John Machado

The Machado Family—also known as the Machado Brothers—are a family of Brazilian jiu-jitsu practitioners, mixed martial artists and grapplers. They are the founders of RCJ Machado Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu and are cousins to members of the Gracie family. Their familial ties to the Gracies are through their mothers sister Layr, who was married to Carlos Gracie, making them first cousins to Carlos Gracie, Jr. and his siblings, and affinal cousins to the rest of the second generation of Gracie martial artists. Along with their Gracie cousins, the Machados are pioneers of Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu in the United States. They are according to age, Carlos, Roger, Rigan, Jean Jacques and John. The Machados have opened Brazilian jiu-jitsu schools throughout the United States.The Machados were taught mainly by their cousin Carlos Jr., his half-brother Rolls Gracie, and Carlos and Rolls father, Carlos Gracie. The brothers also trained with other notable members of the Gracie family, including Helio, Carlson, Rickson, Renzo, Crolin and Rilion. From there the Machados would develop a Brazilian jiu-jitsu that would be called RCJ Machado Brazilian jiu-jitsu. Carlos opened schools in throughout the United States, as well as in Mexico, England, France, and Australia. Jean Jacques, Roger, and Rigan currently run schools in California. John Machado left California in 2014 and opened a school in Allen, Texas that same year.As a family they have held titles in every Jiu-Jitsu competition they have entered. They are known for their success in Pan American Games, ADCC Submission Wrestling World Championship, Brazilian National Jiu-Jitsu Championship, Brazilian jiu-jitsu American Championships, and Rio de Janeiro Jiu-Jitsu State Championships. The most recent family champions have been Rigan Machado, Jean Jacques Machado and Carlos Machado. The most successful Machados in Brazilian jiu-jitsu Competition are Rigan Machado and Jean Jacques Machado, who is a multiple time ADCC Submission Wrestling World Championship medalist (Gold, Silver(X2)).The family now trains BJJ competitors and mixed martial arts fighters in organizations such as UFC, WEC, and Strikeforce. As a family, they have trained numerous BJJ competition champions. Carlos currently trains UFC welterweight Stephen Thompson and has awarded black belts to former UFC Middleweight Contender Travis Lutter and BJJ Champion Rafael Lovato Jr.. Rigan has awarded black belts to notable students Erik Paulson, Dan Inosanto, Josh Barnett (2nd Degree) Jair Muniz and Chuck Norris. Additionally, Rigan Machado was one of the original teachers in Rorion Gracies garage in Torrance, CA in the early days of Brazilian jiu-jitsu in America and has awarded black belts to 6 of the original dirty dozen (the first 12 non-Brazilian students to receive black belts in the art). These notable members of the Dirty Dozen include John Will, Bob Bass, Chris Haueter, IBJJF Senior Division/Pan American Champion David Meyer, Rick Williams and Rick Minter. Jean-Jacques had also helped in awarding black belts to John Will and Dan Inosanto with Rigan, and has also awarded black belts to no gi proponent Eddie Bravo, comedian & UFC commentator Joe Rogan, Womens World champion Felicia Oh, and former UFC heavyweight champion Ricco Rodriguez.

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