Extreme Jiu-Jitsu & Grappling’s Head Coach John Donehue travelled to the United States in February of 1990 with a predominantly boxing and kick boxing background. Once there he trained almost daily with his friend, World Champion Bill "Super foot" Wallace, at the famous Jet Centre in Los Angeles.
It was there that Bill introduced him to the legendary Gene LeBell who was teaching Judo and Grappling at Los Angeles City College. John started training with Gene immediately once he saw what was being offered.
He quickly became friends with Gene and was invited to train with him at his cabin in the mountains every weekend. At the early stages before grappling had really become big in the United States there was usually only Gene, John, Silvio Pimenta and John Lewis,who are also black belts in both Gene’s system and Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu. It was like getting private lessons every weekend. They would train from about 6pm until sometimes 2am or 3am.
At one of these training sessions, Rigan and Carlos Machado were invited up to the cabin to train with Gene. This is where John first met the Machado brothers. Gene suggested training with them so he could get more mat time, as they offered classes six days a week.
Now John was training with Gene LeBell and Carlos and Rigan Machado. He kept training in Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu, competing for the Machado’s on their U.S.A. Competition Team winning the Nationals twice and also receiving a Gold and Silver medal in the 1997 Joe Moriera Internationals.
John was also Rigan’s main training partner in preparation for competitions, as they are around the same build and play a similar game since Rigan was his coach from white belt to black belt.
After being asked to referee The Extreme Fighting Championships and The Contenders, John met Rico Chiapparelli. Coach of the R.A.W. (Real American Wrestling) Team.
Rico is one of the best wrestlers America has ever produced. He received a scholarship to the University of Iowa to wrestle under the legendary coach, Dan Gable.
Rico was the NCAA Division 1 Champion, U.S. Freestyle Champion and World Cup Champion. John and Rico started working out back in Los Angeles 4-5 times per week. Rico teaching John wrestling and John teaching Rico Jiu-Jitsu and Gene’s finishing holds.
Rico then would ask John to coach his team in finishes and defence of finishes to try and broaden their game for the no holds barred ring. Together John and Rico would travel around the United States and give joint seminars to different groups of martial artists.
The Machado’s selected John to teach their form of Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu at the famous Inosanto Academy in Los Angeles. John would also privately coach the legendary martial artist, Dan Inosanto on a weekly basis at Dan’s home.
After a decade of living in the U.S. John is the only Australian to live overseas and train from white belt to black belt in Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu, and one, of only four black belts in the World and the only Australian under Gene LeBell.
He also obtained a Shodan (black belt) in Judo from Gene and the United Stated Judo Association and was the submission coach and training partner to Rico Chiapparelli and the R.A.W. Team.
John has returned to Australia as the most qualified and experienced Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu and grappling practitioner and coach who’s goal is to bring a higher level of training here for anyone who has an open mind and is willing to learn.