In a recent interview with Flograppling, Giancarlo Bodoni shed light on the secret behind John Danaher’s success as a coach and innovator in the world of Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu. According to Bodoni, Danaher’s most significant contribution to his athletes is his ability to stay ahead of the curve, often predicting trends in the sport years before they become mainstream.
Bodoni revealed that Danaher has an uncanny ability to foresee developments in Jiu-Jitsu techniques and strategies. “He’s legitimately predicted two years ago like in 6 months people are going to be doing this, in a year people are going to be doing that, and it happens,” Bodoni explained. This foresight allows Danaher to prepare his athletes for future challenges, ensuring they’re always at the forefront of the sport’s evolution.
One of the key strategies Danaher employs is focusing on what’s next, rather than what’s currently trending. Bodoni noted, “If there’s an ankle lock trend, we’re not just doing it while everybody else is doing it.” Instead, Danaher has his team working on counters and new techniques that will give them an edge when the rest of the Jiu-Jitsu world catches up.
Danaher’s approach isn’t just about short-term gains. Bodoni emphasized the coach’s commitment to long-term planning, stating that Danaher often thinks five years ahead. This long-term vision allows for incremental improvements that build up to significant advancements over time.
The New Wave Jiu-Jitsu team benefits from Danaher’s broad perspective, which extends beyond the sport itself. Bodoni mentioned that Danaher draws inspiration from various sources, including other combat sports and even Olympic events, to innovate and improve their techniques.
While Danaher provides the foundational systems, he encourages his athletes to experiment and develop their own variations. This approach fosters creativity and ensures that each athlete develops a unique style while still speaking the same technical “language” as their teammates.
Bodoni also highlighted the importance of feeling techniques in live scenarios, rather than just learning them conceptually. This hands-on approach allows athletes to absorb nuances that might not be explicitly taught in a classroom setting.
However, not every idea makes the cut. Bodoni revealed that the team often experiments with new techniques, discarding those that don’t prove effective against various opponents and body types. This rigorous testing process ensures that only the most reliable and versatile techniques are incorporated into their game plans.
