Professor Gui taught youth classes on Saturday and a 5 hour adult seminar on Sunday. Over 100 students participated. Following the seminars, Gui complimented Instructor Roy Cantu for the wonderful job leading the Valente Brothers program in Houston. Several youth and adult students received their new belts. VB Black Belt Calvin Carter also attended the seminar.
Exactly 60 years ago, on April 27, 1953, Pedro Valente Sr. took his first jiu-jitsu lesson at the Academia Gracie in Rio de Janeiro. That Monday afternoon marked the beggining of a journey which established a deep-rooted connection between the Valente and the Gracie families, and laid the ground for the creation of Valente Brothers. Today, Valente Brothers remains 100% loyal to the principles and ideals of the original Academia Gracie and their leaders Grand Masters Carlos and Helio Gracie. As we reflect upon the life-transforming philosophy and the priceless techniques that three generations of our family have learned through out these 60 years, our hearts are filled with gratitude to all of our teachers, and motivation to continue to pass on this invaluable knowledge to all of our students.
The following is a list of every member of the Valente family who learned jiu-jitsu at the Academia Gracie: Dr. Syllo Valente, Gen. Eliezer Valente, Dr. Pedro Valente Sr., Pedro Valente, Guilherme Valente, Joana Valente and Joaquim Valente.
Professor Joaquim Valente traveled to Los Angles, representing the Valente family, to receive this beatiful plaque from the hands of Rose Gracie, Grandmaster Helio Gracie’s eldest granddaughter. The Gracie Nationals is a Jiu-Jitsu event that promotes the practice of traditional Gracie Jiu-Jitsu by holding matches without points where vitory can only be achieved by submission.
