UK judo champion and grappling coach Owen Livesey has given a rare inside account of John Danaher’s New Wave room in Texas, where he trained for two weeks a couple of years ago.
Speaking on the Life At The Apex podcast, he said Danaher has a short fuse with the partner he uses to demonstrate technique.
Livesey described the dynamic through a judo lens – the coach demonstrates on the same uke every session and does not tolerate mistakes:
I was laughing my head off ’cause like, in judo as well, you’ll demonstrate on a partner and he uses the same lad all the time as his partner. And if the lad just like got one thing wrong, he’d like slap him or honestly just shout like the first time he’s done it…
Like lad’s so technical, but some of the techniques John does are like mind-blowing.
He said Danaher’s frail appearance gives way to precision once class begins:
He’ll walk in the room and he looks like he’s struggling to walk. He’s got his knees; they don’t look great. His back’s hunched over.
(But) the second he starts teaching Jiu-Jitsu or wrestling, it’s like the smoothest technique I’ve ever seen.
One moment stood out as well.
Danaher swore at his partner over a small positional error, without changing his coaching tone:
Mate, I’m talking like he might put his leg there instead of there and John’s like what the f*ck are you doing. But I’ve never heard him even swear before, you know what I mean? And like even when he swears, it’s in the same tone as when he just teaches… So it was just hilarious to me.
And I’ve started laughing and like I was the only one laughing. Like it was just a normal day.
The room’s completely flat. Looked around. I thought, yeah, I shouldn’t be laughing.
Asked whether Gordon Ryan holds a special status in the gym, Livesey pointed to Danaher instead:
I think it’s John. Is it John? I think they fear him. Like mate, he’s got a temper.
Sloth Jiu-Jitsu: The Ultimate Guide for Calmly Beating Bigger, Younger Opponents
💥 What if slowing down was the fastest way to win?
💭 Tired of Getting Smashed by Younger, Stronger Grapplers?
It’s not your age. It’s your strategy.
If you’re a passionate grappler over 35 who’s sick of getting outpaced, outmuscled, or out-cardio’d by opponents half your age — this 120 page e-book was made for you.
🔓 Unlock the Power of Sloth Jiu-Jitsu:
Build Sustainable Strength—Without Wrecking Your Joints, Energy, or Jiu-Jitsu
Tired of waking up sore and burnt out after lifting?
Sloth Strength is a proven blueprint for grapplers over 35
who want to get stronger—without the pain, burnout, or injuries.
Developed from 25 years on the mats, this no-burnout approach is made
specifically for BJJ athletes in their 30s, 40s, and beyond.