Valente Brothers ™

Return of the Original UFC Champ: Jiujitsu Legend Royce Gracie Teaches a Sold Out Seminar at Valente Brothers Headquarters

By Steven Abood

For over two hours, the original Ultimate Fighting champion, jiujitsu master Royce Gracie, dazzled approximately one hundred students at a sold out seminar at Valente Brothers headquarters in Miami, Florida. Royce captivated the crowd with his affable nature, humor, and flawless technique, which in accordance with the philosophies of his father, Grandmaster Helio Gracie, and the philosophy of Valente Brothers, consisted entirely of street practical strategies for defending oneself against a larger, stronger attacker.

The seminar opened with Professor Pedro Valente recounting his fond recollections of Royce’s visit over a decade ago, in 1998, on the opening day of the Valente Brothers first official academy. Since that day, Royce has been a regular presence at Valente Brothers with multiple visits throughout the year, sharing his knowledge of Gracie Jiujitsu, as well as preparing for many of his epic fights. Pedro continued his opening remarks by paying homage to Royce’s courage in continuing his father’s work by proving the effectiveness Gracie Jiujitsu to the world.

Pedro stated that, “I’m sure that Royce Gracie is the reason that most of you train jiujitsu. His incredible victories in the UFC proved to the whole world what his father proved in Brazil: that Gracie Jiujitsu is the most complete martial art that exists. It is an art that gives you the elements to defend yourself against anyone, in any situation, even against someone bigger and stronger. Royce was willing to face anyone in the Octagon to prove this, to prove his father’s work. He showed the world what a person could do with Gracie Jiujitsu and gave hope to millions of people that through technique, a little person doesn’t have to be humiliated by someone bigger and stronger. It is in this spirit that we operate our school.”

It was in recognition of the value of Royce’s paradigm shifting accomplishments in the UFC which proved to the world that in Gracie Jiujitsu, a martial art existed where a regular, non-athletic individual could consistently reverse the course of nature and prevail over a larger, stronger attacker, that students, on only two weeks notice, rapidly signed up for the seminar until it quickly sold out. Men, women, and children flocked to Valente Brothers headquarters in North Miami Beach, from all over the state including from Valente Brothers affiliates in Pembroke Pines and Fort Lauderdale, as well as from far away states like Texas and even from different countries such as Ecuador.

They came to improve their ability to defend themselves against a larger, stronger attacker from the man who proved to the world that such a thing was possible. And Royce did not disappoint. For over two hours he taught an invaluable strategy consisting of psychological, verbal, and physical techniques that increase the probability that a potentially violent situation will be defused peacefully. And at every step of the way, when offering a peaceful solution to a potential attacker, Royce taught amazing techniques showing exactly how to incapacitate an attacker who chooses to suddenly escalate a verbal confrontation into a physical one. They were invaluable tools to face the reality that many confrontations in modern society don’t start with each individual squaring off in a fighting stance with a joint agreement to engage in mutual combat, but with a verbal discussion that may escalate into a physical one.

After this potentially lifesaving information was expertly taught, Royce opened the seminar to the well satisfied students to a robust question and answer session. Royce answered questions on topics that ranged from the Gracie Diet, multiple attackers, the necessity of the early UFC matches to prove the efficacy of Gracie Jiujitsu, as well as Royce’s plans for the future which include a trip back to Miami within the next two months to prepare for the August 27th UFC if it comes to pass that he will be fighting in that event.

Royce posed for pictures with scores of students after the event, and prepared to leave for an international teaching tour. The students left, happy that the champ had returned to his friends in Miami, and would soon return again to share more of his knowledge and philosophy.

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Click here to download your pictures with Royler and Royce Gracie - December, 2010 

Click here to download your pictures with Royce Gracie - April, 2011