During a compelling appearance on The Joe Rogan Experience, John Danaher outlined the steps he believes are essential to making jiu-jitsu more accessible and engaging for wider audiences. At the heart of his philosophy is a focus on submission-based victories over point-scoring systems, which he views as the key to the sport’s growth.
Danaher’s perspective begins with the foundational idea that submissions are the definitive way to win in grappling sports.
“When you surrender, that’s you saying I quit, it’s over, and that’s the most definitive form of victory possible in any form of grappling,”
he explains. Unlike point victories, which can often feel technical or anticlimactic, submissions provide an undeniable conclusion that resonates with audiences.
He draws parallels to knockouts in boxing and mixed martial arts, highlighting how these moments of finality captivate fans and create memorable spectacles. Legendary jiu-jitsu practitioners like Marcelo Garcia and Roger Gracie embody this ethos. Despite not being undefeated, they became icons of the sport by relentlessly pursuing submissions, prioritizing the spirit of the art over strategic point accumulation.
While the submission is the ideal victory, modern competition formats often emphasize point-scoring and advantages, which can dilute the sport’s appeal. Danaher is critical of these systems, noting that they encourage athletes to play it safe rather than taking risks to secure a submission. This, he believes, undermines jiu-jitsu’s potential as a spectator sport.
Organizations like ADCC have attempted to address this issue by implementing rule changes, such as a pointless first five minutes to encourage action. However, as Danaher points out, these changes often lead to unintended consequences, such as stalling.
“Rule modifications alone cannot drive the evolution we need,”
he asserts. Instead, the solution lies in fostering a cultural shift within training rooms.
Danaher emphasizes the role of coaches in instilling a submission-focused mindset among athletes.
“It’s got to come from coaches creating a culture where athletes strive for a higher ideal in jiu-jitsu, which is control to submission rather than minimum advantage or points to score a win,”
he explains. This cultural transformation would encourage athletes to prioritize decisive victories, enhancing the sport’s appeal to spectators.
This philosophy aligns with the growing popularity of submission-only formats in professional grappling events. These events have demonstrated that a focus on submissions can create more engaging and dynamic matches, capturing the attention of both dedicated fans and casual viewers. Danaher highlights the drama and finality of submissions as elements that set jiu-jitsu apart from other grappling sports like wrestling and judo, where victories often feel less definitive. Maintaining this focus will ensure that jiu-jitsu remains both compelling and authentic as it grows.
Danaher’s vision for jiu-jitsu’s future is rooted in a balance between modernization and tradition. He believes that the sport can achieve mainstream success by staying true to its essence: control leading to submission. As he puts it,
“The further you get away from the idea that jiu-jitsu is about control leading to submission, the less interesting the sport becomes.”
