Inside Joaquim Valente’s Life, From Rio to Gisele

Joaquim Valente, Gisele Bündchen’s jiu-jitsu instructor turned romantic partner, built a family business in the U.S. after moving from Rio de Janeiro. Since their close friendship began after Bündchen’s 2022 divorce from Tom Brady, they’ve welcomed their first

Joaquim Valente didn’t enter the spotlight the way many Hollywood figures do. He first became recognizable through the training mats and small, focused classes tied to his jiu-jitsu work. But after Gisele Bündchen’s divorce from Tom Brady in 2022. his role in her life expanded—first into a close friendship. then into something more.

What began as an instructor-student connection gradually turned personal. The pair went on to welcome their first child together and, according to a late-2025 report, reportedly tied the knot. Still. the story that fans keep returning to starts in a very different place: Joaquim’s move from Rio De Janeiro. Brazil. to the United States and the jiu-jitsu business he built with his siblings.

Joaquim Valente is from Rio De Janeiro, Brazil. The 38-year-old and his siblings moved to the United States to create their jiujitsu business, Valente Brothers—where he met Gisele.

His job is not framed as a side gig. Since he and Gisele first started dating, Joaquim’s career as a jiujitsu instructor has taken center stage. On the Valente Brothers’ website. the business lays out its “mission” for students: “to raise the physical confidence and overall wellness of students of all ages by teaching a complete and efficient self-defense skill set within a safe. clean. positive and respectful environment.”.

The site also describes a commitment to tradition, saying they are “committed to preserving the technical and philosophical roots of jūjutsu (jiu-jitsu) as imparted to us by Grandmasters Helio Gracie and Dr. Pedro Valente Sr.”

Bündchen has spoken publicly about what it meant for her to train with Joaquim and the Valentes. In a February 2022 Instagram post, she shared clips of herself training with the Valentes. “I believe the more tools we have in our toolbox the better,” Bündchen wrote in her caption. “I feel stronger, more confidence and empowered since I started practicing self-defense. I feel it’s an important skill for all, but specially for us women. Thank you @ValenteBrothers for being awesome teachers and for making training so much fun. I am looking forward to keep improving. Let’s go!”.

She said the path to joining wasn’t immediate. At first, only Gisele’s son Benjamin—whom she shares with ex Tom along with daughter Vivian—was enrolled in the jiu-jitsu classes. But Joaquim eventually convinced her to join in, she told Dust magazine in 2022, per E! News.

“Initially, I wasn’t even considering it for myself,” Bündchen told the publication at the time. “But when I brought Ben to the first class and started talking to Joaquim, I realized that it was much more than self-defense.”

That “more than self-defense” framing captures the emotional throughline of how many people remember their connection—starting with training and ending with a relationship that has grown into a new family chapter.

On the business side, Joaquim’s financial picture is less precise. What Is Joaquim Valente’s Net Worth in 2026? His net worth ranges from $1 million to $5 million as of 2026, according to multiple outlets.

Now. with the timeline already including Bündchen’s 2022 divorce from Tom Brady. their romantic shift after a close friendship formed. the arrival of their first child. and a late-2025 report that they tied the knot. Valente’s life story reads like a steady climb—from Rio to the United States. from instructor to partner. and from classes to a shared future.

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