach is different. “If there’s a failure in one part of the system, other parts of the system can be brought in to overcome that failure,” he said.
Indeed much of Danaher’s system relies on deploring Buridan’s a*s type duology where there are no good options for the opponent just equally dreadful ones.
What other things does this expose reveal ?
But the competitive core of the squad, its R. & D. department, is much smaller. This group is conducting a research program dedicated to systematizing “the art and science of control that leads to submission,” as Danaher likes to put it.
Cummings explains:
“The research has a similar feel to experimental physics,” Cummings told me. “You cheat, you look for ways to cut corners, make approximations here or there, ask yourself how you can play with the system, what if I lose this grip or that wedge, how does it change? Same sort of feel. But I feel like the field is ultimately rudimentary right now. I worry sometimes if John dies I’ll have no one to talk to. I’ll be in a room writing on a wall.”
One other thing they shine a light on is Danaher’s background.
Danaher was born in Washington, D.C. His father was a pilot in the New Zealand air force and an attaché to the U.S. military during the Vietnam War. When Danaher was young, the family returned home to Whangaparaoa, near Auckland, where he learned to kickbox.
Cummings also revealed his obsession has at times interfered with normal daily rituals:
“I haven’t slept in a few days, and it’s, like, two in the morning,” Cummings said. “She’s, like, ‘You know, it’s such a slippery slope. A couple times this week—you’re starting to go down that road.’ I’m sitting there, looking, watching more tape, I’ve got three computers going.” Cummings was getting worked up. “As I descend into insanity, I come up with game plans, like, I said, ‘I didn’t test against the knee slip,’ or something, something stupid. I see what’s happening. Did you ever go through that phase, John?”
“No,” Danaher said. “I managed to remain relatively sane by sleeping once a day, and eating regular meals, and conversing with people outside of jujitsu on a regular basis.”
You can read about all this and more over at NewYorker.
