Professor Joaquim Valente, took advantage of his spring break at Barry University to visit Rio during a very special week. Carnival (Carnaval in Portuguese) in Brazil is probably bigger than in any other country and although it is celebrated in towns and villages throughout Brazil and other countries, Rio de Janeiro has long been regarded as the Carnival Capital of the World. Every year around 500,000 foreign visitors come to Rio to witness this event. During the festivities, Joaquim met some of Rio de Janeiro’s most important figures. The youngest of the Valente brothers, had the opportunity to speak to the Mayor of Rio, Eduardo Paes, about the role of Jiu-Jitsu in education and the upcoming UFC Rio in August. Also, Joaquim met Rio’s Secretary of Security, José Mariano Beltrame, the man most credit as being the key figure behind the operations that are banning the most dangerous drug lords from the favelas of Rio. Secretary Beltrame, an enthusiast of Jiu-Jitsu, expressed the importance of Jiu-Jitsu in preparing police officers to better perform their jobs.
