Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu superstar Gordon Ryan has come to the defense of his longtime coach John Danaher, pushing back against critics who have portrayed the renowned instructor as difficult or mean-spirited. Speaking on Jake Shields‘ podcast during a tour of his new Austin gym, Ryan offered an impassioned defense of Danaher’s character and coaching methods.
“John’s been nothing but a good guy, you just have to show him respect,”
Ryan stated emphatically. The comments came as Ryan addressed what he described as unfair criticism of Danaher’s demeanor, particularly during periods when the coach was dealing with severe physical pain.
Ryan acknowledged that Danaher
“can appear a little cold”
initially but emphasized that this perception changes once people get to know him better. He highlighted the physical challenges Danaher faces, explaining how chronic pain affects his interactions with students.
“For someone who’s constantly in pain with his body falling apart, like you don’t realize how much extra it takes to be constantly nice to people,”
Ryan explained.
The BJJ champion revealed there was a period in New York when Danaher was experiencing particularly intense pain which led to some complaints from students about his attitude. Ryan dismissed these criticisms harshly, saying,
“There was some people crying about that and I say any names but they’re like crying about oh John was mean. It’s like he’s the f****** best coach in the world. Oh he f****** yelled at you. Get f****** over it, bro.”
Ryan pointed to Danaher’s incredible dedication and generosity as evidence of his character, noting that the coach is present
“seven days a week twice a day and he charges you nothing.”
He shared personal testimony about Danaher’s loyalty, revealing that even after his loss to Georges St-Pierre, Danaher continued training him without accepting payment.
“He never charged me a dime,”
Ryan said, adding that Danaher would refuse money even when offered.
The defense comes as Ryan, along with training partners Gary Tonon and Danaher himself, prepares to open their new Austin gym, King’s Way Jiu-Jitsu. The facility represents the culmination of years of searching for a permanent home base, having previously trained at various locations including Renzo Gracie‘s gym in New York and temporary spaces in Puerto Rico and Austin.
Ryan’s comments shed light on the dynamic between elite athletes and their coaches, particularly the mutual respect required for successful long-term partnerships. His defense of Danaher emphasizes that earning respect from a world-class coach requires showing respect in return rather than expecting immediate acceptance.
“You just have to show him respect and earn his respect too though you can’t just walk in and expect respect from him,”
Ryan concluded, calling Danaher
“a once in a lifetime guy for sure.”
