Roberto "Spider" Traven (born September 16, 1968) is a retired Brazilian mixed martial artist whose fighting style is based in Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu and submission wrestling. He was always athletic and at 16, he found Brazilian Jiu Jitsu. He quickly learned through hard work and intuition under one of the most highly decorated coaches of all time, Romero Cavalcanti AKA “Jacaré." His natural ability for BJJ was clear from the get-go and his strong mentality made a recipe for a good fighter. Training 3 times per day alongside other historical figures such as Fabio Gurgel, Leo Vieira, Jamelão and many others, Traven earned his black belt within 4 years, an almost record breaking time frame in BJJ.[1]
Traven started coaching at the “Academia Strike," and soon pulled out one of his students, Muzio de Angelis, to help him with the classes. The team grew strong, but the venue closed in 1997. Roberto Traven did not give up and he re-opened his academy, this time making his former student, Muzio, his associate naming the team “Academia Muzio & Traven."[1]
Having started his MMA career in the United States in 1996 UFC 11 vs. Dave Berry and in UFC 34 vs. Frank Mir, Roberto Traven started seeing more and more of US territory as the years went by. Understanding that America had great potential for BJJ, Traven left the “Muzio & Traven” partnership a few years after he began it and moved to the US.[1]
Though his once promising MMA career died down after the turn of the millennium, Traven’s career as a BJJ instructor blossomed. with several students, having also graduated some of the American students with the grade of black belt.[1]
Traven is currently sponsored by UK Jiu Jitsu apparel company, AESTHETIC.
