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About
Rigan Machado: Biography & Profile
Full Name: Rigan Machado
Born: July 2, 1966 (Rio de Janeiro, Brazil)
Nationality: Brazilian
Weight Division: Peso Pesadíssimo / Ultra-Heavyweight (over 100 kg / 221 lbs)
Team / Association: Machado Jiu-Jitsu
Rank: Red and Black Belt (Coral Belt)
Coach: Rolls Gracie & Carlos Gracie Junior
Biography
Rigan Machado is an iconic figure in Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu and one of the most dominant competitors of the 1980s and 1990s. Growing up in Rio de Janeiro, Rigan was immersed in the Gracie family culture from birth; his aunt was married to Gracie Jiu-Jitsu founder Carlos Gracie Senior, meaning Rigan spent his childhood rolling with his cousins.
By his mid-teens, Rigan began taking the sport seriously and joined the elite competition squad of his legendary older cousin, Rolls Gracie. He trained relentlessly under Rolls until the master’s tragic passing in 1982. In the wake of that loss, Carlos Gracie Junior took over the academy with Rigan serving as his primary assistant instructor. Shortly after, Rigan cemented his place in grappling history by becoming the very first person ever promoted to black belt by Carlos Gracie Junior.
In the late 1980s, Rigan moved to the United States. After a brief stint in the Bay Area with Cesar Gracie, he moved to Los Angeles to teach group classes at Rorion Gracie’s burgeoning academy. Looking to build his own academy, Rigan ran into legal hurdles over using the “Gracie Jiu-Jitsu” trademark in the U.S. With the blessing of Carlos Gracie Jr., he pivoted and established Machado Jiu-Jitsu.
In the early days of his U.S. transition, Hollywood icon Chuck Norris befriended Rigan, helping him establish his gym and bringing massive mainstream media attention to the martial art. To handle the booming business, Rigan brought his ultra-talented brothers (Carlos, John, Jean Jacques, and Roger) to America, forming the legendary “Machado Brothers” coaching dynasty.
Alternative Competitive Success
Because high-level BJJ tournaments were practically non-existent in the United States during the late 80s and early 90s, Rigan kept his skills sharp by crossing over into other grappling arts. He became an incredibly dominant force in Sambo and Judo, capturing:
4x U.S. National Sambo Champion
3x Pan American Sambo Champion
Main Achievements (Jiu-Jitsu)
1st Place: IBJJF Pan American Championship (1996, 1997)
3rd Place: ADCC Submission Wrestling World Championship (2000)
Note: (* Denotes winning both the Weight and Absolute divisions)*
Black Belts Promoted 80
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