Who is Gisele Bündchen's boyfriend? All about Joaquim Valente

Gisele Bündchen and her boyfriend Joaquim Valente are having a baby!

A source close to Gisele confirmed the pregnancy to PEOPLE on Oct. 28, saying the two are “happy about this new chapter in their lives.”

The supermodel, 44, and the Miami-based jiu-jitsu instructor, 37, first made headlines in February 2022 when Gisele shared a video of their session at his Florida academy, paired with a caption praising him and his Brothers thanked for it: “great teachers.”

Later that year, Gisele and Joaquim sparked romance rumors when the couple visited the Provincia de Puntarenas (a province on the coast of Costa Rica) two weeks after finalizing their divorce from NFL star Tom Brady. They were joined by the supermodel's two children – son Benjamin Rein and daughter Vivian Lake – and several other people.

In the following months they were seen out and about together several times. However, Gisele denied having a romantic relationship with Joaquim at the time Vanity Fair“Unfortunately, I think since I’m divorced, at this point I’m sure they’re going to try to tie me down to something.”

A romantic relationship later developed between the two and in February 2024, a source confirmed to PEOPLE that Gisele and Joaquim have been together since June 2023.

Here you can find out everything about Gisele Bündchen's boyfriend Joaquim Valente.

He is co-founder of a self-defense academy in Miami

Joaquim is a third generation practitioner of Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu and currently teaches the martial arts at a Miami-based academy alongside his brothers (and co-founders) Pedro and Gui. The eldest of the siblings, Pedro, began teaching jiu-jitsu classes throughout Miami after moving from Rio de Janeiro in 1993.

Joaquim, the youngest of the brothers, was the last of his siblings to move to Miami. Upon his arrival, his involvement in teaching played a crucial role in the development of the brothers' curriculum, as he gained knowledge from the Grand Master during his stay in Brazil.

The brothers offer courses for students of all genders and experience levels. “Jujutsu techniques are based on natural movements that can be easily performed by anyone. We currently teach several older students as well as students with disabilities,” the Valente Brothers website states.

He learned jiu-jitsu before he could walk

Similar to his brothers, Joaquim was introduced to jiu-jitsu before he could walk, beginning lessons at the age of two. He learned from Grandmaster Hélio Gracie, who is considered a legend in practice and taught three generations in 67 years.

He has also undergone boxing and Jūdō training

In addition to Jiu-Jitsu, Joaquim is also trained in boxing and Jūdō. He and his brothers were introduced to punching and throwing techniques by experts at a young age, skills that were crucial to holistic Jiu-Jitsu training methods as opposed to strategies taught specifically for tournaments.

He is a professor of Jiu-Jitsu

Following in his family's footsteps, Joaquim received his black belt and professor's diploma from Grandmaster Hélio Gracie in 2007. The award is significant within the practice as it denotes an expert level of technical and practical skills. The success was of great importance for the family, as in 75 years only 27 people received this diploma from the Grand Master.

He met Gisele at the academy through her son

After learning about the academy and the Valente brothers from a friend, Gisele sought out the martial arts school for herself – but she credits her teenage son (whom she wanted to “steer in the right direction”) for introducing her to Joaquim made known.

During an interview with Dust magazineGisele revealed that she initially had no personal interest in Jiu-Jitsu. “I didn’t even think about it at first,” she began. “But when I took (her son) to first grade and started talking to Joaquim, I realized it was about a lot more than just self-defense.”

She mentioned that it was the philosophy behind Jiu-Jitsu that piqued her greatest interest. “It felt very in line with what I believe in and what I'm looking for in my life and how I have a path to evolve and become the best version of myself.”

He and Gisele have been together since 2023

According to multiple sources, Joaquim and Gisele have been together since June 2023.

“They’re taking it slow,” an insider told PEOPLE in February 2024. “They started out as good friends. She is very private about it and wanted to keep it a secret while they were getting to know each other.”

A separate source added: “They have similar backgrounds. They both left Brazil very young. Gisele's life is great. Joaquim is perfect for her.”

He earned a degree in criminology

Joaquim moved to Miami in 2007 to study criminology at Barry University, where he graduated with a degree in the subject. His eldest brother Pedro has a master's degree in business administration from the University of Miami, while his other brother Gui has a master's degree in sports management from Barry University's School of Human Performance and Leisure Sciences.

He was mentioned during Tom Brady's Netflix comedy roast

Netflixs The Greatest Roast of All Time: Tom Brady aired on May 5, 2024. Brady was excoriated by his A-list friends and several comedians — most notably Kevin Hart, who mocked the NFL star's divorce from Gisele and the model's relationship with Joaquim.

“Do you know who fucked her coach too? Gisele, she fucked her karate coach,” Hart told Brady, who was visibly uncomfortable. “Tom, how could you not have seen that coming? Eight karate lessons a day?”

He and Gisele are expecting their first child together

On October 28, a source close to the supermodel confirmed to PEOPLE that she is pregnant with her first child with Joaquim. “Gisele and Joaquim are excited about this new chapter in their lives and look forward to creating a peaceful and loving environment for the entire family,” the source said in a statement.

The baby will be Gisele's third. She shares son Benjamin and daughter Vivian with her ex-husband Brady.