Danaher Instructionals: The Complete Deep Dive
Everything you need to know about John Danaher’s instructional library. From Enter The System to New Wave, leg locks to back attacks—this is your ultimate guide to the BJJ professor who changed the game.
John Danaher runs the most dominant competition team in no-gi history.
His students—Gordon Ryan, Garry Tonon, Craig Jones, and the Danaher Death Squad—hit submissions at a 70% rate from back control at the highest level. That number is insane.
But here’s the thing. Danaher didn’t become a legend by rolling every day. He became a legend by thinking.
Fun Fact: Danaher holds a Master’s in Philosophy from Columbia University. He got kicked out of his PhD program but used that analytical brain to rebuild BJJ from first principles. Now he wears a rashguard everywhere—even to weddings.
Since 2018, he’s dropped over 30 instructional series through BJJ Fanatics. They’re massive. Like, 8-10 hours per set. And they’re not easy watching.
But if you want to understand systems—real, repeatable systems that work at ADCC—Danaher is the guy.
Who Is John Danaher?
Let’s get the backstory straight.
Born in the U.S. but raised in New Zealand. Started BJJ at 28 while bouncing at NYC nightclubs. Trained under Renzo Gracie at the legendary blue basement academy. Eventually became a full-time instructor.
By the mid-2010s, his squad was wrecking people with leg locks. Eddie Bravo Invitational. ADCC. Polaris. Didn’t matter. They finished everybody.
The secret? Systematic drilling. No warm-ups. Slow, deliberate reps. Specific sparring from bad positions. And tons of back-takes and heel hooks.
💡 The DDS Training Method
40 minutes drilling (always starting with a takedown). Six 6-minute rounds of specific sparring. No rest between rounds. Unknown round lengths. You either learn efficiency or you gas out.
In 2020, the team left Renzo’s and moved to Puerto Rico. That experiment flopped. So they headed to Austin, Texas. The squad split. Gordon and Danaher formed New Wave Jiu-Jitsu (now Kingsway Jiu-Jitsu). Craig Jones and Nicky Rod formed B-Team.
Both teams still dominate. And both still use Danaher’s systems.
The Instructional Library: What’s Available
Danaher’s catalog breaks into four main series. Each one serves a different purpose.
Enter The System: The PhD-Level Stuff
What It Is:
Long-form, exhaustive breakdowns of specific submissions. Think of it like a college course on one topic. These aren’t casual watches. They’re study sessions.
The Core Series:
- Leg Locks: Enter The System – The one that started it all. Ashi garami. Outside ashi. Cross ashi. Heel hooks. Toe holds. This made leg locks mainstream.
- Back Attacks: Enter The System – The straitjacket system. Hand fighting. Leg control. Strangles. 8.5 hours of pure back control dominance.
- Kimura: Enter The System – Pushing vs pulling kimuras. The “power line” concept. Using kimura grip for sweeps, passes, and back-takes.
- Triangles: Enter The System – Front triangle. Opposite triangle. Rear triangle. Every angle covered.
- Front Headlock System – Guillotines. Anacondas. D’arces. Control-first philosophy.
- Armbars: Enter The System – Juji gatame from every position. Top. Bottom. Mount. Guard. All of it.
🎯 Best For:
Coaches building curriculum. Competitors going deep on one area. Anyone willing to invest serious study time.
Pro Tip: Watch at 1.5x speed. Danaher repeats himself a lot. That’s intentional—he wants concepts drilled into your brain. But you can speed through it without losing info.
New Wave Series: The No-Gi Curriculum
What It Is:
Danaher’s updated approach using modern terminology. These assume you understand the basics. They move faster. Less philosophy. More technique.
The Core Series:
- Submission Escapes – How to escape guillotines, armbars, triangles, kimuras, heel hooks. Then counter-attack immediately.
- Positional Escapes (Pin Escapes) – The 5-step escape method. Mount. Side control. Rear mount. Knee-on-belly. Turtle.
- Open Guard – Connection theory. Grip theory. The “knowledge denial model.” Two foundations of guard play.
- Half Guard: 3 Directions of Attack – Sweeping. Leg locking. Back exposure. Resolves the “half guard paradox.”
- Guard Retention – Six elements opponents need to pass your guard. Deny even one and they can’t finish.
🎯 Best For:
No-gi specialists. Competitors prepping for sub-only or no-gi tournaments. Anyone who wants updated systems with less repetition.
Danaher’s Advice: Start with Pin Escapes and Submission Escapes. Build your defense first. Then you can attack without fear.
Go Further Faster: The Complete Fundamentals
What It Is:
The most complete fundamentals program ever created. Covers standing. Ground (bottom and top). Passing. Escaping. Everything.
Core Areas:
- Stance, motion, grip, kuzushi
- Pin escapes and turtle defense
- Guard retention and guard offense
- Half guard (bottom and top)
- Closed guard attacks
- Open guard passing
- Pin maintenance and transitions
🎯 Best For:
White through purple belts. Anyone building a gi game. Coaches who need a structured curriculum.
⏱️ Reality Check:
This series is massive. We’re talking 40+ hours of content. Budget one month per instructional. Take notes. Drill the material. Don’t rush.
The Fastest Way & Ageless Jiu-Jitsu
The Fastest Way Series:
Condensed versions of Danaher’s systems. Less talk. More reps. Faster results. Good for people who want the techniques without the 8-hour philosophy lectures.
Ageless Jiu-Jitsu (New for 2024-2025):
Designed for grapplers 30+. Energy-efficient techniques. Less athletic requirements. More leverage and timing. Both gi and no-gi versions available.
🎯 Best For:
Ageless is perfect for older hobbyists. The Fastest Way works for busy people who can’t commit to marathon study sessions.
Danaher’s Teaching Philosophy
Most BJJ instructionals are technique dumps. “Here’s 50 moves. Good luck.”
Danaher doesn’t do that.
He teaches systems. Not moves.
Systems vs. Techniques
A technique is: “Do this armbar from closed guard.
A system is: “Here’s how armbars connect to triangles, which connect to kimuras, which connect to back-takes. Here’s the decision tree. Here’s what to do when they defend. Here’s how it all fits together.”
That’s the difference.
🧠 The Conceptual Framework
Danaher wants you to understand why techniques work. Not just how. Once you understand the underlying principles—leverage, control, timing—you can problem-solve on your own.
Core Principles
Control Before Submission: Don’t hunt the tap until you’ve secured dominant position. Back control with body triangle? Now you strangle. Not before.
Positional Hierarchy: Not all positions are equal. Back control is king. Then mount. Then knee-on-belly. Then side control. Always climb the ladder.
Inside Position: Whether it’s grips, leg entanglements, or frames—inside position beats outside position. Get your limbs inside theirs.
Slow Drilling, Fast Application
DDS athletes drill slowly. Like, painfully slow. They mentally narrate every step. “I’m setting the grip. Now I’m shifting my hips. Now I’m clearing the arm.”
This builds precision. When you drill slowly with perfect mechanics, you can execute at full speed when it matters.
That’s why Garry Tonon’s leg locks look effortless. He’s drilled them 10,000 times at half-speed.
The Good, The Bad, The Boring
Let’s be real. Danaher instructionals aren’t for everyone.
What Makes Them Great
✅ Unmatched Detail
You’ll learn details that no one else teaches. Seriously. Black belts watch these and go, “Holy shit, I’ve been doing this wrong for 10 years.”
✅ Battle-Tested
Every technique has been proven at ADCC, EBI, or other elite competitions. This isn’t theoretical. It’s what Gordon Ryan uses to strangle people.
✅ Systematic Organization
You’re not guessing how moves fit together. Danaher maps it all out. Clear pathways. Decision trees. If-then frameworks.
✅ Changed the Game
Danaher’s terminology is now industry-standard. “Inside position.” “Power line.” “Knowledge denial model.” Everyone uses his concepts.
What Sucks About Them
❌ They’re Looooong: 8-10 hours per series. That’s not a weekend binge. That’s a semester-long course.
❌ Repetitive as Hell: Danaher repeats himself constantly. He’ll explain the same concept three different ways. Some people love it. Others want to throw their laptop.
❌ Boring Delivery: Danaher’s voice is monotone. There’s no hype. No music. Just a dude in a rashguard talking about mechanics for hours.
❌ Expensive: $197-$349 per instructional. If you want the full catalog, you’re dropping $1,000+. Sales help, but it’s still pricey.
How to Actually Learn from These
Here’s what works:
- Watch at 1.5x-2x speed. Seriously. Everyone does this.
- Take notes. Treat it like school. Write down key concepts.
- Drill immediately. Don’t watch the whole thing and then try to remember it. Watch one section. Drill it. Move on.
- Budget one month per instructional. Don’t rush. Let the material sink in.
- Start with escapes. Pin escapes and submission escapes first. Defense before offense.
Danaher vs. Gordon Ryan: Who Should You Watch?
Gordon Ryan has his own massive instructional catalog. And honestly? A lot of people prefer it.
Here’s the breakdown:
Danaher’s Strengths
- Better for conceptual understanding
- More theory and philosophy
- Ideal for coaches and fundamentals
- Works well if you’re a conceptual learner
Gordon’s Strengths
- More concise and direct
- Shows advanced details and troubleshooting
- Better for competitors
- Easier to stay awake during
The Consensus: Watch Danaher first. Get the conceptual foundation. Then watch Gordon to see how it applies at the highest level.
Gordon’s instructionals generated $800k for “They Shall Not Pass” and $700k for “Systematically Attacking The Crucifix” in 2024. The dude knows how to teach.
But he learned from Danaher. So start at the source.
Recommended Watch Order
Don’t just buy everything and dive in. Here’s the smart progression:
🥋 For No-Gi Grapplers
Phase 1: Build Your Defense
- Pin Escapes
- Submission Escapes
This lets you survive while you learn offense.
Phase 2: Guard Fundamentals
- Guard Retention
- Half Guard
- Open Guard
Now you can play bottom without getting smashed.
Phase 3: Submissions
- Leg Locks: Enter The System
- Back Attacks: Enter The System
These are the money-makers. 70% finish rate from back control.
🥋 For Gi Grapplers
Just Get Go Further Faster
It’s the complete gi curriculum. Start there. Branch out later.
🥋 For Older Grapplers (30+)
Ageless Jiu-Jitsu Bundle
Designed for your body. Energy-efficient. Less explosive. More technical.
Key Danaher Concepts You Need to Know
These are the big ideas that show up in every instructional:
The Power Line
The line from your opponent’s hip to their opposite shoulder. That’s where all your force should go. Miss the power line and you’re wasting energy.
Knowledge Denial Model
Your opponent needs six things to pass your guard. Deny even one and they can’t finish. That’s the whole game.
Inside Position
Get your limbs inside theirs. Whether it’s grips, leg entanglements, or frames. Inside beats outside. Always.
Kuzushi (Off-Balancing)
Breaking your opponent’s base before attacking. If they’re balanced, they can defend. If they’re off-balance, they’re finished.
The Straitjacket System
Back control methodology. Use your legs to trap their arm. Now they can only defend with one hand. You have two. Game over.
How Danaher Changed BJJ Forever
Let’s zoom out. What did Danaher actually do?
Made Leg Locks Mainstream
Before Danaher, leg locks were “cheap moves.” Now they’re essential. Every elite no-gi competitor has a leg lock game. That’s 100% because of DDS.
Created a New Teaching Standard
Pre-Danaher instructionals were garbage. Just random techniques with no structure. Now? Everyone tries to build systems. The bar got raised.
Proved Systems Beat Talent
DDS wasn’t made of genetic freaks. They were regular dudes who trained smart. Gordon Ryan was losing to everyone before he met Danaher. Then he became the GOAT. That’s systematic training.
Made Philosophy Cool in BJJ
Danaher talks about epistemology and research programs. Most grapplers don’t even know what those words mean. But his analytical approach works. So now people care about the “why” behind techniques.
The Dean Lister Question: “Why would you ignore 50% of the human body?” That three-minute conversation with Dean Lister sparked the entire leg lock revolution. One question. Changed everything.
Pricing & Where to Get Them
All Danaher instructionals are sold through BJJ Fanatics.
Regular Prices:
- Single instructionals: $197-$349
- Bundles: $500-$1,200+
How to Save Money:
- Wait for daily deals (40-60% off)
- Use discount codes (Google “BJJ Fanatics promo code”)
- Buy bundles instead of individual series
Reality Check: If you buy 5-10 instructionals over a few years, you’ll drop $800-$1,000+. But compare that to private lessons ($100/hour). It’s still a bargain.
Most people budget $50-$100/month and buy during sales. That’s the smart way.
Final Thoughts: Are They Worth It?
Here’s the truth.
Danaher instructionals are not entertainment. They’re education.
If you want hype and excitement, go watch Gordon Ryan highlight reels. But if you want to understand systems—real, repeatable, battle-tested systems—Danaher is unmatched.
You Should Buy Them If:
- You’re a serious student willing to invest time
- You’re a coach building curriculum
- You’re prepping for competition
- You want to understand principles, not just copy moves
- You’re okay with marathon study sessions
You Should Skip Them If:
- You want quick tips and tricks
- You hate repetition and long explanations
- You’d rather watch Gordon Ryan or Lachlan Giles
- You’re a casual hobbyist who just wants to have fun
🎯 The Best First Purchase
If you’re buying one Danaher instructional, get Pin Escapes (from Go Further Faster or New Wave). Defense first. Then add offense.
Danaher’s instructionals aren’t perfect. They’re long. They’re repetitive. They can be boring.
But they work.
Ask Gordon Ryan. Ask Garry Tonon. Ask Craig Jones.
Or better yet—buy one, drill it for a month, and see for yourself.
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