Understanding Collar Chokes By Travis Stevens – In-Depth Review

Turn passed positions into high-percentage collar finishes.

The Bottom Line

Understanding Collar Chokes zeroes in on the finish. You learn how to build grips and angles from mount, side, and back so collars bite with less strength. It does not address no-gi strangles; it is a gi-only finisher toolkit.

⚡️ Quick facts

Best for: Gi players who pass

Skip if: You only train no-gi

Tech focus: Cross Collar Choke, Paper Cutter Choke, Bow And Arrow Choke, Ezekiel Choke, Loop Choke, Grip Fighting

Biggest takeaway: Grip, angle, then squeeze.

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What You'll Learn

Gi choke finishing from mount, side, and back with an emphasis on efficiency. Focuses on grips, angles, and timing to avoid muscling through defenses.

Ideal if your collars feel weak or you keep losing the finish after passing.

Primary Techniques You'll Drill

Cross Collar Choke
Paper Cutter Choke
Bow And Arrow Choke
Ezekiel Choke
Loop Choke
Grip Fighting

Format & Level

Instructional style: Conceptual, System Based
Skill level: Intermediate
Format: Gi
Runtime: 1 hour and 30 minutes

Should You Buy It?

Wait for daily deal. I like how it reframes collar chokes as geometry and timing so smaller athletes can finish big partners cleanly.

Why Travis Stevens?

Travis Stevens is a 3x Olympic judoka who won silver in 2016. He holds a BJJ black belt under John Danaher and Renzo Gracie. His coaching emphasizes grip strategy, pressure, and positional purpose. BJJ Heroes profiles his dual black belt credentials and competitive pedigree. He teaches at FUJI Gym in Massachusetts and produces regular technique content.

Community feedback

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

😍 Why People Love It

Redditors highlight how under-taught judo-style chokes are and value Stevens focus.
Excerpt clips show crisp grip details that make the choke finish easier.
Good for people who pass but fail to finish with collars.