Jean Jacques Machado

Jean Jacques Machado (born February 12, 1968) is a Brazilian Jiu jitsu practitioner. He is one of the five Machado brothers (Carlos, Roger, Rigan and John). Machado is nephew of BJJ co-founder and Grandmaster Carlos Gracie, and learned the martial art from an early age.

Machado is known for his grappling skills having won ADCC Submission Wrestling World Championships in his weight division plus a runner up in the open division in 2001. As a result of his achievements in the sport, he was inducted to the ADCC Hall of Fame as part of the 2024 class.

Biography Machado was born in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil and suffered birth defects resulting from amniotic band syndrome, which left him with only the thumb and the little finger on his left hand. Despite this congenital problem, which directly affects the skill of gripping, he began his Jiu-Jitsu training over thirty years ago and dominated the competitive arena of Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu in his native country, capturing every major title and competition award from 1982 through 1992.

In 1992, Machado arrived in the United States where he continued competing successfully.

On June 6, 2011, in a private ceremony held at the Rickson Gracie Academy in West Los Angeles, Machado was promoted to a 7th degree red-and-black belt. This prestigious promotion is in recognition of Machado's 25 years as a black belt instructor, competitor and champion. He then received the 8th degree on his black belt from Rickson Gracie on March 29, 2025.

Coaching career Since retiring from competition, Machado has focused his time on coaching students instead. He famously taught both 10th Planet Jiu Jitsu founder Eddie Bravo and podcaster Joe Rogan, along with a number of other celebrities and prominent martial arts figures like Freddie Prinze Jr. and Dan Inosanto.

Machado served as a coach alongside Roger Gracie, Rigan Machado, and Dean Lister on season 6 of the Professional Grappling Federation on April 21 to 26, 2024. Machado led Team X-Martial at the tournament, and they won the team title.

Professional titles Rio de Janeiro Jiu-Jitsu State Championships Cruiserweight Champion: 11 consecutive years (1982–1992) Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu National Championships Cruiserweight Champion: 11 consecutive years (1982–1992) Sambo Wrestling Championships National and Pan American Cruiserweight Champion 1993 Oklahoma - 1st Place 1994 San Diego, California - 1st Place Grappling Style Challenge Japan 1995 - Champion Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu American Championships 4 consecutive years (1995–1998) Black Belt Super Challenge Championships 1998 - Champion 2000 - Champion Abu Dhabi Submission Wrestling World Championships 1999 - 66–76 kg Division Gold Medalist, Most Technical Fighter Award 2000 - 66–76 kg Division Silver Medalist 2001 - Absolute Division Silver Medalist, Best Match Award, Fastest Submission Award 2005 - Superfight Runner Up

Instructor lineage Jigorō Kanō → Tomita Tsunejirō → Mitsuyo Maeda → Carlos Gracie Sr. → Hélio Gracie → Rickson Gracie → Jean Jacques Machado

Mixed martial arts record

ResultRecordOpponentMethodEventDateRoundTimeLocationNotesLoss0-1 Frank TriggTKO (corner stoppage)VTJ 1998 - Vale Tudo Japan 199830:20 Urayasu, Chiba, Japan

Submission grappling record

Result

Opponent Method Event Division Date Location