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The First Thing John Danaher Teaches New Students

The First Thing John Danaher Teaches New Students

From Bernardo Faria BJJ Fanatics

February 27, 2026

Stop Training Like A "Passenger" & Break Your BJJ Plateau (John Danaher's Advice)

Are you showing up to Jiu-Jitsu every week but feeling like you've stopped getting better? In this video, Bernardo Faria sits down with Placido Santos, a John Danaher brown belt who defied all odds to win the Adult World Championship while balancing a full-time job and raising 8 kids.

Placido reveals the exact mindset shift and training methodology he learned from John Danaher and Giancarlo Bodoni that took him from a regular practitioner to an Adult World Champion. If you are stuck in a rut, struggle to find submissions, or feel like you are just a "passenger" in your own training, this video will completely change how you approach the mats.

Learn Danaher’s "High Agency" concept, the two specific types of learning you need to progress, and the essential defensive "safety net" required to finally start attacking with confidence.

In This Video:

00:00 - Introduction: The Hobbyist Who Won Adult Worlds

01:34 - The Mindset Shift: Hunting for Submissions vs. Winning Positions

03:26 - The "Passenger Trap" & John Danaher's "High Agency" Concept Explained

05:20 - The 2 Types of Learning Every Grappler Needs to Advance

07:07 - Why You Need a Defensive "Safety Net" to Attack Freely

08:48 - The Very First Thing John Danaher Teaches New Students

10:04 - The Future of BJJ & Combat Sports in Puerto Rico

11:50 - Placido's New Pin Escape System on BJJ Fanatics

Level Up Your Escapes:
Placido's brand new instructional, Drill for Skill: Pin Escapes (Chest to Chest & Chest to Back), is available now at BJJ Fanatics! Get it here: [Insert BJJ Fanatics Tracking Link]

Use Promo Code YOUTUBEFARIA to get 10% OFF any instructional video!

About Bernardo Faria:
Bernardo Faria is a 5x World Champion in Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu. He is the co-founder of BJJ Fanatics, the largest marketplace for BJJ instructional videos in the world. His mission is to help grapplers of all ages and belt levels improve their Jiu-Jitsu faster.

Make sure to SUBSCRIBE to the channel for more technique breakdowns, interviews, and BJJ secrets from the best in the world!

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