Dany Gerard

Dany Gerard is a Brazilian jiu-jitsu black belt under Mike Fowler, being also the first high-level submission grappler ever produced by Tahiti. One of the top ultra-heavyweight competitors of his generation, Gerard is also the leader of Tahitian Top Team, one of the leading academies in French Polynesia, as well as a representative of the prestigious Atos academy – when competing in international events.

Dany Gerard Jiu-Jitsu

Full Name: Dany Guy Steve Gerard

Nickname: n/a

Lineage: Mitsuyo Maeda > Carlos Gracie > Helio Gracie >Rickson Gracie > Jorge Pereira > Leo Dalla > Lloyd Irvin > Mike Fowler > Dany Gerard

Main Achievements:

• 1st Place IBJJF Asian Open (2015**)
• 1st Place IBJJF American Nationals (2017)
• 1st Place IBJJF American Nationals NoGi (2017)
• 1st Place IBJJF Los Angeles Open (2018)
• 1st Place SJJIF World Championship (2016)
• 1st Place SJJIF World Championship NoGi (2016)
• 2nd Place IBJJF Las Vegas Open (2019**)

Main Achievements (Colored Belts):

• 1st Place IBJJF World Championship No-Gi (2011 blue, 2012 purple)
• 1st Place IBJJF Pan Championship (2014 purple)
• 1st Place IBJJF Asian Open (2012 purple)
• 2nd Place IBJJF World Championship No-Gi (2013* purple)
• 2nd Place IBJJF European Open (2015 brown)
• 3rd Place IBJJF World Championship No-Gi (2012* purple, 2013 purple)
• 3rd Place IBJJF European Open (2015 brown, 2014 purple)
• 3rd Place IBJJF Pan Championship (2016 brown)

* Absolute
** Weight and absolute

Favorite Position/Technique: Lapel Choke

Weight Division: Pesadíssimo (+100kg/221lbs)

Team/Association: Atos – Tahitian Top Team

Dany Gerard Biography

Dany Gerard was born on September 12th, 1986 in Wissembourg – France, moving to Tahiti (French Polynesia) at an early age, settling in the overseas collectivity of the French Republic.

Brazilian jiu-jitsu entered French Polynesia in 2004, slowly but steadily growing within the local culture. By 2006 the martial art reached Dany, through friends who were already training with Tahiti’s BJJ pioneer, Tamatoa Parker – Rocian Gracie’s student. Gerard started with Parker, grappling for over 1 year and earning his blue belt. The jiu-jitsu experience was however short-lived at the time, as he eventually drove away from the sport and stopped training altogether.

Gerard returned to jiu-jitsu in 2011, this time under the guidance of Flavio Torres, the first instructor to truly believe in Dany Gerard’s potential; who also promoted Dany to purple belt. Even though Torres instilled in Gerard the desire to follow a career in the sport, Flores ended up returning to Brazil leaving the Frenchman to train on his own and without the guidance of a head instructor. This would change once Mike Fowler appeared in Tahiti.

Fowler would assume the lead of Gerard’s grappling development when Dany was a purple belt, helping him with his training and linking the Polynesian resident with the world-famous jiu-jitsu team, Atos.

As a part-time competitor, Dany endured a rigorous schedule which allowed him to continue developing his career outside BJJ while also running French Polynesia’s biggest grappling academy (Tahitian Top Team), providing for his family and his needs as an athlete. His incredible efforts led to his black belt promotion, from the hands of Mike Fowler on June 2015.

On his first competition as a black belt, the IBJJF Asian Open, Gerard put on a stellar performance by winning both his weight class and the open weight, cementing his status as an ultra-heavyweight contender in the sport.

Banner picture Antonio Quichocho.

Dany Gerard vs Gallegos

Dany Gerard 2015 Asian Open Highlight