On Saturday the 15th edition of the Helio Gracie Self-Defense Challenge took place at VB headquarters in North Miami Beach. After 2 rounds and great performances of technique and reflex 5 finalists qualified to the Gran Finale on October 1st at 8pm during the HelioGracieDay. Congratulations to all and in special to the 5 finalists: Don Simon, Chingiz Askerov, Todd Withers, Christine Fingado, and Felix Granados.
The second edition of the Fudoshin Challenge was an outstanding opportunity for Valente Brothers’ students who regularly attend our sparring class to challenge themselves by dealing with the emotional pressures of fighting in public. In addition to the high level technical skill, participants and spectators demonstrated the Valente Brothers’ culture of respect, discipline and camaraderie.
The Fudoshin Challenge is a team competition designed exclusively to promote the technical and emotional development of all participants. Matches have no points and competitors are not told the exact length of their matches in advance. Victory by submission results in 3 points for the winning team and a draw amounts to 1 point being scored for both teams. The challenge, which was broadcasted live via Periscope, ended in a draw with each team scoring 23 points. Congratulations to everyone who participated and our warmest gratitude to all our students who did not participate but supported the challenge by cheering on the participants and promoting it on social media.
The last week of August was busy as usual at all Valente Brothers locations with the traditional back to school days and as many of our students returned from their vacation destinations.
However, a fast growing program at VB has been catching the attention of the South Florida community, the Women’s Self-Defense program.
Bruce Belfield, taught another open workshop to women of all ages at the Borowrd Sheriffs Office branch of Lauderdale By The Sea and Eduardo Camabas (VB Pembroke Pines) offered a free self-defense session. Both classes had a great attendance and were a success.
Mean while at Valente Brothers Headquarters in North Miami Beach, the Mondays and Wednesday Women’s Self-Defense classes continue at full steam.
Nearly 80 VBs attended the event on Saturday at Valente Brothers Headquarters in North Miami Beach.
The occasion was a fundraising “Street Self-Defense Seminar” in support for the Navy SEAL Foundation, an organization that provides financial assistance to the families of the most skilled military operatives in the world, who are killed or injured in the line of duty.
Valente Brothers once again recieved the prestigious invitation to teach a Navy special operations force in Virginia Beach.
The four days hand to hand survival course was held at the Naval Air Station Oceana Dam Neck Annex.
Professors Pedro and Joaquim Valente, along with VB’s first black belts, Jimmy Robertson and Carlos Villares and black belt, Timo Tervola traveled from Miami to instruct the navy men, members of a special ops force.
Valente Brothers is honored to, once again, be selected and invited to teach some of the finest men that help protect our freedoms.
Gracie and Valente brothers Rickson, Pedro, Rolker, Gui, Royler, Joaquim and Royce taught lessons to over 60 black belts from all over the world during the 2015 Gracie Humaitá Meeting in San Diego, California.
Master Royler Gracie invited the Valente brothers to assisit during the Self-Defense workshop and teach a seminar on how VB became one of the most succesful Martial Arts schools in the United States while maintaining its philosophical and technical roots.
