No BS Day Trading – Intermediate Review

The retail day trading industry is saturated with flashy marketing, complex indicator combinations, and promises of effortless passive income. For traders who have spent years chasing the holy grail of moving average crossovers and oscillators, the realization that institutional participants trade entirely differently can be a harsh awakening. Professional proprietary traders do not rely on lagging colorful lines on a chart; they rely on raw order flow, liquidity, and the Depth of Market (DOM). Transitioning to this professional-grade methodology requires a complete rewiring of how you view price action, which is exactly the gap this specific training program attempts to bridge.

If you are evaluating the No BS Day Trading Intermediate course, you likely already understand that this brand rejects traditional retail trading fluff. Authored by a former Chicago proprietary trader, this curriculum is designed as a reality check for serious scalpers. It strips away the noise and forces you to look at the actual bids and offers driving the market. However, because the brand separates its foundational material from its practical video applications, many prospective students wonder if the intermediate upgrade justifies the cost.

This review breaks down exactly what the intermediate curriculum covers, how it differs from the basic material, and whether its strict focus on Treasury futures aligns with your personal trading goals. By examining the specific setups taught, the strict refund policies, and the technical requirements of DOM trading, you can determine if this order flow deep-dive is the right next step for your career.

At a glance

Item	Details
Course name	Intermediate Course
Provider	John Grady
Platform	Official brand website
Category	Trading Strategy (Order Flow / DOM)
Intent fit	Commercial Investigation / Decision
Buyer stage	Consideration (Familiar with order flow concepts)
Pricing transparency	Based on SERP patterns, typically $150-$250
Policy transparency	Strict no-refund policy (Confirmed)
Trust signals	High (Former prop trader, Jigsaw Trading partner)

What this review helps you decide

Question	Why it matters
Is the intermediate course just a repeat of the basic material?	You need to know if you are paying for new, actionable trade setups or just a rehash of foundational order flow theory.
Does the strategy work on markets other than Treasuries?	If you exclusively trade highly volatile markets like the NQ or Gold, you must understand how thick vs. thin market dynamics affect these setups.
Is the lack of a refund policy a red flag?	Digital products carry inherent risks; understanding the webinar credit alternative helps mitigate buyer's remorse.
Is DOM trading too difficult for retail traders?	Reading the tape requires intense focus and specific software, which may not suit casual or swing traders.

Course overview

The intermediate curriculum serves as the practical, application-based bridge for traders who have already digested the foundational concepts of order flow. John Grady, a former Chicago proprietary trader, has built a highly respected reputation in the trading community for his realistic, non-flashy approach. He does not promise overnight wealth; instead, he focuses on the grueling but rewarding skill of "reading the tape." His methodology is heavily aligned with professional prop-firm tactics, which prioritize the Depth of Market (DOM) over traditional candlestick charts and technical indicators.

A defining characteristic of this course is its hyper-focus on Treasury futures, specifically the 10-Year Note (ZN), 5-Year Note (ZF), and 30-Year Bond (ZB). Unlike the E-mini S&P 500 (ES) or the Nasdaq (NQ), Treasury markets are considered "thick." This means there are massive amounts of limit orders resting at every price level. Thick markets move slower and respect order flow mechanics more cleanly, making them the ideal training ground for learning how to read absorption, spoofing, and large institutional participation. The course aims to teach retail traders how to lean on these massive institutional orders to scalp small, consistent ticks out of the market.

Furthermore, the training is closely associated with Jigsaw Trading, a premier order flow software platform. While the concepts taught are theoretically platform-agnostic, the visual examples and the speed of tape reading demonstrated in the course are heavily optimized for modern order flow tools. This course is ultimately about transitioning from a retail mindset—where you guess market direction based on lagging patterns—to a professional mindset, where you react to real-time liquidity shifts.

What’s likely inside the course

Theme area	What it likely covers	Confidence
Real-time trade examples	7 specific video recordings of live trades covering breakouts, reversals, and pure price action.	Confirmed
The Smackdown setup	A proprietary order flow setup focusing on specific DOM dynamics and institutional participation.	Confirmed
Cumulative volume profile	How to use volume accumulation at specific price levels to identify strong support, resistance, and absorption.	Confirmed
Treasury market selection	Detailed breakdowns of why ZN and ZF are traded, and how to read their specific tick dynamics.	Confirmed
DOM reading mechanics	Advanced techniques for watching the bid/ask spread, recognizing pulled orders, and spotting iceberg orders.	Confirmed
Basic course material	The foundational ebook and beginner concepts.	Not specified (Confirmed as a separate purchase)

Who this is for

This curriculum is explicitly designed for traders who are ready to abandon the search for the perfect indicator and commit to the rigorous discipline of tape reading. It is not a beginner's guide to opening a brokerage account, nor is it a passive swing trading system. It requires active, intense screen time during the most liquid hours of the trading session.

If you have read the basic material or have a fundamental understanding of what a limit order and a market order are, this intermediate step provides the visual, real-time examples necessary to see those concepts in action. It is particularly well-suited for traders who are tired of getting stopped out in highly volatile, thin markets and are looking for the slower, more deliberate pace of the Treasury complex.

If you are…	This may fit if…	This may not fit if…
A struggling retail day trader	You want to learn how prop firms actually trade using the DOM and order flow.	You are unwilling to unlearn your reliance on MACD, RSI, and moving averages.
An index futures trader (ES/NQ)	You are looking to diversify into slower, thicker markets like ZN or ZF to improve your win rate.	You demand high daily volatility and 50-point swings to satisfy your trading style.
A foundational order flow student	You understand the theory but need to see real-time video examples of breakouts and reversals.	You expect the basic foundational ebook to be included in this specific download.

Learning experience and format

The intermediate course is delivered as a 318MB digital download. This compact file size indicates a highly focused, no-fluff delivery method consisting primarily of video lessons and accompanying documentation. Because it is a direct download, students gain immediate, lifetime access to the files upon purchase, allowing them to study the real-time trade videos at their own pace.

The core of the learning experience revolves around the 7 real-time trade videos. Watching a static image of a DOM is virtually useless; order flow must be observed in motion to understand the velocity of the tape and the shifting of liquidity. These videos allow students to watch over the instructor's shoulder as he executes breakouts, reversals, and the specific "Smackdown" setup.

It is crucial to note that this intermediate download does not include the basic course. Students are expected to already possess a working vocabulary of order flow terminology. If you jump straight into this 318MB file without understanding the difference between the bid and the ask, or how market orders consume limit orders, the real-time videos will likely look like a confusing blur of flashing numbers.

Pros and cons

Likely strengths	Possible drawbacks or open questions
Taught by a verified former Chicago proprietary trader with deep industry respect.	Strict no-refund policy means you must be absolutely certain before purchasing.
Focuses on raw price action and DOM reading, eliminating lagging indicator noise.	Highly specific to Treasury futures; may require adaptation for ES or NQ traders.
Includes 7 real-time video examples, showing exactly how setups look in live market conditions.	Does not include the basic foundational material, requiring a separate purchase for beginners.
Offers a clear path to upgrade; the purchase price can be credited toward a future live webinar.	Requires specialized, professional-grade order flow software (like Jigsaw) to fully implement.

The most significant strength of this curriculum is its authenticity. John Grady is widely recognized in communities like NexusFi (formerly Big Mike Trading) for his transparent, realistic approach to the markets. By focusing on the DOM and Cumulative Volume Profile, the course teaches a skill that is universally applicable to auction market theory, even if the specific examples are in Treasuries.

Conversely, the strict no-refund policy is a notable friction point. Because the product is a direct digital download, the provider cannot revoke access once the files are delivered, making refunds impossible. However, the provider mitigates this by allowing students to deduct the cost of the intermediate course from a future live webinar purchase, creating a fair upgrade path for those who find value in the methodology and want deeper, live mentorship.

Decision framework

Decision factor	What to check	Why it matters
Market preference	Are you willing to trade Treasury futures (ZN, ZF)?	The setups and DOM dynamics taught are highly optimized for thick markets; applying them directly to thin markets like NQ requires significant adjustment.
Software budget	Do you have access to a professional DOM?	Standard retail brokerage DOMs often lack the depth, speed, and volume tracking required to execute these specific order flow setups effectively.
Prerequisite knowledge	Have you mastered basic order flow concepts?	The intermediate videos assume you already know the basics; without that foundation, the 318MB download will be difficult to follow.
Risk tolerance for digital goods	Are you comfortable with a strict no-refund policy?	You must accept that the purchase is final, though the webinar credit offers a safety net if you plan to pursue further education with the brand.

Common mistakes to avoid

The most frequent mistake prospective students make is assuming the intermediate course is an all-in-one package. It is explicitly sold separately from the basic course. Buying the intermediate videos without having read the foundational material is like trying to read a novel in a language you have only studied for a week. You will see the action happening, but you will miss the critical underlying context of why liquidity is shifting.

Another common pitfall is attempting to take the exact setups taught for the 10-Year Note (ZN) and applying them blindly to the Nasdaq (NQ) or individual volatile stocks. Thick markets absorb market orders differently than thin markets. A breakout setup on the ZN DOM looks entirely different from a breakout on the NQ DOM, where liquidity is often pulled rapidly, leading to severe slippage.

Finally, traders often fail to treat their education systematically. Trading the DOM requires a rigorous approach to reading data and auditing your own screen recordings. Professional traders treat their operation like a strict business, relying on systematic audits of their own performance. Just as a digital business owner might utilize systematic website audit training by Danbee Shin to methodically uncover hidden site errors and optimize their platform, a serious day trader must methodically audit their daily DOM recordings to find hidden liquidity and correct their execution errors. Skipping this systematic review process will render the course material useless.

Alternatives to consider

If you are intrigued by professional trading concepts but are unsure if staring at a flashing DOM for hours is the right fit for your personality, there are several alternative educational paths to consider:

Swing trading and longer timeframes: If the hyper-fast pace of scalping Treasuries on the DOM seems overwhelming, you might prefer strategies that analyze end-of-day data. For example, exploring larry Williams' approach to swing trading futures and commodities provides a completely different perspective, focusing on commercial positioning and longer-term market structure rather than micro-second liquidity shifts.
Structured daily setups across multiple assets: If you want a systematic approach to day trading but prefer using traditional charts, time-of-day behaviors, and structured templates rather than raw order flow, you might consider stacey Burke's ACB Trading Setups Master Class. This alternative focuses on specific session timings and price action patterns rather than the Depth of Market.
Indicator-based futures trading: There are numerous courses that teach futures trading using volume-weighted average price (VWAP), market profile, and traditional oscillators. These are generally easier for beginners to grasp visually than a raw numbers-based DOM, though they inherently rely on slightly lagging data.

FAQ

Can I get a refund if I don't like the course?

No, there is a strict no-refund policy for this digital download. Because the 318MB file is delivered immediately and cannot be returned, all sales are final.

Does this course include the basic ebook?

No, the intermediate course does not include the basic foundational material. It is a separate purchase designed for traders who already understand the core concepts of order flow.

Do I need Jigsaw Trading software to use this course?

While the concepts of order flow are universal, the course is heavily aligned with Jigsaw Trading. Having a professional-grade DOM that clearly displays resting liquidity and executed volume is highly recommended to replicate the setups shown.

Is this course suitable for stock traders or just futures?

The curriculum is highly focused on Treasury futures (ZN, ZF, ZB). While tape reading skills can theoretically be applied to highly liquid large-cap stocks, the specific setups and market dynamics taught are optimized for the futures market.

What is the Smackdown setup?

The Smackdown setup is a specific order flow pattern taught in the course. It involves identifying moments when large institutional participants step into the market to aggressively absorb retail buying or selling, creating a high-probability reversal or continuation point.

Is order flow trading still profitable in current markets?

Yes, order flow remains a primary methodology for proprietary traders. While algorithmic trading has changed the speed of the tape, the fundamental mechanics of auction market theory—where buyers and sellers must transact at specific price levels—remain unchanged.

How does the webinar credit work?

If you purchase the intermediate course and later decide you want to upgrade to John Grady's live webinar training, the cost you paid for the intermediate download can be deducted from the total price of the webinar.

Verdict

The intermediate curriculum from this brand is a highly specialized, professional-grade resource that delivers exactly what it promises: raw, unfiltered order flow education. It is an excellent investment for serious futures traders who are ready to transition away from retail indicators and learn how to read the Depth of Market in thick, institutional environments like Treasuries.

However, it is not for everyone. Casual traders, those looking for a quick fix, or those who demand a money-back guarantee should skip this product. Furthermore, if you have not yet mastered the basics of the bid/ask spread and limit order mechanics, you must start with the foundational material first. For the dedicated scalper willing to put in the screen time, the 7 real-time trade videos provide invaluable insight into how a former prop trader actually executes in live conditions.

Conclusion

Navigating the transition from retail charting to professional tape reading is one of the most difficult hurdles a day trader will face. This intermediate course strips away the illusions of easy money and forces you to confront the reality of market liquidity. By focusing on Treasury futures, Cumulative Volume Profile, and specific DOM setups, it provides a realistic framework for extracting small, consistent gains from the market.

While the strict no-refund policy and the requirement to purchase the basic course separately may deter some, the transparency and industry respect commanded by the instructor make this a trustworthy option. If you are prepared to treat your trading as a serious, systematic discipline, the insights contained within these real-time video examples can fundamentally change how you view price action.

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About the Reviewer

Reviewed by Mr. Vo Quang Vinh (SEO Master, 10+ years). This review is based on real implementation experience, plus firsthand exposure to the course materials—delivering a deeper, more practical evaluation of outcomes, strengths, and limitations.