Renowned Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu coach John Danaher recently shared a comprehensive update on his health journey, offering valuable insights for practitioners dealing with similar challenges. Just eight weeks after his second hip surgery, Danaher provided a detailed account of his experience during an interview with Bernardo Faria.
Danaher’s health challenges stem from a unique situation involving a disabled leg that has affected him since his late teens.
“I have a crippled leg,” Danaher explained in new interview, demonstrating the limited extension of his affected limb. “This is a normal leg which extends and this is my crippled leg. literally doesn’t extend my that’s the most I can do.”
This condition has caused him to walk with a heavy limp throughout his life creating uneven stress on his hips and eventually leading to severe osteoarthritis.
The legendary instructor underwent his first hip procedure at age 50—a hip resurfacing rather than a traditional replacement. This choice was strategic as it provided options for future revision surgeries. Years later when his second hip began showing identical symptoms, Danaher delayed the surgery for four years due to team transitions before finally addressing the issue.
For his second surgery, Danaher opted for a specialized hip replacement designed specifically for his active lifestyle.
“I had a much larger ball put inside and of a particular kite type called a dual mobility ball where two one ball is put inside a larger ball so you get a a better range of motion and a larger femoral head,”
he explained. This modification was crucial for someone practicing jiu-jitsu where guard positions and extensive hip mobility are essential.
The recovery difference between his two surgeries was remarkable. While his first procedure involved an 8-10 inch incision through major muscle groups requiring extended recovery time, the second surgery utilized a smaller 4-inch anterior approach that avoided cutting muscles entirely.
“To my absolute sh ock, the pain levels and uh discomfort was radically less with the second operation than the first one,”
Danaher noted.
Regarding jiu-jitsu-specific considerations, Danaher identified problematic movements for hip health.
“The things that caused the most discomfort for me were takedowns that involve shooting to a knee. So double leg,”
he shared. Drop seoi nage and other techniques requiring powerful movements from the knees proved particularly challenging.
For longevity in BJJ, Danaher emphasized understanding one’s body and adapting accordingly. While he attended physical therapy he noted that standard exercises are typically designed for basic mobility rather than sport-specific preparation. His approach focuses on practicing actual jiu-jitsu movements while avoiding high-impact techniques that stress the hips.
Danaher’s candid discussion reinforces that injuries are an inevitable part of a lifetime in jiu-jitsu.
“I think it’s fair to say if you spend a lifetime in jiu-jitsu, by the time you’ve come off the mats at the end, you’ll definitely have some stories to tell your grandkids,”
he reflected. His experience demonstrates that with proper medical intervention and intelligent training modifications, practitioners can continue their jiu-jitsu journey despite significant physical challenges.
