Masters Magazine
The Valente Brothers of Gracie Miami
By Bill Curry                                         

 
Read it in acrobat format
 

In the sometimes myopic world of martial arts, where tough guys strive to be tougher and fighters learn how to get beat up, what happened to the tradition and honoring of those who came before and made it possible to achieve refined technical prowess There are the imitators and the counterfeits who are coaching improper, disjointed smatterings of fourth- and fifth-hand learning. But by the book, direct from the source learning system, is becoming more difficult to find. What has been missing in the "Brazilian" Jiu Jitsu craze is the proper teaching of the foundation and methodology of Gracie Jiu Jitsu. I is this deep hands-on teaching method that transcends the rudimentary tough guy tactic that are concerned with surviving five-minute rounds in a cage.

Give credit where credit is due. The Gracie system of real fighting is the basis for all that has hence come forth in the modern martial arts. If not for him, we martial artists would still be swinging nunchakus, pretending to be Bruce Lee, and walking on rice paper like young Keith Carradine as Kung Fu's grasshopper.




Young Pedro and Gui posing with his father in Brazil.



When Rorion Gracie woke up the world with the first release of "Gracie Jiu Jitsu in Action" and the advent of the UFC, the world's prominent Brazilian martial arts dynasty went mainstream. These are the people to thank for touching the lives of millions of martial arts enthusiasts and fighters; they are responsible for the worldwide martial arts paradigm shift over a decade ago that continues today.


Following that tradition, there is a new generation of teacher. Pedro and Gui Valente from Miami, Florida, are stepping up to the capable, honorable, and refined technical system inherent Gui with Master Helio Gracie in the Gracie system. These Brazilian brothers have been inextricably linked to the Gracie dynasty for over fifty years. For three generations, the Valente family has learned Jiu Jitsu directly from Grandmaster Helio Gracie. The late Doctor Syllo Valente was a naturalist and homeopathic doctor. In 1951, he took his then 12-year-old son Pedro to see the epic challenge match between legendary world Japanese judo champion Kimura and Helio Gracie. Dr. Syllo was so impressed with Gracie's great feats of defense against the Japanese giant that he took his son immediately the next day to the Rio de Janeiro academy to start training. He found in the art of Gracie Jiu Jitsu the ideal complement to the life education of son Pedro, who years later, while attending medical school, was befriended by a training partner who happened to be a prominent plastic surgeon.

Pedro went on to become one of the world's top plastic surgeons (in the 1980s, he was named as one of the top five in the world by the New York Times) and is one of the highest-ranking Gracie black belts in the world. He has served as two-time secretary of health for Rio de Janeiro as well as transportation minister. He now has a business interest in the world-renowned Brazilian soccer team Vasco de Gama. With fifty five years of training directly under Grandmaster Helio, he has received his eighth degree black and red belts, along with the title of Professor in Gracie Jiu Jitsu.

His sons Pedro and Guilherme began tutelage from their father as soon as they began to walk. At the ages of three and five, they already were taking lessons from grandfather Helio. Growing up, they trained daily at the original Gracie academy in Rio and trained with Royler, Rickson, Royce, Renzo, Robin, and Rorion.

Pedro Jr. came to the USA to attend the University of Miami, graduated with a degree in business administration, and started a Jiu Jitsu club there with the assistance of Rorion and Royce in 1994. In 1999, his brother Gui came to get his college degree at Barry University and began teaching with his brother at the first Gracie academy in South Florida. They both received their black belts by age 21 and garnered the honor of being certified by Grandmaster Helio Gracie as coveted professors of Gracie Jiu Jitsu. Only twenty-five people, including family members, have ever achieved this honor in seventy-five years.

Pedro and Gui have acknowledged, identified, and factored into their teachings the social and cultural differences of the Brazilian and American society. They make their presentation of Gracie Jiu Jitsu palatable to the more time-constrained modern Americans, with their unique focus on Gracie methodology. They present a mapped out strategy to achieve the techniques and give each student a "know what you get for your investment" approach to learning the art. This has proven a grand success at their state-of-the-art academy in Miami. With its interactive monitor screens, spacious open training area, relaxed, efficient, and multiple everyday training classes.

The academy offers top-of-the-line instruction, making sure a professional atmosphere is presented as soon as you walk in the door. Three private rooms for personal instruction make it easy to get on the fast track, and along with a variety of videos, books, equipment, and Gracie memorabilia for sale, it is one-stop shopping for those who seek a hands-on learning experience. With Helio Gracie's bronze statue at the entryway, the presence of Grandmaster is ever felt in the day-to-day goings-on of the academy.

This prototype dojo is a stellar business model reflected in the huge attendance, the dedication and longevity of the attending students, as well as a children's program considered to be the finest in the country. With emphasis on safety and attention to the individual student, the children are thriving in the family of Gracie Jiu Jitsu Along with the frequent visits of Grandmaster Helio, this academy is a virtual realty for direct access to the source of all modern martial arts.


Pedro and Gui continue to teach a system of self-defense that transcends the practice of technique; they embrace the Gracie philosophy. The training methodology prepares men, women, and children for real life, infusing them with an effective was to use their inherent physical, mental, and spiritual strengths in their daily lives. The bonds of friendship, hard work, ethics, and community participation develop a holistic and realistic real-time awareness of self-defense. Pedro has been training recently with the U.S. Army's 2nd Battalion, 44th Air Defense Artillery Regiment at Fort Campbell in close-quarter combat situations, as well as teaching them advanced grappling and ground fighting techniques. The Gracie Miami academy has been featured on the Telemundo network, in the Miami Herald, and on NBC, CBS, and TLC.

Life Unscripted is the official fighting system of the U.S. Army Rangers. The school's web site, www.graciemiami.com, is a plethora of Valente history, photos, videos, and documentaries on Gracie family achievements. Even the match in Tokyo in front of 60,000 spectators between the iconic 6-foot-8, 500-pound sumo champion, Akibono, and Royce Gracie can be watched in its entirety.

So, if you have the means to get to 3165 NE 163rd Street, North Miami, Florida, you will have the opportunity to receive the lineage tutelage of Gracie Jiu Jitsu from professors Pedro and Gui Valente in a stellar environment. If your timing is good, you even may meet Grandmaster Helio himself, or participate in a seminar with Royce or Royler Gracie.

You are guaranteed to come away with more applicable knowledge about self-defense and the martial arts tradition, make new friends, and have some long lasting fun at the same time.





ONE-ON-ONE . . .

You come from a prominent Brazilian family. Your father, Dr. Pedro Valente Sr., a world-renowned plastic surgeon, introduced you to the world o f martial arts when you were just three years old. Can you talk about it?

Over the last fifty years, three generations of my family have learned Gracie Jiu Jitsu directly from Grandmaster Helio Gracie. Our grandfather, Syllo Valente, was an admirer of Helio Gracie and took my dad, who was 12 at the time, to watch the world title fight between Helio and Kimura. Both were impressed with Grandmaster Helio's amazing technique and decided to enroll at the original Gracie Academy in Rio de Janeiro. After fifty-five years of training directly under Grandmaster Helio Gracie, my dad holds an eighth degree black & red belt and the title of Master Gracie Jiu Jitsu Professor. We were very fortunate to be in a family where Gracie Jiu Jitsu was never just a fighting system but a way of life.
Thanks to our dad, we were born into the Gracie tradition and began learning Jiu Jitsu even before we could walk. At age three, we were already taking private lessons from Grandmaster Helio Gracie. Growing up, we trained daily at the original Gracie Academy in Rio de Janeiro under Helio and his sons Royler, Rolker, Royce, Rorion, Relson, Robin, and Rickson Gracie. Also, as Rorion, Royce, and Rickson moved to California we went several times to Torrance's Gracie Academy. Currently, whenever we go to Brazil, we train with Royler and Rolker, leaders of Rio de Janeiro's Gracie Academy and with Grandmaster Helio at his house in the mountains of Petropolis. Our youngest brother, Joaquim, is currently a purple belt at the Gracie Academy in Rio and will join us as soon as he graduates from high school.

When you were 18 years-old, you moved to Miami, Florida, to study business at the University o f Miami. While you were in college, you continued to train. In fact, you founded the Jiu Jitsu Club at the University o f Miami. Did you find a lot o f enthusiasts for the style on campus?

After graduating from high school in 1993,1 came to the United States to study business at the University of Miami. The first UFC happened that same year, and with Royce's popularity, many people on campus frequently recognized my Gracie Jiu Jitsu t-shirts. One day a Hurricane football player invited me to wrestle him. Amazed with the techniques I used to neutralize his strength, he brought me in to their training center to teach some tricks to the other players. Also, I constantly traveled to the Gracie Academy in Rio de Janeiro to refine my techniques and learn from Grandmaster Helio and Royler Gracie. In 1995, with the help of Rorion and Royce, I founded a Jiu Jitsu club at the University of Miami; several students and faculty members joined, including James Robertson, who was instrumental in the development of our school. A few years later, one of my students, Jim Campbell, introduced me to EFC. Observing the success of many EFC schools, I saw the opportunity to unite EFC's business strategies with Gracie Jiu Jitsu's unique philosophy. In 1999, my brother Gui also moved to South Florida to attend Barry University and help build our new Gracie Miami.

Both you and your father are recipients o f the Gracie Jiu Jitsu Professor Diploma from Grandmaster Helio Gracie, which makes the three o f you part o f an elite group to have received such honor in 75 years. What does that mean to you?

This was a great accomplishment and honor. Grandmaster Helio believes that in order to represent his style of Jiu Jitsu one must take his professor's course, by the end of which students are evaluated based on a variety of aspects, which include tolerance, courage, punctuality, hygiene, honesty, manners, intelligence, technique, etc. Having this diploma only motivates us more toward maintaining the traditions and values of Gracie Jiu Jitsu. Grandmaster just released his first ever book, Gracie Jiu Jitsu, in which he goes into details regarding this course and his style.
 

Gracie Miami is one o f the top Jiu Jitsu schools is the nation. Your adult program attracts professionals from every field. Your innovative Fundamentals and Advanced Programs are being implemented in many schools around the country. Can you briefly talk about the curriculum for each program and how you handle the students in these two programs?

Our art gained popularity and respect through its overwhelming victories in the no-holds-barred arena. Gracie Jiu Jitsu, in its original form, is very attractive to the adult market. Grandmaster Helio's teaching method was designed to reach men, women, and children, regardless of size, strength, and shape. Our diverse student body encompasses students from all walks of life. Five years ago, I decided to innovate and implement a new format for our group program. With Grandmaster Helio's guidance, and using his original private lesson sequence, we organized a fundamentals curriculum to introduce Gracie Jiu Jitsu in a very methodic and didactic process. The curriculum focuses on defenses against the most common street attacks, and allows students to progressively learn the most important and practical techniques we have to offer. Students become so fascinated with the simple solutions provided by this easy-to-follow method that our student retention numbers multiplied after we implemented this new format. We firmly believe that this system is one of the leading reasons behind our success. Throughout the last few months, several schools have been interested in implementing similar systems.

You strongly recommend that your students take private lessons to learn the particulars o f Jiu Jitsu. How do you conduct these private lessons? And, how do those who take private lessons differ from those who don't?

Even though our group lessons program has proved to be a highly effective method of teaching, Grandmaster Helio has stated that the fastest way to take full advantage of Gracie Jiu Jitsu techniques and all its intricacies and details is by taking private lessons.


Your self-defense program (while teaching throwing, striking and grappling techniques) teaches students how to escape an assailant. Are women drawn to your self-defense program?

Gracie Jiu Jitsu's unique approach to self-defense attracts women who want to learn a system that realistically addresses real attacks. We make it very clear to all women who come to our school that our primary objective is to teach self-defense. The practice of Gracie Jiu Jitsu also can be an excellent workout and should not be modified with the sole intent of making practitioners burn more calories. The number one reason why our Gracie style is one of the fastest growing martial arts in the world is due to its practicality and straightforwardness. Understanding this identity is a key element of our success.


You train a number o f law enforcement personnel. Do you offer a separate curriculum to meet their peculiar needs?

The Gracie Academy has been teaching police and military officials for more than 50 years in Brazil and around the world. Currently, at Gracie Miami alone, more than 40 law enforcement officers train in our regular programs. Today, Gracie Jiu Jitsu is the official hand-to-hand combat system of the United States military and several law enforcement agencies around the country.

You said, "The key to learning Jiu Jitsu is repetition. The ultimate goal is to condition your subconscious with Jiu Jitsu." Can you elaborate on this?

Grandmaster Helio's teaching method was designed to provide students with instinctive responses to all kinds of attacks under the most common situations. The main objective is to prepare people to function during the stress and shock of a sudden, violent encounter.

A growing number o f schools in the United States offer Jiu Jitsu, and according to many, there is a huge demand for it. Do you share their optimism?

Gracie Jiu Jitsu gained popularity and respect through its overwhelming victories in the no-holds-barred arena. The wide majority of students who look for Gracie Jiu Jitsu do it in search of the style that allowed a skinny 170-pound man defeat much larger and stronger opponents. Today, many martial arts have developed competitive sport organizations; Gracie/Brazilian Jiu Jitsu is no different. Several of today's Brazilian Jiu Jitsu representatives focus on the sportive aspect of the art. Sport Jiu Jitsu does not appeal to the average person. The typical Brazilian Jiu Jitsu academy prepares athletes for tournaments, just as boxing gyms prepares fighters for bouts. This style naturally creates a selection process that is detrimental to student retention. Our ability to capture this wider market comes from our innovative and unique teaching methodology. Our classes are structured and follow curriculums; students learn progressively and safely. Our school is a family-oriented, clean, respectful, and noble environment where students learn Gracie Jiu Jitsu in its purest self-defense form.


You still keep in touch with Grandmaster Helio Gracie. Do you have similar relationship with his sons?

Grandmaster Helio and his family always were very present in our lives. Growing up, Grandmaster Helio and his sons not only were our teachers but treated us like family. We talk to Grandmaster Helio on a weekly basis. His experience is invaluable to the success of our school; everything we do, from our curriculum to belt ceremonies, requires his blessing. Last year, Grandmaster Helio, Royler, Relson, Rorion, and Royce Gracie visited our school. Today, this fighting system from Brazil is being taught all around the world, due to the courage, hard work and sacrifice of the Gracie Family and its loyal students.


You have been with EFC since 1999. Can you tell us how you have benefited from your association with EFC?

Our success is deeply connected to EFC's network and assistance with the keys to efficiently run a martial arts business. Its help has increased the number of both adults and children training at our school. Observing the success that many EFC schools enjoy only motivates us to grow even more. EFC members, such as Steve Lavalle,
Dave and Tim Kovar, Jim Campbell, and Chris Robinson provided valuable input for our development. In return, we would like to assist any school that wishes to implement Jiu Jitsu in its programs.


What is next for the Valente Brothers?

The motivational force that made us pursue a career in the martial arts field is the desire to share the true Gracie way that has been propagated by Grandmasters Carlos and Helio Gracie for almost a century. The application of Gracie Jiu Jitsu transcends the practice of chokes, joint locks, immobilizations, throws, and strikes. A true Gracie philosophy prepares men, women, and children for life, showing them paths to a healthier life and the most effective use of physical, mental, and spiritual strength. Eating well is Jiu Jitsu; taking care of your body is Jiu Jitsu; saying no to cigarettes, alcohol, and drugs is Jiu Jitsu; and so is keeping a close bond with relatives and friends.