Rigan Machado (born 2 July 1966) is a Brazilian-American
martial arts
Martial arts are codified systems and traditions of combat practiced for a number of reasons such as self-defence; military and law enforcement applications; combat sport, competition; physical, mental, and spiritual development; entertainment; ...
instructor. He is an 8th degree
red and White belt in
Brazilian jiu-jitsu, earning his rank under
Carlos Gracie Jr. He is a former Pan American Champion (1996, 1997 weight and absolute) and a veteran medalist of the
ADCC. Machado currently teaches out of his
Beverly Hills, California
Beverly Hills is a city located in Los Angeles County, California, United States. A notable and historic suburb of Los Angeles, it is located just southwest of the Hollywood Hills, approximately northwest of downtown Los Angeles. Beverly Hills ...
, academy and is instructor to several Los Angeles–based celebrity students.
Biography
Machado was born in Rio de Janeiro, and is one of five brothers in the
Machado family. He began training at the age of five with his cousins,
"The Gracie Family". In an interview, when asked about his exact relationship with the Gracies, he said: "My mother's sister married the founder of Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu,
Carlos Gracie."
Machado was awarded the first black belt under Gracie Barra founder
Carlos Gracie Jr. and is one of the original teachers who taught in the garage of
Rorion Gracie in the early days of
Brazilian Jiu Jitsu in America.
He also trained with his other cousins such
Rickson Gracie
Rickson Gracie (; born November 21, 1959) is a Brazilian retired mixed martial artist. He is a member of the Gracie family: the third oldest son of Hélio Gracie, brother to Rorion and Relson Gracie, and half-brother to Rolker, Royce, Robin ...
,
Rorion Gracie, Rillion Gracie, his uncle Carlos Gracie Sr, and his brothers. At one point in 1986, he even publicly competed against Rickson Gracie at a Jiu-Jitsu competition in one of the earliest public matches between members of the family.
He is widely regarded as one of the top competitors in Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu history. He also competed and won many tournaments in judo, sambo, and wrestling. In Sambo he was placed second at the 198 lbs division, and third at the open class of the 1993 Pan American Sambo Championships in
Chula Vista
Chula Vista ( ; , ) is a city in San Diego County, California, United States. It is the second-most populous city in the San Diego metropolitan area, the seventh-most populous city in Southern California, the 15th-most populous city in the ...
; and at some point between 1990 and 1994, he was seen submitting several Judo black belts in at least one Judo competition at the West Covina Dojo.
Instructor lineage
Kanō Jigorō
was a Japanese judoka, educator, politician, and the founder of judo. Judo was one of the first Japanese martial arts to gain widespread international recognition, and the first to become an official Olympic Games, Olympic sport. Pedagogical ...
→
Tomita Tsunejirō
, born , was the earliest disciple of judo. His name appears in the first line of the enrollment book of the Kōdōkan.
. Tomita, together with Saigō Shirō, became the first in the history of judo to be awarded the rank of Shodan by the foun ...
→
Mitsuyo "Count Koma" Maeda →
Carlos Gracie →
Hélio Gracie →
Rolls Gracie
Rolls Gracie (; 1951–1982) was a Brazilian martial artist. He was a prominent member of the Gracie family known for their founding of Brazilian jiu-jitsu and considered by some the family's best ever fighter. He was teacher of Rickson Gracie, ...
&
Carlos "Carlinhos" Gracie Jr → Rigan Machado
As an instructor
Machado currently teaches at his school, "The Academy Beverly Hills", located in Beverly Hills, California. He is also the commissioner of Jiu Jitsu World League. Due to the location of his gym, many students of his gym are celebrities such as
Ashton Kutcher
Christopher Ashton Kutcher (; born February 7, 1978) is an American actor, producer and entrepreneur. His accolades include a People's Choice Award and fifteen Teen Choice Awards, in addition to a nomination for a Screen Actors Guild Award.
K ...
,
Vin Diesel
Mark Sinclair (born July 18, 1967), known professionally as Vin Diesel, is an American actor and film producer. One of the world's highest-grossing actors, he is best known for portraying Dominic "Dom" Toretto in the '' Fast & Furious'' fra ...
,
Wiz Khalifa
Cameron Jibril Thomaz (born September 8, 1987), better known by his stage name Wiz Khalifa, is an American rapper, singer-songwriter and actor. Raised in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, he signed with the local independent label Rostrum Records to re ...
,
Wagner Moura,
Bryan Callen, and
Charlie Hunnam
Charles Matthew Hunnam (; born 10 April 1980) is an English actor. He portrayed Jax Teller in the FX (TV channel), FX drama series ''Sons of Anarchy'' (2008–2014), for which he was twice nominated for the Critics' Choice Television Award for ...
.
Machado served as a coach alongside
Roger Gracie,
Jean Jacques Machado, and
Dean Lister on season 6 of the Professional Grappling Federation on April 21 to 26, 2024. Machado led Team 1st Phorm at the tournament, and finished in second place.
See also
*
List of Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu practitioners
References
External links
*
Rigan Machado Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu AssociationBJJ Legends Magazine Video Interviews with RiganBJJ Legends Magazine Interview (Portuguese)Machado brothers BJJ victoire Sambo Pan-American 1993 – Dailymotion
{{DEFAULTSORT:Machado, Rigan
Brazilian jiu-jitsu trainers
Living people
Sportspeople from Redondo Beach, California
1966 births
Rigan
Martial arts trainers
People awarded a coral belt in Brazilian jiu-jitsu
Martial artists from Rio de Janeiro (city)