In a revealing Trophy Room Tour, Gordon Ryan shared a harrowing story about how he nearly lost his pinky finger on the day he received a prized katana from John Danaher. The incident occurred after Ryan’s first ADCC victory in 2017, when Danaher presented him with what Ryan describes as “the best swordsmith in Japan” crafted katana, designed to “cut the heads off horses in battle.”
The near-accident happened during a celebratory moment with Gary Tonon. As Ryan switched hands while holding the katana, it slipped from its sheath. In an instinctive attempt to catch the falling blade, Ryan grabbed it with his other hand, resulting in a deep cut to his pinky finger.
What made this incident particularly noteworthy was the unusual nature of the injury. “The cut was so fine that it didn’t bleed at all for like a solid 5 minutes and then just started pouring blood,” Ryan recalled. “It was the weirdest thing ever – it was so sharp that my finger didn’t even bleed when it got cut, it like waited to bleed because the cut was so fine.”
The delayed bleeding phenomenon Ryan experienced highlights the blade’s surgical-like cutting ability, making this not just a prestigious trophy but also a reminder of its lethal capabilities.
The gift holds deeper meaning within the context of Danaher’s teaching philosophy. The renowned jiu-jitsu coach has a unique tradition of gifting knives to his students when they achieve significant competitive victories or promotions, drawing profound parallels between bladed weapons and martial arts. Danaher sees deep similarities between knife maintenance and jiu-jitsu practice. He teaches that just as a blade becomes dull without proper care, jiu-jitsu skills deteriorate if not consistently maintained and refined.
Danaher also points out the dual nature of both knives and jiu-jitsu – each can be wielded for either beneficial or harmful purposes, emphasizing the responsibility that comes with mastering either tool. The exceptional quality of Danaher’s gifts is evident, as Ryan noted these are “like the sharpest knives ever.”
The katana now holds a prominent place in Ryan’s trophy room, alongside numerous other knives and swords from Danaher, ranging from custom pieces to Cold Steel productions, each marking significant achievements in his competitive career. Despite the incident, the katana remains what Ryan considers “probably my most prized possession in the entire house.”
