In a recent interview, renowned Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu coach John Danaher shared his insights on how the martial art creates unique bonds between practitioners from all walks of life.
Danaher highlighted how Jiu-Jitsu breaks down social barriers, allowing meaningful connections to form between people who might never interact otherwise. “The guy who is the $700 an hour lawyer can call the guy who cleans – outside one of his best friends and interact with them in that environment because they have this shared interest in this art,” he explained.
The acclaimed coach emphasized how the challenging nature of grappling arts helps forge strong relationships. “There’s also another idea of shared suffering. You know, shared suffering brings people together. It’s hard to suffer things alone, but it’s a lot easier to suffer in it as a team,” Danaher said.
He noted that all grappling disciplines, including wrestling, judo, and jiu-jitsu, involve significant physical demands. “And, you know, there’s a lot of physical discomfort that comes with it. And when you get that sense of shared suffering towards a cherished goal, it builds very strong camaraderie,” he observed.
Perhaps most notably, Danaher pointed out how these bonds transcend typical social boundaries: “And you’ll see people that would normally never even talk to each other become very good lifelong friends.”
