Turn judo into no-gi takedowns using clinch grips, simple kuzushi, and footsweeps that survive scrambles.
The Bottom Line
You learn to recreate lapel-sleeve control with clinch ties. Throws are adapted to land in dominant positions. It trades theoretical depth for pace and practical drilling.
⚡️ Quick facts
Best for: No-gi focused athletes
Skip if: You hate clinch wrestling
Tech focus: Overhook Series, Russian Tie, Footsweeps
Biggest takeaway: Create kuzushi without fabric
📋 Jump to a section (Click to expand)
What You'll Learn
A judo-for-no-gi kit from an Olympic medalist and Danaher black belt. It adapts classic throws around overhooks, underhooks, two-on-one, and front headlock with clear kuzushi principles. Footsweeps and sacrifice attacks are tailored to BJJ scrambles.
Primary Techniques You'll Drill
- Overhook Series
- Underhook Series
- Russian Tie
- Footsweeps
- Sumi Gaeshi
- Uchi Mata
Format & Level
- Instructional style: System Based, Drill Heavy
- Skill level: All Levels
- Format: No-Gi
- Runtime: 2 hours and 16 minutes
- Volumes: 4
Should You Buy It?
Buy it now. I put this top-three because most BJJ gyms spar no-gi weekly, and this course answers the lapel problem cleanly.
Why Travis Stevens?
Travis Stevens is an Olympic silver medalist in judo and a BJJ black belt under John Danaher, known for direct, competition-tested teaching.
Community feedback
Here’s a summary of common feedback from platforms like Reddit’s r/bjj.
😍 Why People Love It
- Mind-blowing focus on weight distribution and moving people, not yanking.
- Easier to digest than some long-form conceptual sets.
- Great bridge for judoka transitioning to no-gi BJJ.
🤔 Common Criticisms
- Less depth than ultra-long theory-heavy instructionals.
- Some throws require athletic timing in no-gi.
- No-gi grips take time for gi players to internalize.
Smart Alternatives
- The Takedown Blueprint – More grip theory if you plan to add gi later. (Price: $79.00, 3 vols)
- American Judo System: The Osoto-Gari Encyclopedia – Deep dive on a key throw you see in no-gi clinches. (Price: $127.00, 8 vols)
Sources & References
Official listing: View Mastering No Gi Takedowns on BJJ Fanatics
Additional References
Your next step
You have the breakdown, community feedback, and my final thoughts. Now it’s your move.