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)

• 
  Renzo Gracie

  linkBrazilian jiu-jitsu 3

  Confirmed

  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

  sports_kabaddiRenzo Gracie Academy badge (1991-2002)

  expand_morefact_checkassessed by FSMverified

  Frederico Muñoz

  Researcher, Martialis

  2 sources

  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

  assessed by FSMverified

  Frederico Muñoz

  Researcher, Martialis

  "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)linkinfo

  "John Danaher is a Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu (BJJ) black belt under Renzo Gracie"

  — BJJ Heroes. John Danaher - BJJ Heroes. BJJ Heroes linkinfo

Ranks (1)

• linkBrazilian jiu-jitsu

  receipt_longBlack belt, degree 6 3

  Confirmed

  BJJ Heroes confirms Danaher received his black belt on April 2, 2002 from Renzo Gracie; Wikipedia corroborates the 6th-degree rank under Renzo Gracie

  BJJ Ranking System (2002-04-02)

  granted by Renzo Gracie

  expand_morefact_checkassessed by FSMverified

  Frederico Muñoz

  Researcher, Martialis

  2 sources

  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

  assessed by FSMverified

  Frederico Muñoz

  Researcher, Martialis

  "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)linkinfo

  "His hard work paid off as Danaher received his black belt on April 2nd, 2002 together with his friend and training partner Shawn Williams."

  — BJJ Heroes. John Danaher - BJJ Heroes. BJJ Heroes linkinfo

Students (3)

• 
  Travis Stevens

  linkBrazilian jiu-jitsu 3

  Confirmed

  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"

  sports_kabaddiRenzo Gracie Academy badge

  expand_morefact_checkassessed by FSMverified

  Frederico Muñoz

  Researcher, Martialis

  2 sources

  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"

  assessed by FSMverified

  Frederico Muñoz

  Researcher, Martialis

  "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)linkinfo

  "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)linkinfo
• 
  Georges St-Pierre

  linkBrazilian jiu-jitsu 3

  Confirmed

  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

  sports_kabaddiRenzo Gracie Academy badge (2008-2013)

  expand_morefact_checkassessed by FSMverified

  Frederico Muñoz

  Researcher, Martialis

  1 source

  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

  assessed by FSMverified

  Frederico Muñoz

  Researcher, Martialis

  "Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu: John Danaher, Bruno Fernandes, Renzo Gracie"

  — Wikipedia contributors. (2026). Georges St-Pierre - Wikipedia (EN). Wikipedia (English)linkinfo
• 
  Firas Zahabi

  linkBrazilian jiu-jitsu 3

  Confirmed

  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

  sports_kabaddiRenzo Gracie Academy badge (2006-2011)

  expand_morefact_checkassessed by FSMverified

  Frederico Muñoz

  Researcher, Martialis

  4 sources

  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

  assessed by FSMverified

  Frederico Muñoz

  Researcher, Martialis

  "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."

  — BJJ Heroes. Firas Zahabi - BJJ Heroes. BJJ Heroes linkinfo

  "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."

  — BJJ Heroes. Firas Zahabi - BJJ Heroes. BJJ Heroes linkinfo

  "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

  "Firas Zahabi"

  — John Danaher - Wikipedia (EN)link

Sources