A clear, repeatable system to win gi grips fast and turn them into kuzushi.
The Bottom Line
You learn exactly where and when to grip, how to break and re-establish, and how to off-balance immediately. It is built for BJJ gi rounds, not pure IJF pacing. You will not get a huge throw encyclopedia; you will get the rules that make your existing throws and passes work.
⚡️ Quick facts
Best for: Gi players and coaches
Skip if: You train only no-gi
Tech focus: Collar Grip, Sleeve Grip, Grip Breaks, Kuzushi, Two On One, Re Gripping, Standup Entries
Biggest takeaway: Win grips before anything else.
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What You'll Learn
Olympic silver medalist and BJJ black belt Travis Stevens lays out a simple, repeatable way to win gi grips fast. You get concrete rules for collars, sleeves, and re-gripping, then clear kuzushi follow-ups that funnel to throws or immediate guard-passing starts.
This is a system, not a move dump, so you can plug it straight into drilling and live rounds.
Primary Techniques You'll Drill
- Collar Grip
- Sleeve Grip
- Grip Breaks
- Kuzushi
- Two On One
- Cross Collar
- Re Gripping
- Standup Entries
Format & Level
- Instructional style: System Based, Conceptual, Drill Heavy
- Skill level: All Levels
- Format: Gi
- Runtime: 3 hours and 28 minutes
- Volumes: 4
Should You Buy It?
Buy it now. I found my standup improved fastest when I treated grip rules like guard retention rules: fixed priorities, automatic resets, then attack.
Why Travis Stevens?
Travis Stevens is an Olympic judo silver medalist and BJJ black belt. He trained under Jimmy Pedro and John Danaher and is known for concise, principle-driven teaching. His gripping content is widely referenced for gi BJJ. Stevens also runs a YouTube channel focused on practical gripping and takedown drills. Expect precise sequencing rather than highlight-reel tossing. The emphasis stays on control first, attack second.
Community feedback
Here’s a summary of common feedback from platforms like Reddit’s r/bjj.
😍 Why People Love It
- Frequently recommended for gi standup to learn how to actually win the first grips, not just throws.
- Helped me stop getting dominated in standup; I finally started winning gripping exchanges.
- Praised for focusing on setups and kuzushi rather than a random throw list.
🤔 Common Criticisms
- Delivery can feel dry compared to more energetic presenters.
- Not a complete throwing tutorial; you still need live coaching for entries.
- Mostly gi focused with no dedicated no-gi hand fighting.
Free Preview Lesson
Smart Alternatives
- Gorilla Grips by Magid Hage – BJJ-first take with both gi and no-gi grips. (Price: $79.00, 4 vols)
- Judo Gripping Systems For BJJ by Fernando Yamasaki – Budget-friendly standup gripping roadmap for BJJ. (Price: $47.00, 3 vols)
- The Ultimate Takedown Series Vol. 1: Gripping & Kuzushi – Deeper on gripping into off-balancing and entries. (Price: $149.00, 8 vols)
Sources & References
Video Breakdowns
Official listing: View Scientific Gripping Systems For Jiu Jitsu on BJJ Fanatics
Additional References
Your next step
You have the breakdown, community feedback, and my final thoughts. Now it’s your move.
