Ivanka Trump has demonstrated her growing jiu-jitsu skills by successfully executing takedowns with instructor Gui Valente. The now again First Daughter recently shared photos on Instagram showcasing her technique as she lifted Valente completely off the ground during a training session.
This isn’t Ivanka’s first training session with Valente, who co-owns a martial arts studio with his brother Joaquim Valente. The Valente brothers are well-known in the jiu-jitsu community, with Joaquim recently welcoming his first child with Gisele Bundchen.
Ivanka has been transparent about her commitment to fitness this year. Earlier in 2025, she shared her New Year’s resolution to prioritize her health, acknowledging the challenges that come with maintaining such goals.
“Sticking to New Year’s resolutions isn’t easy—only 23% of people make it past the first week. [I’ve fallen into that category many, many times!] But every day is a new opportunity to show up and stay committed,” she wrote on Instagram. “Feeling stronger and more motivated as February begins —let’s keep going!”
She concluded her motivational message with: “Strong body / Strong mind!”
For Ivanka, jiu-jitsu offers benefits beyond physical fitness. She has openly discussed the mental clarity and emotional balance she gains from practicing this martial art.
In a previous social media post, she elaborated on her philosophy:
“Jiu-Jitsu is more than a martial art. Rooted in ancient tradition and refined over generations, it offers a path to physical confidence, mental clarity, and emotional balance. Its philosophy, reflected in the @753Code, reminds us that true strength comes from character, discipline, and purpose. What makes this journey even more meaningful is sharing it with those we respect and value. As families, training together gives us the rare gift of growing side by side, on the mat and in life.”
During a January appearance on The Skinny Confidential Him & Her podcast, Ivanka described jiu-jitsu as “almost like a moving meditation because the movements are so micro. It’s like three-dimensional chess. It’s fun.”
She also noted how the martial art “combines physical movements and philosophy in an amazing way” and explained that her fitness journey intensified after relocating to Miami, where she gained more control over her schedule.
“Initially, that took the form of yoga and Pilates, these things that I had done at various points of my life, but now I had the ability, because I was on my own schedule, to make them more consistent and a more regular part of my life. Gradually, I started doing more resistance and weight training, and that’s when I saw a massive difference,” she said.
Ivanka continues to progress in her jiu-jitsu training, embodying her commitment to both physical and mental strength.
