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Roberto Traven

Creator credit recorded on the linked source page: XfistXflyingX · CC0 1.0

Roberto Traven

“Spider”

Source: grapplezilla.com

Roberto “Spider” Traven developed from Romero Cavalcanti’s student in Rio into a teacher and longtime instructor in the United States.

Biography

Roberto “Spider” Traven’s path from Rio de Janeiro to a teaching career in the United States began with Romero “Jacaré” Cavalcanti. BJJ Heroes reports that Traven started learning jiu-jitsu under Cavalcanti at 16. He trained three times a day alongside Fábio Gurgel, Leo Vieira, and Jamelão, reaching black belt in four years. Traven later moved into teaching. BJJ Heroes says he first taught at Academia Strike and brought his student Muzio de Angelis in to assist. When the academy closed in 1997, the two reopened as associates at Academia Muzio & Traven. It was an early teaching collaboration with a former student. The same account places the start of Traven’s United States MMA career at UFC 11 in 1996. It says he later left the Muzio & Traven partnership and moved permanently to the United States, where BJJ Heroes lists his team as Traven BJJ, formerly Alliance. Competition was another documented part of his career. A 2013 BJJEE interview described him as a double world champion at black belt, while the ADCC Federation’s official 1999 results list him as the Absolute division gold medalist. In a 2013 interview, Traven said that his United States team had begun in 2007 and that he taught every day, adding special camps around major championships. Telari Jiu Jitsu Marietta now identifies him as a lead instructor who teaches at its Marietta academy.

Sources for this profile

  • BJJ Heroes, "Roberto Traven" (accessed 2026-09-12).(opens in a new tab)

    • BJJ Heroes says Roberto Traven was born in Rio de Janeiro on 16 September 1968 and began learning jiu-jitsu at 16 under Romero ‘Jacaré’ Cavalcanti.

      Where in the source: 16th of September 1968

      Accessed:

    • BJJ Heroes reports that Traven trained three times a day alongside Fábio Gurgel, Leo Vieira and Jamelão, and reached black belt in four years.

      Where in the source: black belt within 4 years

      Accessed:

    • BJJ Heroes says Traven began teaching at Academia Strike, brought his student Muzio de Angelis in to assist, and after the venue closed in 1997 reopened with de Angelis as an associate in Academia Muzio & Traven.

      Where in the source: Academia Muzio & Traven

      Accessed:

    • BJJ Heroes reports that, after beginning his United States MMA career at UFC 11 in 1996, Traven left the Muzio & Traven partnership and moved permanently to the United States; the same page lists his team as Traven BJJ, formerly Alliance.

      Where in the source: moved for good to the US

      Accessed:

  • BJJEE, "BJJ Legend Roberto Traven: In My Days, We Weren’t Training 3x A Day", 29 May 2013.(opens in a new tab)

    • A 2013 BJJEE interview describes Traven as a double world champion at black belt and an ADCC champion in 1999.

      Where in the source: ADCC, where he was champion in 1999

      Accessed:

    • In the 2013 BJJEE interview, Traven says his United States team began in 2007 and that he taught every day, with special camps around major championships.

      Where in the source: started in 2007. I teach every day

      Accessed:

  • ADCC Federation, "ADCC Submission Fighting World Championship 1999" (accessed 2026-09-12).(opens in a new tab)

    • The ADCC Federation's official 1999 results list Roberto Traven as the gold medalist in the Absolute division.

      Where in the source: Absolute | Gold | 1st

      Accessed:

  • Telari Jiu Jitsu Marietta, "Roberto Traven" (accessed 2026-09-12).(opens in a new tab)

    • Telari Jiu Jitsu Marietta currently identifies Roberto Traven as a lead instructor who teaches at its Marietta academy.

      Where in the source: Lead Instructor

      Accessed:

  • Grapplezilla, "Roberto ‘Spider’ Traven", 18 November 2021.(opens in a new tab)

    • Grapplezilla identifies Roberto Traven by the nickname ‘Spider’.

      Where in the source: Roberto ‘Spider’ Traven

      Accessed:

    • Grapplezilla reports that Traven was awarded a coral belt in 2021 after nearly 33 years as a black belt.

      Where in the source: awarded his coral belt

      Accessed:

Competition results

Recorded tournament results, newest first
YearEventResultDivision
1999ADCC 1999Source: adcombat.comAbsoluteNo-giVerified1st placeAbsoluteNo-giVerified
1999IBJJF World ChampionshipSource: en.wikipedia.org+100 kgGiVerified1st place+100 kgGiVerified
1998IBJJF World ChampionshipSource: en.wikipedia.org+100 kgGiVerified1st place+100 kgGiVerified
1996IBJJF World ChampionshipSource: en.wikipedia.org+100 kgGiVerified2nd place+100 kgGiVerified

Lineage

View in lineage tree

Students3