In their podcast episode “Why Jiu-Jitsu Builds Better Leaders,” the Valente Brothers make a compelling case for how Jiu-Jitsu training fosters exceptional leadership qualities – a connection they’ve observed while training high-profile individuals including Ivanka Trump and her family.
Guilherme, Pedro, and Joaquim Valente reflect on how Jiu-Jitsu once again finds itself at the pinnacle of influence, attracting business leaders and politicians who recognize its transformative educational power.
“Why is Jiu-Jitsu now so popular again?” asks Valente. “It’s really incredible to look at Jiu-Jitsu practitioners and everything that they achieved and to observe that very successful individuals [train].”
“The president of the United States Teddy Roosevelt 120 years ago was training Jiu-Jitsu in the White House.”
Pedro Valente points to historical precedent, noting this fact. He explains that in 2025, they’ll be celebrating 120 years since that landmark event, highlighting how history repeats itself as today’s leaders discover what Roosevelt knew a century ago.
The brothers mention that President Theodore Roosevelt trained jiu-jitsu in the White House about 120 years ago. This is factually accurate—Roosevelt did indeed study jiu-jitsu during his presidency (1901–1909), taking lessons from Yamashita Yoshiaki, one of Jigoro Kano‘s top students.
“Confidence is an essential characteristic for anyone who wants to be successful no matter what the endeavor might be,” he explains. “A politician who’s running a campaign, if he doesn’t transmit confidence, he won’t be able to get a lot of votes. A doctor, if he doesn’t transmit confidence to his patients, a surgeon, they won’t be comfortable having surgery with that doctor.”
According to Pedro, the primary benefit driving leadership development is confidence.
“When you’re in an uncomfortable position and you actually need to have patience and not just try to get out because you want to get out, you’ll start making connections in other areas in your life – dealing with anxiety, dealing with fear, dealing with the discomfort sometimes that you don’t have the control.”
Joaquim adds that Jiu-Jitsu contributes to “internal success” – physical and emotional health – beyond just external achievements.
“I have many students who tell me, ‘Now every time I see someone who’s big and strong, I feel a little safer. Before I would always feel a little bit intimidated.'”
The brothers believe Jiu-Jitsu connects practitioners with fundamental human needs. Guilherme notes this shift in perspective is “life-changing,” particularly for those who have achieved external success but still feel vulnerable in physical confrontations.
The Valentes emphasize that true Jiu-Jitsu transcends mere physical training, incorporating intellectual, emotional, and spiritual development.
“In order for you to be able to fight, or even better, in order for you to be able to avoid a fight, you need to be well more than any other activity,” Guilherme explains. “You need to be well physically, you need to be well emotionally, you need to be well intellectually, you need to be well spiritually.”
This holistic approach to Jiu-Jitsu is what makes it uniquely valuable for leaders, who must navigate complex challenges requiring mental clarity, emotional stability, and physical confidence.
“Once you learn, it is with you. No one can take it from you. You can take it everywhere, and you can lean on it in the hardest times in life, and you can lean on it in the best times of life.”
As Pedro summarizes, Jiu-Jitsu’s enduring appeal for leaders comes from its permanence.
