Hillary Clinton Supports Gracie Jiu-Jitsu

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Miami, Florida – In a historic meeting, presidential candidate and United States Senator Hillary Clinton met with Gracie Jiu-jitsu Professor Pedro Valente of Gracie Miami to discuss the physical and psychological benefits of jiu-jitsu in young children.  The summit was held at North Beach Elementary School and Mr. Valente accompanied other educators invited by Mrs. Clinton to share their experiences regarding the positive impact of various activities on early education. 

Mr. Valente, who began formally learning jiu-jitsu from Grandmaster Helio Gracie at the age of three (his brother, Professor Gui Valente, had a year head start on Pedro, beginning his training at age two), spoke with Ms. Clinton about the benefits of educating children early.  Not only is physical confidence developed in the young child from learning how to defend against an aggressor, Mr. Valente related, but mental discipline and focus is developed as well, traits essential for many aspects of life.  The transformative power of jiu-jitsu in a young child’s life is repeatedly evident in the Gracie Miami children’s class, where students start as young as age three, Mr. Valente conveyed.  Mrs. Clinton was very receptive to the early educational benefits of Gracie Jiu-jitsu and stated that “I’m a firm believer in teaching martial arts to children.”  Observers saw the meeting as an important milestone for the acquisition of political support for Gracie Jiu-jitsu in youth education.