You’ve probably seen the highlight reels. A guy with a wild mop of hair (sometimes dyed neon) diving into a scramble like his life depends on it, somehow emerging from a pile of tangled limbs with someone’s heel in his hand. That’s Garry Tonon. If you’ve spent any time on a BJJ mat in the last decade, you know the name. But honestly, Garry Tonon jiu jitsu isn't just about flashy leg locks or being a "Lion Killer." It’s about a specific, chaotic brand of technical mastery that changed how we all look at no-gi grappling.
Most people think of him as just a "leg lock guy" from the Danaher days. That’s a massive oversimplification. While he was a founding member of the infamous Danaher Death Squad (DDS), Tonon’s game is actually built on a foundation of elite-level wrestling and a refusal to accept a bad position.
The Scramble is the Secret Sauce
If you watch a standard high-level BJJ match, you see a lot of "pummeling" and careful, incremental positioning. It’s slow. It’s methodical. Garry Tonon is the literal opposite. He basically thrives in the "in-between" spaces. When most grapplers are trying to stabilize a position, Tonon is already moving to the next one.
He uses what he calls "dynamic pinning." Instead of just squashing someone, he invites the scramble. Why? Because he knows he’s faster and more comfortable in the mess than you are. This is why his matches against guys like Kron Gracie or Rousimar Palhares are legendary. He doesn't just defend; he counters your offense with even more aggressive offense.
- The "Lion Killer" Mentality: He earned the nickname by taking out bigger, more established names early in his career.
- Wrestling Pedigree: Unlike many BJJ black belts who pull guard, Tonon actually wants to wrestle. He started in 5th grade and it shows in every single exchange.
- The Escape Artist: His back-escape game is arguably the best in the world. He’s famously difficult to submit, even when someone is fully locked on.
Why the Danaher System Actually Worked for Him
We can't talk about Garry Tonon jiu jitsu without mentioning John Danaher. Before Tonon met Danaher, he was already a beast under Tom DeBlass and Ricardo Almeida. But Danaher gave him the system.
You’ve heard the term "Ashi Garami" a million times. To most, it's just a fancy word for a leg entanglement. To Tonon, it was a way to turn his chaotic energy into a repeatable science. He stopped just "going for legs" and started "controlling the hips." That’s the nuance people miss. The system wasn't about the heel hook itself; it was about the control hierarchy that made the heel hook inevitable.
The Split: New Wave vs. B-Team
When the DDS famously broke up in 2021, the community held its breath. Garry stayed with the "New Wave" side in Austin, sticking with Gordon Ryan and John Danaher. This was a massive moment. It showed his loyalty to the system that built him, even as teammates like Craig Jones and Nicky Rodriguez went off to form the B-Team.
Honestly, it’s a bit of a bummer we don’t see him in as many pure grappling super-fights these days because of his MMA schedule, but when he does show up, the level is still terrifying. His 2024 ADCC run showed that while the game has evolved, his "Lion Heart" hasn't faded. He’s still willing to go out there and risk getting caught just to put on a show.
Transitioning to the Cage (and the UFC Rumors)
Garry’s move to ONE Championship was a huge deal. He didn't just go there to "try" MMA; he went there to become a world champion. He rattled off a massive win streak, mostly by doing exactly what he does in BJJ—forcing scrambles and finding limbs.
His 2022 loss to Thanh Le was a brutal reality check. He dove for a heel, got caught, and it was over in less than a minute. A lot of people thought he’d quit. Instead, he came back and put together another string of submissions, including a nasty kneebar on Shamil Gasanov in 2023.
"People think I'm crazy for how I fight, but to me, playing it safe is the real risk. If you don't take the shot, you've already lost." — Garry Tonon (paraphrased from various post-fight interviews).
💡 You might also like: Why the Green Bay Packers Game Still Rules Sunday: The Lambeau Magic and What TV Misses
There’s always talk about him moving to the UFC. Recently, even Eddie Bravo mentioned that Garry has eyes on the Octagon. The catch? His ONE contract is pretty ironclad. But man, seeing Tonon’s grappling style against the UFC featherweight elite? That’s the dream.
How to Grapple Like Garry (Sorta)
You aren't going to wake up tomorrow with Garry's athleticism or his " Mozart-like" intuition, as some coaches call it. But you can steal his philosophy.
First, stop being afraid of losing position. Garry’s whole game is built on the fact that he doesn't mind being on the bottom or having his back taken because he knows he can get out. That confidence allows him to take risks other people won't.
📖 Related: NFL Teams Against the Run: Why Modern Defense is Getting Weird
Second, focus on the "Double Trouble" principle. This is a core Danaher/Tonon concept: when you attack a leg, you need to control the other leg too. If you only have one, they can use the free limb to kick out or create leverage. If you have both, they’re a passenger in your car.
- Work your escapes. You can't be aggressive if you're terrified of getting stuck.
- Learn the Saddle (411). This is Tonon’s favorite room. It’s the most dominant leg entanglement because it limits the opponent’s mobility almost entirely.
- Wrestle up. Don't just sit on your butt. When you see an opening, use your grappling to get to your feet and take the top position.
Garry Tonon jiu jitsu is a reminder that the sport doesn't have to be a boring stalemate. It can be fast, it can be dangerous, and it can be incredibly fun to watch. Whether he's in a cage in Singapore or on a mat in Las Vegas, he remains one of the few "must-watch" athletes in the game.
If you want to actually improve your game using his methods, start by filming your rolls and looking for the "dead air"—those moments where nobody is moving. That’s where Garry would be attacking. Fill those gaps with movement, and you'll start to see your submission rate climb.
Go watch his instructional on "Exit Strategies." It’s probably the most important thing he’s ever filmed. Most people teach you how to get into a submission; Garry is the only one who truly mastered how to get out of the bad spots so you have the freedom to attack without fear.
Next Steps for You: Start incorporating "wrestle-ups" into your no-gi rounds this week. Instead of accepting a guard position, look for any opportunity to get an underhook or a front headlock and drive back to your feet. This forces the scramble where Tonon-style grappling thrives.