How Jiu-Jitsu Changed My Life & Can Change Yours Too

Jiu-Jitsu is not something that you get the motivation to do every day. Unless you have the mission at hand and the mission in Jiu-Jitsu number 1 is to change people's lives. And my journey in the United States started in Los Angeles and shortly after I came to the United States 1990 I ended up coming to a common friend, Chuck Norris, to Texas. And in 1995, I officially started the seeds of Jiu-Jitsu in the Southwest. I formed several hundred black belts. They have formed, in their own right, several hundred black belts out of their own lineages. And in doing so, I realized that as an instructor, if you don't have the passion for the art and if you don't have the care for the fellow man, it's really hard to go that fast and that far.

I want to build students not just who know as much as I do but also who surpass me in their degree of skills and hopefully in their degree of reach. And I think for me this is a very important legacy to leave behind is 1 that fosters individuals to feel powerful, not just in the sense that they are knowledgeable of the art, but powerful because they know they can contribute to the empowerment of others. And that's the most rewarding experience that any instructor can ever attain, is to know that he has formed another individual that can equal or surpass his own skills. So this is the message that I have, this is the pride that I have to claim, that I have changed many people's lives and the job doesn't stop with me. Like I said, Jiu-Jitsu is never a job done, but always will be a work in progress.

My Story: From Brazil to the US

Okay, so those of you who are not doing Jiu-Jitsu and you're looking for an activity that you can begin that could be a life-changing journey, man, I highly recommend Carlos Machado and the Machado family of Jiu-Jitsu because it's changed my life. It's changed the life of thousands of people in the Midwest. So, don't wait, get started.

Let me tell you a little bit about my story and how I came to the US with my brothers to spread the art of Jiu-Jitsu. It all started in 1990, when we decided to follow our cousin and mentor, Rigan Machado, who had opened a new school in Los Angeles. We had already achieved everything we could in Brazil, winning tournaments and earning respect from other academies. We wanted to see what opportunities awaited us in America.

But it was not easy. We faced many challenges and hardships along the way. We had to adapt to a new culture, a new language, and a new market. We had to prove ourselves to the martial arts community, who were skeptical about our style and our claims. We had to overcome prejudice, ignorance, and even hostility from some people who did not understand or appreciate our art.

But we also had a lot of support and encouragement from some amazing people. One of them was Chuck Norris, who became our friend and our guardian angel. He helped us in many ways, from giving us exposure and credibility, to inviting us to his movie sets and his ranch, to sharing his wisdom and his philosophy with us. He was instrumental in our success and our growth as martial artists and as human beings.

My Family: The Machado Brothers

Another source of strength and inspiration for me was my family, especially my brothers. We are five brothers: Rigan, John, Jean Jacques, Roger, and myself. We grew up in a large and loving family in Brazil, where we learned Jiu-Jitsu from our uncle, the late Carlos Gracie, who was the founder of the art. He taught us not only the techniques, but also the values and the principles of Jiu-Jitsu, such as discipline, respect, humility, and loyalty.

We also learned a lot from our father, who was a judge. He taught us integrity, honesty, and responsibility. He supported our decision to come to the US, even though he knew he would miss us. He passed away six months after we arrived, but his legacy lives on in us.

We are very close as brothers, and we always support each other. We have different personalities and different styles, but we complement each other. We are like a team, a unit, a force. We have a common passion for Jiu-Jitsu, and a common mission to change people's lives with it.

My Students: The Jiu-Jitsu Community

The third and most important pillar of my life is my students. They are the reason why I do what I do. They are the ones who motivate me, challenge me, and inspire me. They are the ones who make me proud, happy, and fulfilled.

I have taught thousands of students over the years, from all walks of life, from all ages, from all backgrounds. I have seen them grow, improve, and transform with Jiu-Jitsu. I have seen them overcome their fears, their doubts, their limitations. I have seen them achieve their goals, their dreams, their potential.

But more than that, I have seen them become better people. I have seen them develop confidence, courage, and character. I have seen them become more respectful, more humble, more compassionate. I have seen them become more healthy, more balanced, more happy.

And I have also learned a lot from them. They have taught me patience, tolerance, and gratitude. They have taught me new perspectives, new insights, new techniques. They have taught me how to be a better teacher, a better leader, a better friend.

I don't just teach them Jiu-Jitsu. I teach them how to live Jiu-Jitsu. How to apply the principles and the lessons of the art to their everyday lives. How to use Jiu-Jitsu as a tool for personal growth, for self-defense, for self-expression.

My Message: Jiu-Jitsu is for Everyone

So, this is my message to you. Jiu-Jitsu is not just a sport, a hobby, or a martial art. It is a way of life. It is a philosophy. It is a passion. It is a mission.

And it is for everyone. It doesn't matter who you are, where you come from, what you do, or how old you are. Jiu-Jitsu can benefit you in many ways. It can improve your physical, mental, and emotional health. It can enhance your skills, your knowledge, and your creativity. It can enrich your relationships, your career, and your happiness.

All you need is an open mind, a willing heart, and a desire to learn. And, of course, a good teacher. That's where I come in. I'm here to help you, to guide you, to mentor you. I'm here to share with you my experience, my wisdom, and my love for Jiu-Jitsu. I'm here to change your life, as Jiu-Jitsu has changed mine.