Olympic judo silver medalist Travis Stevens has revealed an intriguing aspect of his Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu strategy that may surprise many fans. Despite his world-class judo background, Stevens claims he relies more heavily on wrestling techniques when competing in BJJ.
Stevens explained, “When I do BJJ, I mostly use wrestling. My judo is just used to intimidate people on the feet, but I almost never pull the trigger on the throws.”
This revelation offers a fascinating glimpse into the cross-disciplinary approach of high-level martial artists. Stevens, known for his exceptional work ethic and dedication to his craft, has successfully transitioned between judo and BJJ throughout his career.
The American athlete emphasized the importance of unpredictability in grappling competitions. “Having takedowns that your opponent doesn’t see coming that are not consistent is important,” Stevens said. He added that these unexpected techniques often catch opponents off guard, leading to a higher success rate.
Judo Olympian Travis Stevens Got His BJJ Black Belt In Record Time (18 Months)
Due to his extensive background as an elite grappler, he quickly rose through the ranks in BJJ.
After briefly training with Dave Camarillo and later with John Danaher, Stevens was awarded his black belt in just 18 months. The reason for the fast promotion was because he already possessed the abilities of a high-level BJJ athlete.
There are some disputes regarding how fast Steven was promoted but a source from the Renzo Gracie administration was able to confirm that this is indeed accurate.
However, Stevens cautioned against using certain wrestling moves against elite wrestlers, advising practitioners to be mindful of their opponents’ skill levels.
Interestingly, Stevens isn’t alone in his preference for wrestling techniques in BJJ. Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu legend Marcelo Garcia has also expressed similar sentiments, highlighting the effectiveness of wrestling in the BJJ context.
Marcelo Garcia talked about this a fair bit saying:
“To learn Judo, it’s way more difficult than wrestling, and wrestling you can use for both GI or no GI. If you learn Judo, you’re probably going to be able to use it just with the GI. The no GI is going to be a little hard to make the adaptation for both.”
“I prefer much more like using a wrestling move that is easy to match with GI, and then it becomes like a good Judo move that needs the GI. Most of the time, it’s really hard to do the same transition, like Judo throws in no GI, because you don’t have the GI.”
“I’m sure you can do the transition, but it’s really hard, and you’re going to have to spend a lot of time practicing the takedowns. We focus on Jiu-Jitsu, so we don’t have that much time to spend on takedowns and ground technique.”
Stevens recently demonstrated a low single-leg takedown that he finds particularly useful in BJJ and wrestling contexts. This technique, while effective in these disciplines, is not permitted in judo under current International Judo Federation rules.
The judoka’s insights shed light on the evolving nature of grappling sports and the benefits of cross-training. As athletes continue to blend techniques from various martial arts, the lines between disciplines become increasingly blurred, leading to more dynamic and unpredictable competitions.
For aspiring grapplers, Stevens’ approach serves as a reminder of the value in diversifying one’s skill set. By incorporating techniques from multiple disciplines, athletes can develop a more well-rounded and adaptable style.
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