Reflections of a Jiu Jitsu Master: A Compilation of the Wisdom of John Danaher

Only when your real intent is masked behind fakery and deception will you pass through the defenses of an astute opponent.

IF we get him into a well-locked breaking or strangulation position, OUR MECHANICS OUGHT TO BE SO WELL TRAINED AND REHEARSED that, like the sniper, we do not see failure as a possibility.

WHAT ARE THE PREREQUISITES OF SUBMISSION? and FOCUS ON ATTAINING THOSE.

When it comes to submissions, we have three main choices: strangles, upper-body joint locks, and lower-body joint locks (there are a few others, but they are of much less importance).

Our approach to jiu-jitsu centers around the idea of CONTROL THAT LEADS TO SUBMISSION.

Most beginners use strength as the primary means of building that tight connection, and as a result, they quickly fatigue and become ineffective. A much better approach is to consciously SEEK TO FIT THE GEOMETRY OF YOUR BODY INTO THE GEOMETRY OF YOUR OPPONENT'S BODY.

Developing this sense of relaxed fitting-in of your body’s geometry into that of your opponent, followed by the isometric tension required for breaking, is a huge part of the development from beginner to expert.

Ukemi teaches us to concede a technique to the opponent and recover, allowing us to come back and fight again rather than refuse to concede anything and risk being broken and losing everything immediately.

CHASE THE PRECONDITIONS THAT MAKE SUBMISSIONS MORE LIKELY TO OCCUR. Once those preconditions are attained—THE SUBMISSIONS WILL COME.