Description
New Zealand Brazilian jiu-jitsu and mixed martial arts instructor and coach,
widely regarded as one of the best BJJ coaches in the world. A 6th-degree black
belt under Renzo Gracie, Danaher taught at the Renzo Gracie Academy in New York,
coached Georges St-Pierre through his UFC championship run, and developed an
influential leg-lock system through his Danaher Death Squad team. He later
founded New Wave Jiu Jitsu in Austin, Texas.
Teachers (1)
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Renzo Gracie
sports_martial_artsBrazilian jiu-jitsu
Confirmed
fact_checkassessed by FSMverified
2 sources
expand_more
fact_check
Wikipedia, BJJ Heroes, and Kingsway Jiu-Jitsu all confirm Danaher trained under
Renzo Gracie at the Renzo Gracie Academy in Manhattan; black belt date confirmed
by BJJ Heroes
“After arriving in New York, Danaher was introduced to Brazilian jiu-jitsu by a
friend at the university, and began taking classes at the Renzo Gracie Academy
in Manhattan.”
— Wikipedia contributors. (2026). John Danaher
(martial artist) - Wikipedia (EN). Wikipedia (English)link
history
info
“John Danaher is a Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu (BJJ) black belt under Renzo Gracie”
Ranks (1)
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receipt_longBlack belt, degree 6
Confirmed
BJJ Ranking System (2002-04-02)
fact_checkassessed by FSMverified
2 sources
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fact_check
BJJ Heroes confirms Danaher received his black belt on April 2, 2002 from Renzo
Gracie; Wikipedia corroborates the 6th-degree rank under Renzo Gracie
“Danaher holds a 6th-degree black belt in Brazilian jiu-jitsu under Renzo
Gracie”
— Wikipedia contributors. (2026). John Danaher
(martial artist) - Wikipedia (EN). Wikipedia (English)link
history
info
“His hard work paid off as Danaher received his black belt on April 2nd, 2002
together with his friend and training partner Shawn Williams.”
Students (3)
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Travis Stevens
sports_martial_artsBrazilian jiu-jitsu
Confirmed
fact_checkassessed by FSMverified
2 sources
expand_more
fact_check
Wikipedia states Travis Stevens holds a black belt in Brazilian jiu-jitsu under
John Danaher and Renzo Gracie, which Danaher awarded on November 19, 2013; BJJEE
reproduces Danaher's own Facebook post calling Stevens "my friend and
student"
“Stevens also holds a black belt in Brazilian jiu-jitsu under John Danaher and
Renzo Gracie, which Danaher awarded on November 19, 2013.”
— Wikipedia contributors. (2026). Travis Stevens.
Wikipedia (English)link
history
info
“It is with considerable pride and happiness that I learned this memorial
weekend of the outstanding success of my friend and student, Travis Stevens.”
— BJJEE. (2016). John Danaher On The Heart & Work
Ethic of Travis Stevens. BJJ Eastern Europe (BJJEE)link
history
info
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Georges St-Pierre
sports_martial_artsBrazilian jiu-jitsu
Probable
fact_checkassessed by FSMverified
1 source
expand_more
fact_check
Wikipedia infobox lists John Danaher as one of GSP's BJJ trainers; Danaher
was also a coach on The Ultimate Fighter 12 for GSP's team
“Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu: John Danaher, Bruno Fernandes, Renzo Gracie”
— Wikipedia contributors. (2026). Georges St-Pierre -
Wikipedia (EN). Wikipedia (English)link
history
info
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Firas Zahabi
sports_martial_artsBrazilian jiu-jitsu
Confirmed
fact_checkassessed by FSMverified
4 sources
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fact_check
BJJ Heroes confirms Zahabi holds a black belt under John Danaher and was
promoted at the Renzo Gracie Academy in 2011; corroborated by Zahabi's own
public statements and Wikipedia's list of Danaher's notable students
“Pierre, arguably MMA's greatest fighter of all time, would frequently visit
jiu-jitsu coach extraordinaire, Mr. John Danaher in New York City, at the Renzo
Gracie Academy, a trip Firas started taking as well from around the mid-2000s.”
“Firas Zahabi's hard work on the mats would lead to his black belt
promotion, an endorsement by John Danaher in an event that took place in 2011.”
“I'm a black belt under John Danaher. He is the greatest jiu-jitsu coach of
all time and arguably the greatest MMA coach of all time.”
— Firas Zahabi: John Danaher Is The Greatest Jiu
Jitsu Coach Of All Time (BJJDOC)link
Identifiers
https://martial.is/entity/01KYSNKBS820Y33CQFDDFKQ3EZ
Cite and reuse
CC BY-SA 4.0expand_more
Plain text
Muñoz, Frederico (YEAR_PLACEHOLDER). John Danaher. In Martialis: Martial Arts
Lineage Database. https://martial.is/entity/01KYSNKBS820Y33CQFDDFKQ3EZ - CC
BY-SA 4.0. Accessed ACCESSED_DATE_PLACEHOLDER.
BibTeX
@incollection{martialis_01KYSNKBS820Y33CQFDDFKQ3EZ, author = {Muñoz, Frederico},
title = {John Danaher}, booktitle = {Martialis: Martial Arts Lineage Database},
year = {YEAR_PLACEHOLDER}, url =
{https://martial.is/entity/01KYSNKBS820Y33CQFDDFKQ3EZ}, urldate =
{ACCESSED_DATE_PLACEHOLDER}, note = {CC BY-SA 4.0} }
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