The general of New Wave Jiu-Jitsu sat down with Flograppling to give his thoughts on ADCC 2024. In this in-depth interview, John Danaher talks about everything from Gordon Ryan’s health to expectations for the rest of the team.
Check out the highlights of John Danaher’s pre-ADCC interview below!
Danaher on Gordon Ryan’s Preparation
John started his interview by reviewing Gordon Ryan’s preparation and detailing his ongoing stomach issue. He explained that last year was one of the worst years for Ryan’s health, and it affected his training.
Gordon has seen several doctors, but none of them can pinpoint the exact cause of his problem.
However, despite Gordon’s health problems, he still gets through training camps and improves his skills. Although Gordon is not 100%, Danaher expects no issues in his 2 ADCC superfights.
John’s Thoughts on Nicholas Meregali’s Camp & Chances
John Danaher was next asked about Nicholas Meregali’s preparation for ADCC 2024. The BJJ wizard is really impressed with how fast Meregali has been able to pick up No-Gi.
He stated that when Nicholas is competing, he’s not trying to beat his opponent but trying to outdo his previous performance. Meregali is now great from every position, and John never knows how he’ll try to finish his opponents in each match.
Danaher expects Meregali to put on a show and impress all the fans watching.
John Danaher Praises Mica Galvao’s Skills
During the interview, John Danaher was asked his thoughts on Mica Galvao and a potential match against Nicholas Meregali. Danaher praised Galvao for his exceptional abilities.
“Mica is one of the most gifted athletes in all of Jiu-Jitsu. He’s like a modern version of Marcelo Garcia. A smaller athlete who can go against smaller athletes and do very well. I think that would be a super exciting match between very different styles.”– John Danaher.
Like John, BJJ fans would love to see this match go down, and it could steal the show.
The Return of Garry Tonon
John Danaher then touched on the return of ADCC veteran Garry Tonon to the 77 kg division. He blamed Garry’s performance in the 2022 ADCC on preparing with a completely new team.
Danaher cited that during the last ADCC prep, many of his athletes focused on a positional game. He neglected to advise Garry to stick with his game of attacking submissions, which led to a poor performance.
The former DDS leader also cited a bad weight cut below 67 kg, which drained Garry before the competition.
Garry will be the smaller athlete in the 77 kg division, but it’s nothing that he hasn’t dealt with before. He will look to use his speed and conditioning to attack submissions and make it to the finals.
Danaher on the New ADCC Weight Cutting Protocol
John also touched on the new weight-cutting protocol implemented for ADCC 2024. This year, athletes will weigh in only once before day 1 and not every day.
Danaher believes that this new rule will significantly impact the competition. Athletes will now come to full strength and, in the future, start cutting a lot of weight.
He won’t be shocked to see athletes walking over 90 kilos, dropping to the lower divisions, and dominating.
New Wave’s Young Guns
John was then asked about some of the young guns at New Wave that he feels will surprise fans. The first athlete that John Danaher brought up was Dorian Alvarez.
Dorian is a national-level high school wrestler who also possesses well-rounded Jiu-Jitsu skills. The New Wave coach believes that Alvarez will make a big splash in the pro grappling scene.
The other teenage grappler from New Wave who has received a lot of attention is Helena Crevar. She put on a show at the ADCC West Coast Trials, and Danaher believes she can beat anyone in her division.
How Will New Wave Do at ADCC 2024
New Wave leader John Danaher is bringing some incredibly talented grapplers to ADCC 2024 this year. Nobody will be surprised to see any of his athletes take gold or make it to the podium this year. ADCC 2024 goes down this weekend and will be aired live on Flograppling.
Bobby is martial artist for almost 20 years with a BJJ black belt under Professor Sergio Miranda. He is also a karate black and former combat sports athlete, who loves all things grappling.