Just How Deep Is John Danaher's Death Squad?
Just How Deep Is John Danaher's Death Squad?
Let's take a look at five junior members of the Danaher Death Squad who you will be hearing a lot more from in 2018.
By now we're all very well versed in the elite grapplers coming out of Renzo Gracie Academy. Garry Tonon, Gordon Ryan, and Eddie Cummings have been under the tutelage of John Danaher for many years now and their skill has developed accordingly. Ryan's performance at ADCC and Tonon's and Cummings' performances at EBI have all but cemented the group as the premier squad of no-gi grapplers.
However, those aren't the only students Danaher has been training. In fact he has a whole slew of junior students (or kohai as he calls them) he's shaping into cold, hard killers in the blue basement.
Over the last year or so we've started to see some of Danaher's lesser-known students achieve their own greatness, and with John Calestine's unexpected EBI win over the weekend it's time we start talking about more than just Tonon and Ryan.
Let's take a look at five junior members of the Danaher Death Squad who you will be hearing a lot more from in 2018.
5. Erin Blanchfield
If you've taken a trip to NYC and trained at Renzo Gracie Academy, no doubt you've seen Erin Blanchfield on the mats. Blanchfield is one of the hardest workers in the room, often spending days on end in the gloomy basement working on not only her limb-breaking mechanics but also on throwing leather. She recently competed in her first amateur MMA fight and won by arm bar in less than a minute.
4. Mathew Tesla
Mathew Tesla may actually be one of the more senior members of the squad but has yet to break beyond the local scene. However, 2018 could be the year we see Tesla on a grander stage. After just missing out on ADCC at both East Coast and West Coast trials, Tesla could come on strong this year.
3. Jason Rau
Co-produced by Team Serra BJJ and Renzo Gracie Academy, this deadly submission hunter is only just starting to make his mark. Most notably last year, Jason Rau took Fight Sport's Marcel Goncalves to quadruple overtime at a ShowtheArt event. Although he ended up losing the match, Rau proved that he is ready to hang with the big dogs.
2. Nick Ronan
You may have seen Nick Ronan featured on Danaher's Instagram page more and more as of late, and that's because he's beginning to put together a bit of a streak. In case you missed it, Ronan wowed the crowed at KASAI Pro 1 last year by submitted his former teammate and Marcelo Garcia transplant Mike Davilla in a thrilling contest.
1. Ethan Crelinsten
Perhaps the most well-known grappler on the list, Ethan Crelinsten is still young to the game and is primed to have a huge 2018 and beyond. After punching his ticket to ADCC last year and making it to the quarterfinals, the Firas Zahabi- and John Danaher-produced prospect went on the claim silver at the IBJJF No-Gi World championships and is already being touted as the next ADCC champ by teammate Tom DeBlass.
