BJJ Basics (Travis Stevens) – In-Depth Review

A complete gi fundamentals curriculum taught with practical, drillable structure.

The Bottom Line

This eight-volume set gives you a full positional curriculum. It is organized for drilling and steady skill building. Expect occasional judo-influenced entries that help in gi rounds.

⚡️ Quick facts

Best for: Structured learners

Skip if: You dislike long sets

Tech focus: Fundamentals, Sweeps, Guard Passing

Biggest takeaway: Drill the basics well

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What You'll Learn

Olympic medalist and BJJ black belt Travis Stevens presents a complete fundamentals curriculum across eight volumes. Lessons cover positional maintenance, core escapes, high-percentage sweeps, and bread-and-butter passes. The tone is direct and practical. If you learn well from structured drills and clear do-this-then-that instruction, this fits. Some segments include judo-influenced entries that gi students will appreciate.

Primary Techniques You'll Drill

  • Fundamentals
  • Escapes
  • Sweeps
  • Guard Passing
  • Takedowns
  • Closed Guard
  • Mount Escape
  • Side Control
  • Knee Cut
  • Toreando

Format & Level

  • Instructional style: System Based, Drill Heavy
  • Skill level: Beginner
  • Format: Gi
  • Runtime: 8 hours and 14 minutes
  • Volumes: 8

Should You Buy It?

Wait for daily deal. I treat this as a semester-style curriculum for students who like structure.

Why Travis Stevens?

Travis Stevens is a BJJ black belt under John Danaher and a 2016 Olympic judo silver medalist; coaches at Fuji Gym.

Community feedback

Here’s a summary of common feedback from platforms like Reddit’s r/bjj.

😍 Why People Love It

  • Covers everything you need for your first years; awesome instructor.
  • Has everything you need if you train in the gi.
  • Travis is an exceptional teacher; do not miss chances to learn from him.

🤔 Common Criticisms

  • Some sets include judo content that may not suit total BJJ newbies.
  • A few recommend saving for other platforms or subscriptions instead.
  • Encyclopedic breadth can feel heavy if you prefer ultra-short lessons.

Smart Alternatives

Sources & References

Official listing: View BJJ Basics on BJJ Fanatics

Your next step

You have the breakdown, community feedback, and my final thoughts. Now it’s your move.

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