The Trump family‘s enthusiasm for Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu continues to expand, with Lara Lea Trump becoming the latest member to step onto the mat and don a gi.
Following in the footsteps of Ivanka Trump and her children, Lara has begun training in the martial art, documenting her initial experience with former Bellator MMA star Leah McCourt. McCourt shared images of their training session on social media, showing Lara wearing a traditional white belt and gi while learning fundamental techniques.
“Getting @laraleatrump ready,” McCourt wrote in her caption, describing their conversation as covering “all my favourite things, MMA, Women’s Self defence, Brazilian Jiu Jitsu and the difference between wearing a gi and no gi.”
The session was filmed for Fox News, featuring discussions about martial arts and self-defense.
Before Lara’s own training session, her children Luke and Carolina were already making progress in their Jiu-Jitsu journey. The young students recently achieved their first major advancement, earning their full Grey belt promotion under the instruction of legendary BJJ teacher Carlson Gracie Jr.
The family’s involvement in Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu appears to have created a domino effect across generations. Ivanka Trump’s story of how her family discovered the martial art reveals the organic way it spread through the household. It began when her 11-year-old daughter Arabella made a surprisingly mature request.
“She came to me and said, ‘You know, as a woman, I feel like I need to know how to defend myself, and I don’t have a confidence level yet that I can do that,'”
“My jaw just hit the ground because at 11, I don’t know what I was doing. I was thinking about boys or something. But I was not thinking about being able to physically defend myself.”
After connecting with the Valente Brothers in Miami, who became the family’s instructors, the practice quickly evolved beyond Arabella’s initial lessons. Ivanka joined at her daughter’s request, then her two sons wanted to participate and eventually husband Jared Kushner joined the family sessions.
For Ivanka, the appeal extends far beyond physical conditioning. She has described the practice as intellectually engaging and spiritually meaningful.
“It’s almost like a moving meditation because the movements are so micro. It’s like three-dimensional chess,”
The First Daughter has become such an enthusiast that she now enjoys watching UFC matches, recognizing the subtle techniques being employed during bouts. This growing appreciation for combat sports led to Ivanka and Jared attending UFC 299, their first live event, which Dana White said left them particularly impressed.
White has been vocal in his support of the Trump family’s embrace of Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu, recently calling the decision to enroll their children “brilliant” during a Fox News interview. White has long advocated for children learning BJJ, emphasizing its ability to build confidence and instill valuable life skills.
During her training session with McCourt, Lara also learned about the practical aspects of the martial art, including the differences between training with and without the traditional uniform. The session reportedly included demonstrations of women’s self-defense techniques, with Lara serving as the training partner for various scenarios.
McCourt praised her training partner’s potential, noting that Lara demonstrated natural athleticism during their time on the mat. The session took place at an academy where McCourt thanked coach Marcelo Cohen for hosting the filming.
From Arabella’s initial request at age 11 to Lara’s recent introduction to the mat, the practice has become a unifying activity spanning multiple generations of the family.
Whether this trend will continue to spread to other family members remains to be seen, but the current trajectory suggests that Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu has found a permanent place in the Trump family’s lifestyle, offering a unique combination of practical skills, physical wellness and family bonding opportunities.
