On Saturday, Professor Gui Valente taught classes at Valente Brothers Pembroke Pines. Black Belt Instructor, Dr. Eduardo Cambas, a student of the Valente Brothers headquarters in North Miami Beach for over ten years, runs the Pembroke Pines location. Dr. Cambas, a prominent Chiropractor, received the prestigious honor of the black belt rank in last year’s December belt ceremony.
As Professor Gui said, “the first impression that anyone has of the Pembroke Pines affiliate is a feeling of connection and continuity with the other two Valente Brothers schools (Headquarters and Fort Lauderdale). The precise details of the academy – the blue mats which convey a sense of positive energy, the picture of Grandmaster Hélio Gracie, the posted rules and regulations, as well as the pictures showing the lineage of the school, all contributed to a sense of the school as an extension of headquarters.
Fundamentals class in session at Valente Brothers official West Broward Location
Furthermore, the positive learning environment and electric atmosphere of the school reflected the philosophy of Grandmaster Hélio Gracie. Professor Gui was happy to see that these important factors that contribute to the success of a school were present, and that the tradition of teaching Jiu-Jitsu as taught to the Valente family by Grandmaster Hélio Gracie, first to grandfather Syllo Valente, then to Dr. Pedro Valente Sr. (who received the 9th degree red belt this year, the highest honor any practitioner of the art can receive), and then to brothers Pedro, Gui, and Joaquim, lives on.
Today, Valente Brothers has three South Florida locations that are all doing a diligent job of carrying on this tradition. The Fort Lauderdale academy, run by Black Belt Instructor Bruce Belfield, has done an outstanding job since its inception over three years ago, and has recently moved to an even larger location. Fort Lauderdale and Pembroke Pines, are moving in the same line, connecting with Headquarters in their common mission to provide “Genuine Hélio Gracie Self Defense” to the public.
Professor Valente teaching in Fort Lauderdale with Instructor Bruce Belfield
Professor Gui taught the 9 AM Women’s’ Self Defense class, a program which has been growing in all three locations, and designed to specifically address self defense situations that women face. At 10 AM, Professor Gui taught the Fundamentals class. The classes were well attended, with virtually a full mat during the Fundamentals class.
Professor Gui was also very happy to see the Cambas family not only diligently continuing their Jiu-Jitsu training, but also helping Eduardo in his teaching duties. Twelve-year-old Coller Cambas assisted in the women’s class, and nine-year-old Haylee Cambas helped with other aspects of the organization. The youngest Cambas, Gracin and Carson had just finished the Juniors class. Dr. Cambas’ wife, Kristan, a blue belt, attended the women’s class. This sense of family spirit is an integral part of the Valente Brothers philosophy, and seeing Dr. Cambas’ family work so well together was a testament to the fact that the Pembroke Pines location, like the Fort Lauderdale affiliate and Headquarters, are all moving together on the same path.
