End of an era: The Danaher Death squad is no more

Danis_champ

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Source: John Danaher's social media.

End of an era: It is with great sadness that I have to announce the break up of the squad as a unified training and competition team. A combination of factors revolving around disagreements in physical location of a future school, personality conflicts, conflicting values and an inevitable tension between the team brand and the growing individual brands of members were the main factors. I am immensely proud of the tremendous effect the squad had upon the development and direction of our beloved sport over the years. I am extremely confident that all the various team members have risen in competitive ability, teaching skill and independent creativity that they will be highly successful wherever they choose to go - whatever happens their legacy is assured and their future very bright indeed. As for the future, it is still uncertain. Most of us still get along very well. I expect some will still train together and we will work together in future projects in accordance with our team philosophy, but no longer as a single unified room. I believe the split will have the positive effect of creating a larger footprint for the team as they spread out and develop a wider influence. I always believed that the technical development of the team was best created by a tight, unified room, but at the end of the day human happiness outweighs medals and martial skill and it has become clear that some individual members would be happier in different locations. I would like to thank all the members of the squad for the tremendous effort and myriad sacrifices they made to build a team and legacy that will be remembered, in particular, Garry Tonon, Gordon Ryan, Craig Jones, Eddie Cummings, Nicky Ryan and Nick Rodriguez. I would also like to thank the many students who formed the room in which the squad developed and honed their skills; and thank you so much to all our faithful followers for your interest and support over the years - I hope and trust we can keep the project of refining our art going despite the changes - Thank you

 
just saw this, wondered what caused the rift?

personality conflicts and conflicting values? wonder who will stay to train with john and whos leaving

still hoping for Gordon to make a comeback in time for ADCC but doubtful
 
Every team has its heyday. Or they eventually break up.

You never see MMA or BJJ teams operating years upon years and maintaining dominancy, it just doesn't happen.
 
Gordon is staying with John, that's all I've found out so far. He said that in the comments of his post
 
Sad to hear but hope they all gone to successful ventures.

I do think it is one thing to build a dominant grappling team. But paying the expenses, making capital investments and other large expenses, getting endorsements, signing with organzations, negotiating license fees. Maybe it just grew too big to be run as a grappling team first and business venture second.
 
Wow. There will always be guys wanting to train with John. It'll be interesting to learn what we can about where the issues were exactly, and who moves elsewhere.
 
Gordon is staying with John, that's all I've found out so far. He said that in the comments of his post
Then his brother stays with them.

I am guessing tonon is leaving considering he has his own academy. Not sure about the rest.
 
If he's at a loose end I reckon I can find some wriggle room in the timetable at our gym for John to coach. He can help with my fundamentals classes if he wants.
 
I thought Danaher's death squad belonged to John Danaher. What's breaking up?
 
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I'm sure alot of the guys were tired of Gordon's behaviors. He doesn't seem like he would be fun to be around
 
I was listening to the BJJ Fanatics podcast with Craig Jones earlier. They are having no luck getting an academy in Puerto Rico. They never get calls back from real estate agents for buildings they look at and everyone keeps trying to ask for ridiculous amounts of money for rent. They are training in a tiny place where they can barely wrestle. I am guessing they will just split between people wanting to go to Texas and people not. Sounds like Tonon mostly will be leaving which makes sense as he is predominantly fighting MMA and would benefit from going to a top MMA gym whilst the others can just grapple. It sounds like Puerto Rico is to blame to be honest. Fuck Puerto Rico.
 
I was listening to the BJJ Fanatics podcast with Craig Jones earlier. They are having no luck getting an academy in Puerto Rico. They never get calls back from real estate agents for buildings they look at and everyone keeps trying to ask for ridiculous amounts of money for rent. They are training in a tiny place where they can barely wrestle. I am guessing they will just split between people wanting to go to Texas and people not. Sounds like Tonon mostly will be leaving which makes sense as he is predominantly fighting MMA and would benefit from going to a top MMA gym whilst the others can just grapple. It sounds like Puerto Rico is to blame to be honest. Fuck Puerto Rico.

Maybe you're not aware way out in Australia, but Puerto Rico has been fucked for a long time.
 
Random and I guess surprising news, but as someone already said...is it even that relevant?

If Gordon, Nicky, and Danaher stay together, especially if Craig Jones sticks around too what ultimately happened? Gary Tonon was already mainly competing in MMA and probably (definitely) should go to a real MMA gym. Nicky Rod seems to be the only person actually leaving here.

If the move to Austin is what happens, I'd even consider flying out or moving there temporarily to train honestly.
 
Assuming John and Gordon are starting their own school and I would assume Nicky Ryan follows.

Everyone else probably goes their separate ways.
 
My guess is the Ryan brothers and Danaher stick together, the rest split up.
 
So, is Danaher gonna start wearing normal shirts again?
 

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