After their visit to the US embassy, Pedro and Ted enjoyed lunch at the historic Tempura Ten-Ichi, a renowned restaurant that has been in operation since 1930. Over the decades, it has served notable figures such as Mikhail Gorbachev, Jacques Chirac, Kofi Annan, Bill Clinton, and Frank Sinatra. The restaurant, known for its history and elegance, is a landmark of Tokyo’s culinary scene.
Following lunch, they returned to the hotel, where Pedro and Ted had an important meeting with Professor Hosokawa, the author of a book about Mataemon Tanabe, a jujutsu master who was a contemporary of Jigoro Kano and a strong advocate of ground fighting, which opposed the Kodokan Judo style. The meeting was arranged by Pedro’s old friend Takamasa Watanabe, who is now the owner of Axis Jiu-Jitsu Academy, a chain of Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu (BJJ) schools in Japan. Takamasa has been a longtime friend of the Valente Brothers since their days at Escola Americana in Rio de Janeiro.
In between this discussion and dinner, Ted attended a Yom Kippur religious ceremony at the synagogue with Ambassador Emanuel. Later, he reunited for dinner with Pedro and Takamasa at Musashi, one of the most prestigious sushi restaurants in Tokyo, located at the Aman. Coincidentally, master chef Musashi is a friend of Valente Brothers student Eric Herzfeld. The group received exceptional treatment, and the food was spectacular.
The highlight of the day was Pedro’s conversation with Professor Hosokawa about the history of jujutsu, specifically Mataemon Tanabe’s legacy and his role as a defender of the lost traditional jujutsu ways in Japan.
On this important day, which also happened to be Yom Kippur, Pedro Valente and Ted Schwartz were warmly welcomed by Ambassador Rahm Emanuel at the residential area of the US embassy in Tokyo. The visit was organized by Ted, who is a longtime friend of Ambassador Emanuel.
During the visit, Ambassador Emanuel showed a strong interest in how jujutsu can be used for military and police training. They also discussed the differences between jujutsu and Krav Maga, and the interesting history of jujutsu in the United States. Pedro explained how President Teddy Roosevelt, a big supporter of the martial art, practiced jujutsu in the White House with a professor sent from the Kodokan in Japan.
One of the highlights of the visit was a tour of the embassy’s beautiful garden, where each ambassador plants a tree to honor the US president they represent. Pedro also had the chance to visit the embassy library and was impressed by the modern art displayed in the residence.
Pedro also learned that Presidents Ulysses S. Grant and Theodore Roosevelt visited the embassy later in their lives, while President Gerald Ford was the first sitting president to visit the embassy.
We’re excited for the next part of this incredible journey.
After a long and great journey from Miami to Tokyo, Pedro Valente and Ted Schwartz arrived and took some time to rest. This trip marks an important mission to explore the rich history of jujutsu and to share the VB Method. We are grateful to Ted for joining us on this journey and for all his support.
The transformation of jujutsu through time is deeply rooted in the vision and innovation of key individuals who looked to adapt and refine traditional jujutsu to create new methods of this ancient Japanese combat system and philosophy. Three pivotal figures in this transformative journey are Jigoro Kano, the founder of Kodokan Judo, and the Gracie brothers, Carlos and Helio, who pioneered what today is widely known as Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu. Their contributions revolutionized martial arts across the world.
Jigoro Kano, born in 1860, came from a prestigious family; his father was a pivotal figure in Japanese society and government. Kano’s family background provided him with opportunities to pursue a rigorous education, eventually leading him to enroll at Tokyo Imperial University. At Tokyo Imperial University, one of Japan’s most prestigious institutions, Kano studied literature and political science. It was here that he also began his training in jujutsu. However, during this period, Japan was undergoing significant changes. The country was transitioning from its feudal system to a more modern, Westernized society. This change led to a decline in the popularity of traditional martial arts like jujutsu, which were often viewed as leftovers of an outdated era.
This shift was a key reason for Kano’s decision to transform and, in essence, rebrand jujutsu. Recognizing the negative perception surrounding the term “jujutsu,” some of this negative perception being very unfair as it was a generalization, Kano looked to organize a new method that would be more palatable to contemporary Japanese society. He chose the name “Kodokan Judo,” distinguishing his art from the older jujutsu styles. It’s important to note that the term “judo” already existed, but Kano’s Kodokan Judo emphasized a particular philosophy and method.
Kano was not primarily known as a fighter; he was foremost an educator. He held numerous teaching positions and was dedicated to the advancement of education in Japan. Through his extensive efforts, Kano was able to gain recognition for judo as a valuable educational tool. He believed that judo was not just a martial art but a means of developing individuals physically, mentally, and morally.
Kano’s reorganization of jujutsu into Kodokan Judo involved structuring it into a more uniform practice. He integrated philosophical, pedagogical, and technical elements, emphasizing the importance of education and personal development. A notable difference between Kano’s judo and traditional jujutsu was the focus on throwing techniques and contests that valued throws over what Kano considered to be excessive ground grappling. This focus differentiated Kodokan Judo from the ground-centric styles that were prevalent at the time. It’s important to note that there were several jujutsu styles at the time focusing on different aspects of jujutsu.
Kano’s system of judo went on to become a martial art practiced all over the world. It became an Olympic sport in 1964, showcasing its global appeal and structured approach to training and competition. Moreover, judo has been recognized as an excellent educational tool, promoting discipline, respect, and physical fitness. Through Kano’s vision and dedication, judo has flourished as both a sport and a means of personal development, embodying the principles of maximum efficiency and mutual welfare and benefit.
Comparably, the Gracie brothers, Carlos and Helio, began their journey in martial arts in the early 20th century in Brazil. Inspired by Mitsuyo Maeda, a Judo practitioner and Kodokan Judo emissary, Carlos Gracie began his training in jujutsu. Maeda’s academy in the north of Brazil is regarded as the primary source of Carlos Gracie’s jujutsu skills. Despite this obvious connection, Maeda himself, when he arrived in Brazil, had already been exposed to several different styles of martial arts and jujutsu practitioners who did not abide by the Kodokan philosophy.
In addition to this, the original Gracie brothers were exposed to a variety of fighters stemming from many different backgrounds. One cannot deny that in the early 1900s, many fighters and teachers coming from Japan had diverse influences. Interestingly, when Maeda first came to the US accompanying his Kodokan senior counterpart Tsunejiro Tomita, they described what they practiced as Kodokan Judo and not jujutsu. Tomita even went on to describe jujutsu negatively, portraying judo as a better and modernized version. However, years later in Brazil, Maeda chose to describe his style as jujutsu, highlighting a possible significant divergence in styles. It’s important to note that the terms jujutsu and judo, at times, were used interchangeably. Carlos and Helio also chose to not conform to many of the oriental norms of Kodokan judo, opting for a more Westernized set of protocols. Carlos was a very curious individual who incorporated many different types of knowledge into his system. He studied nutrition and several other areas, including confidence-building techniques, positivity, the law of attraction, diet, posture training, horseback riding, connection with animals, nature, laws of cause and effect, discipline, the value of work, and helpfulness.
While Kano adopted quasi-religious rituals that persist in many judo classes today, Carlos and Helio adapted jujutsu and the Kodokan judo they were exposed to our tropical roots. Through nutrition, Carlos introduced a diet heavily based on fruits, most notably açaí, a berry from the Amazon forest, which gained worldwide recognition mainly due to the brothers making it popular among jujutsu practitioners in Rio de Janeiro. The relationship between student and teacher in judo was more formal, whereas Carlos and Helio treated students as friends.
Another major difference between Kano’s judo and the brothers’ method was in relation to curriculums and the naming of techniques. Kano believed in descriptive names of techniques, while Helio often said that he preferred students to react rather than memorize names, in a more instinctive manner. The brothers developed a unique approach to teaching a complete lifestyle that focused on a holistic martial art style and philosophy.
It is important to mention that Carlos’ and Helio’s brother, George, was a successful fighter who also contributed to bringing influences from other styles. Despite all these influences, the brothers Carlos and Helio were proud representatives of what they considered to be the original jujutsu way, a complete fighting system and not a modified version proposed by the Kodokan, which prioritized throws over grappling. This view of the brothers was in line with a prominent jujutsu movement in Japan that preceded the Kodokan and that Kano, through his political influence, worked hard to extinguish through what he considered a more appropriate style, with throwing techniques as its principal focus.
In the 1960s, the Gracie brothers, Helio and Carlos, agreed to create a set of rules that would govern what became known as Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu (BJJ). Despite the founders always favoring jujutsu as a complete system focused on self-defense, BJJ for tournaments has grown immensely, becoming a global sport with millions of practitioners. The point system they developed clearly demonstrates the prioritization of ground grappling over throwing techniques, contrasting with Jigoro Kano’s Judo. In Judo, a submission through a choke or joint lock carries the same weight as a complete throw, finishing the match with an Ippon. Additionally, a pin originally lasting 30 seconds (now 20 seconds) also finishes the match. In Jiu-Jitsu, however, a throw counts for only two points, while positions like knee on belly (which used to count three points), mounted position, and mount with hooks from the back were awarded higher scores (three and four points, respectively). The only immediate match-ending action in BJJ is a submission. This point system prioritizes ground grappling and submissions as the ultimate goal, whereas Jigoro Kano’s Judo emphasizes throws equally with ground submissions, highlighting the difference in priorities between the two systems.
Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu gained world notoriety through the Ultimate Fighting Championship (UFC), created by Helio’s oldest son, Rorion, and won multiple times by his son Royce. These victories demonstrated the dominance of jujutsu over other martial arts in mano-a-mano no-holds-barred fights. This success was the origin of what became one of the biggest sports in the world, known as mixed martial arts (MMA).
Jigoro Kano and the Gracie brothers, Carlos and Helio, each played pivotal roles in the transformation of jujutsu. Through their dedication, innovation, and philosophical insights, they transformed traditional jujutsu into modern disciplines. Kano’s system of judo became a globally practiced martial art and an Olympic sport, while the Gracies’ Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu gained international prominence through the UFC and the rise of MMA and the growing need for self-defense. Their legacies continue to shape the landscape of martial arts, inspiring practitioners around the world to pursue excellence both on and off the mat.
Valente Brothers Jiu-Jitsu is the oldest Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu school in South Florida. It is renowned for its commitment to preserving the authentic techniques and philosophy of Gracie Jiu-Jitsu. This prestigious academy was the only school in the region to host Grandmaster Hélio Gracie, the founder of Gracie Jiu-Jitsu, providing students with unparalleled access to the art’s original teachings.
Historical Significance
Grandmaster Hélio Gracie’s Recognition: Hélio Gracie not only visited Valente Brothers Jiu-Jitsu but recognized it as one of his three official locations worldwide, alongside the Gracie Academy in Los Angeles and his academy in Rio de Janeiro. He referred to the school as the “Academia Gracie de Miami” or Gracie Miami. Between 1997 and 2007, Hélio Gracie visited the school twice a year, culminating in his last trip to the USA in 2007.
Introduction to Miami-Dade Police Department: Valente Brothers was instrumental in introducing Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu to the Miami-Dade Police Department’s training program. This collaboration has enhanced the department’s defensive tactics, contributing to the safety and effectiveness of law enforcement officers in the region.
Military Training Excellence: The academy has a rich history of teaching elite military branches of the U.S. military. Valente Brothers extended its expertise overseas, providing training to U.S. service members stationed at Camp Liberty in Iraq during wartime. This unique experience underscores the academy’s dedication to supporting national security through advanced martial arts training.
Prominent Students and Media Features Valente Brothers has garnered international attention for training high-profile individuals and athletes from various professional sports leagues. Among its famous students are supermodel Gisele Bündchen and businesswoman Ivanka Trump, both of whom have publicly endorsed the academy.
The school has also trained prominent athletes from the NBA, NFL, NHL, and MLB, further showcasing its versatility and excellence in Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu instruction.
Media Recognition Valente Brothers has been featured in numerous news pieces worldwide, highlighting its contributions to martial arts, law enforcement, and military training. The academy’s high-profile students and its commitment to quality instruction have made it a subject of interest and respect in the global martial arts community.
The Valente Brothers Pedro, Gui, and Joaquim Valente are recognized for their efforts to preserve and promote jujutsu as a self-defense system. Today, the brothers are regarded among the most qualified self-defense experts worldwide. They are dedicated to maintaining the highest standards of jujutsu instruction and ensuring the art’s authenticity and effectiveness.
The 753 Code The Valente brothers authored the 753 Code, a book that organizes and structures the elements of jujutsu philosophy, hygienic practices, and wellness into a comprehensive code of conduct. This code serves as a guide for students to live a balanced and disciplined life, both on and off the mats.
Founded by three brothers passionate about the martial art, the Miami-based space attracts students with its technique focused on self-defense
07/13/2024 04:01 AM Updated 2 days ago
Valente Brothers Academy, in Miami
A family tradition gave rise to one of the most well-known Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu schools in the United States. Founded in 1993 in Miami and led by brothers Pedro, Guilherme, and Joaquim Valente, the Valente Brothers academy attracts a clientele of celebrities and ordinary people seeking to learn the martial art that combines benefits for physical and mental health, such as developing strength, endurance, and flexibility, as well as teaching self-defense techniques and helping combat stress and anxiety.
Well-known personalities in the United States, such as Ivanka Trump, former advisor and daughter of the former US president, as well as Brazilian actresses living in the country like Carolina Dieckmann and supermodel Gisele Bündchen, are among the academy’s students. The supermodel takes classes with her children Benjamin and Vivian, 14 and 11 years old, and Ivanka also recently revealed that she takes her children to classes. “My 11-year-old daughter told me she wanted to learn self-defense. As a mother, I felt very proud and loved that she felt this desire and awareness at such a young age. So, I called some friends in Miami, who recommended Valente Brothers to me,” she said during a conversation on the Lex Fridman Podcast.
In an interview with Vogue, Guilherme Valente explains that one of the school’s differentials is that, in addition to the fighting technique, they also promote important values of the martial art’s philosophy, such as discipline, self-confidence, and respect. “We have developed our own codes with principles about quality of life and virtues that should be cultivated among fighters,” he says.
The brothers learned the modality from Hélio Gracie, a pioneer of the martial art in Brazil. The Valente family’s history with the fight began with their grandfather, Syllo Valente, was continued by their father, plastic surgeon Pedro Valente, and is now perpetuated by the sons. The journey in the United States began when the oldest brother, Pedro, moved to pursue an MBA in the country and decided to create a club to practice Jiu-Jitsu at the University of Miami. “Jiu-Jitsu was introduced to our family by my grandfather through a Japanese influence. My father was greatly motivated by this philosophy and used many of these concepts during our upbringing,” says the middle brother.
Guilherme, Pedro, and Joaquim Valente — Photo: @valentebrothers
Derived from Japanese Jiu-Jitsu, Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu (BJJ) is a martial art and combat sport developed in the country, with a predominant focus on ground fighting techniques. Guilherme explains that the practice emphasizes the use of leverage, angles, and submission techniques, such as armbars and chokes, to neutralize opponents regardless of their strength or size, which makes the modality efficient in self-defense situations.
Headquartered in North Beach with branches in Pembroke Pines and Coral Gables, the facilities feature over a thousand square meters of space, five training areas, tatami systems, locker rooms, a rooftop, and even a museum with articles that tell the history of the martial art. The building was designed to emulate the Gracie Jiu-Jitsu Academy, inaugurated by Hélio and Carlos Gracie in 1952 in a prestigious building in downtown Rio de Janeiro.
Valente Brothers Academy, in Miami
Valente Brothers Academy, in Miami
Valente Brothers Academy, in Miami
In recent years, the school has also started investing in classes focused on the female audience. “The program for women is one of the most successful within our academies, mainly because our Jiu-Jitsu is centered on self-defense,” says Guilherme Valente, who also highlights the school as a center for teaching Jiu-Jitsu to children from 3 years old.
The academy offers a range of programs that cater to beginners through advanced students, with classes lasting 30 to 45 minutes. Introductory group courses cost $2,420 annually, while private lessons are offered at $250 per session, but the school offers scholarships for people with financial difficulties, in addition to promoting weekly classes at Lotus House, a shelter that serves homeless women and children.
In Ivanka Trump’s interview on the Lex Fridman Podcast, she discusses her journey into jujutsu, commonly referred to as Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu, which began with her daughter Arabella’s desire to learn self-defense. Ivanka shares how this led her to the Valente Brothers’ school in Miami, where the entire family, including her husband Jared Kushner and their sons Joseph and Theodore, eventually joined in the training. She speaks highly of the Valente Brothers, praising their integration of philosophical principles and history into their teachings, alongside practical self-defense skills.
Ivanka highlights the empowerment and confidence she has gained from Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu, emphasizing its benefits in enhancing situational awareness and calmness. She also notes the positive impact on her children, who have embraced the 753 Code, a set of values inspired by Samurai principles and developed by the Valente brothers, which they apply in their daily lives. Ivanka appreciates the holistic approach of the Valente Brothers, which includes mental, physical, and philosophical growth, and values the deep, scholarly dedication to martial arts that they embody.
Lex Fridman also praises the Valente Brothers, noting their exceptional commitment to the art and history of martial arts. He admires their dedication to understanding and teaching both the physical and philosophical aspects of Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu, emphasizing that they maintain the essential self-defense roots of the practice. This comprehensive approach, Lex remarks, instills confidence and awareness in practitioners, both on and off the mat.
Today, We Celebrate the 30th Anniversary of Valente Brothers
On this special day, we commemorate not only the day when Professor Pedro Valente arrived in Miami 30 years ago, but also when he taught his first private class to his roommate, Jimmy Robertson, in the Pearson Residential Hall at the University of Miami.
This moment is more than an anniversary; it’s the birthday of Valente Brothers Jujutsu—a dream that began in a dorm room and has since blossomed into a global family.
While Gui and Joaquim were in Brazil at the time, finishing grade school, that day marked the beginning of a shared journey for the three Valente brothers. They provided unwavering support from afar until they could reunite in Miami, solidifying a family mission that has grown into a worldwide community.
We extend our deepest gratitude to our mentors, most notably Grand Master Hélio Gracie and Grand Master Dr. Pedro Valente Sr., whose wisdom and teachings guide us every day.
To all who have been part of this journey—our students, instructors, and family—your trust and support are the pillars of our school. #valentebrothers #753code
During the month of august, Professor Pedro Valente had the distinct honor of conducting a training session for the Special Agents from the FBI New York’s Firearms and Tactical Training Unit and various operations divisions, including Special Agents and Task Force Officers from the Joint Terrorism Task Force at Vitor Shaolin’s Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu Academy in Scotchdale, New Jersey.
We extend our sincerest gratitude to Vitor Shaolin for this invitation. His academy, with its state-of-the-art facilities, provides an excellent training environment for all martial arts practitioners.
The opportunity for Professor Pedro to teach such dedicated professionals was a privilege. We are always proud to contribute to the readiness of those committed to serving and protecting our nation.
Today, only a few people are aware of the true origins of jujutsu in Brazil, or as it became famous, Jiu-Jitsu. Back in the 1930s, the Academia Gracie, situated in a house in the borough of Flamengo in Rio de Janeiro, served as a vibrant hub for students from diverse backgrounds and fighting styles. Challenge fight events were common, attracting experts in capoeira, boxing, judo (which was then synonymous with Jiu-Jitsu), and catch wrestling, all eager to learn jujutsu. This open environment, where fighters from different styles trained together, played a pivotal role in the development of jujutsu in Brazil.
Naturally, the presence of these fighters from various styles training together contributed to the evolution of a remarkably complete fighting style, which Helio Gracie skillfully employed in his own fights. Moreover, this collaborative atmosphere played a crucial role in the development of Helio Gracie’s training systems. By integrating and refining techniques from different disciplines, Helio Gracie crafted an approach that was highly effective and adaptable. In the picture, Carlson Gracie, who was considered one of Helio Gracie’s most talented students, perfectly combined a wide range of techniques. He skillfully integrated grappling, throwing, and striking during his fight against Waldemar Santana. At Valente Brothers, we honor and preserve these historical roots, continuously striving to improve ourselves and our students in this comprehensive fighting system.
