Roberto "Spider" Traven (born September 16, 1968) is a Brazilian mixed martial artist and Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu (BJJ) Coral Belt practitioner. He is a former ADCC Absolute Champion, IBJJF World Champion, and UFC veteran. Traven is widely regarded as one of the most influential figures in the global BJJ community, known for both his competitive achievements and his coaching legacy.

Traven was born in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil, and began training in Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu at the age of 16 under Romero "Jacaré" Cavalcanti, founder of Alliance Jiu-Jitsu. He earned his black belt in just four years, training alongside future legends such as Fábio Gurgel, Léo Vieira, and Eduardo "Jamelão" da Conceição. His natural talent and dedication led him to train three times a day, enabling him to quickly rise through the ranks.  He was promoted to Corel Belt (7th degree black) on July 10, 2021.  There are only approximately 50 to 60 living BJJ coral belts worldwide.

Traven made his MMA debut at UFC 11 in 1996, defeating Dave Berry by TKO. He later faced Frank Mir at UFC 34, losing via armbar in the first round. His professional MMA record stands at 6 wins, 4 losses, and 1 draw, with victories in promotions such as UFC, Rings, and IAFC.

Notable Black Belts Associated with Roberto Traven

Many of Traven’s black belts are instructors at Team Octopus locations or affiliated academies across the U.S., especially in the Southeast.