What mistake did Gordon Ryan make as a lower belt?

Gordon Ryan admits he did it the wrong way coming up - he did not focus on escapes early. When he started training with John Danaher as a blue/purple belt, his escapes were terrible. Danaher basically started teaching him as if he was a white belt, focusing on escapes first. Once Gordon was confident no one could hold him down or submit him, his career took off from brown belt onward.