How Dillon Danis used a single leg and didn’t let go

Posted on October 5, 2016 in Athlete Interviews

Jiu Jitsu athletes using wrestling as a method to better their ground game is becoming more prominent in the world of mixed martial arts. Dillon Danis showed exceptional wrestling prowess this past Saturday at the International Brazilian Jiu Jitsu Federation’s No-Gi Pan Americans. He walked away from the event with double gold, both in the medium heavyweight and openweight divisions (all blackbelt competitors combined).

However, before he ever laced up his wrestling shoes, Danis had several years experience in a Gi.“I did Jiu Jitsu first, but I started wrestling when I was in high school. I didn’t want to get taken down in BJJ, so using the tools I got from wrestling really helped me to develop my game and methods.”

Danis says that wrestling definitely benefitted his mindset. After tough days of practice, being able to get through difficult workouts, including mental and physical strain, and come back for more shaped him into the fighter he is now.“I really think that wrestling assisted my Jiu Jitsu. It helped me to put people on their backs and do some crazy things. I’ve done some unorthodox stuff, but it’s all made me a lot better and allowed me to try different things.”

After winning his a few of his matches with submissions such as a kneebar and guillotine, being a little unorthodox has only came in handy.“In New Jersey (during high school ), they actually had to change the rules because of me in wrestling. I was doing submission holds and Jiu Jitsu-style techniques and taking a lot of people down,” says Danis.

During the Pan Ams Dillon was fighting Murilo Santana, tied zero to zero Dillon went for a single-leg lifting it high and nearly losing his grip, hanging onto only the achilles tendon and toes, fingers slipping. He retook the grip, adjusted his lead elbow high and finished what he started. He attributes that to training with Jeff Marsh at the Edge in Hoboken.

“I was losing the grip and got the grip again, it’s important to secure the leg. Jeff is such a technical guy, and training with him has made me a lot more technical and skillful. He and my teammate, Munch (Mansher Khera), both helped me so much for this event, and my wrestling skills were on display today,” proclaimed Danis.

“The key for Dillon was his focus on the grip. He adjusted his elbow high and swept the foot. In this position most athletes give up the single. Once you have the single, don’t let go. Dillon turned it into points. He uses his calm demeanor under stress as such an asset,” said Coach Marsh.

When he is in New York City at his home academy ( Marcelo Garcia Jiu Jitsu ) Danis travels to Hoboken regularly. Why? To #wrestleatedge School of Wrestling on Thursdays in the adult wrestling program. Dillon has also trained wrestling extensively with the renowned Jeff Buxton of Buxton School of Wrestling. What’s next for him? “Making my game even better and just continuing to win. I’m always improving and every session helps.”

Written/Interview by: Pari Aryafar