Happy Birthday to BJJ Legend Carlos Machado

Written on the 23 October 2024 by Instructor Giorgio Repice

Happy Birthday to Carlos Machado who was born on 9th November, 1963.

He is the eldest of the five Machado Brothers, well known for their efforts in the promotion of Brazilian Jiu Jitsu. The other brothers are Roger, Rigan, Jean Jacques and John Machado.

Check out Carlos receiving his 8th degree belt rank October 2020:

Carlos started martial arts at the age of four. His main instructor throughout his life was his cousin Carlos Gracie, Jr. but he has also trained with many of the Gracie family including Helio, Carlson, Rolls, Rickson, Crolin and Rillion Gracie. While in Brazil, he successfully competed and was champion for 10 years straight in competition at the State and National level which at the time was equivalent to the Worlds as BJJ had not spread to the masses yet. He competed and won against many of today's top founders of BJJ teams! He believes BJJ is the greatest addition to modern martial arts. Carlos also lived with his Uncle Carlos Gracie, founder of Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu and Carlos greatest mentor, for 5 years while attending and eventually graduating from Law School.

Carlos moved to Los Angeles, California in 1994. There he met martial arts movie star Chuck Norris, who was instrumental in promoting Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu and the Machado family. Since then, Mr. Norris has been one of the greatest advocates of Machado Brazilian Jiu Jitsu. Carlos lived in Los Angeles until the end of 1995, when he moved to the city of Dallas, Texas. There he taught Brazilian jiu-jitsu out of the same building in which Chuck Norris's television show "Walker, Texas Ranger" was filmed. That allowed Machado not only to teach at his studio, but also to take part in many episodes of that popular show. He often assisted on choreographing fight scenes with Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu.

Check out a video of Chuck Norris & Carlos Machado doing a Jiu-Jitsu Sparring/Demonstration in 1992 in Germany.

Besides running his school, Machado has been involved in competition, winning the Pan American of Brazilian Jiu Jitsu (97/98), he also won several super fights in the U.S. (U.S Open 98/99), he competed in ADCC with a broken foot and still placed and earned the award of fastest submission in 1998, and the World Master's Championships (2000) in two weight divisions (middle weight and open class).

After an impressive 34 year stellar competition career he retired from the competition arena winning the Worlds!

GIANT instructors coach Anthony Perosh moved to Dallas Texas and trained with Carlos Machado for 2.5 years. Carlos presented Perosh with his Black Belt in 2003.

Carlos Machado currently holds the highest rank of this style in the Southwest (Eighth Degree Black Belt). Carlos Machado is considered the "god father" of Brazilian Jiu Jitsu in Texas. Carlos has built one of the fastest growing affiliate school programs in the World, which now includes representatives in Louisiana, Texas, Oklahoma, Florida, Missouri, Philadelphia, North Carolina, South Carolina, New York, Rhode Island, Mississippi, Georgia, Michigan, New Mexico, England, France, Australia, Canada, Brazil and Mexico. Carlos has also been inducted into no less than 8 Martial Arts Hall of Fame for different contributions to the world of Martial Arts and Brazilians Jiu-Jitsu.

His notable students are Chuck Norris, Raphael Lovato Jnr (World BJJ Champ), UFC middleweight title contender Travis Lutter, UFC welterweight Stephen "Wonderboy" Thompson, UFC veterans Anthony Perosh & Elvis Sinosic to name a few.

His website is www.carlosmachado.net

Check out a Machado brothers workout video taken in 1992: