Description

Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu master and the eldest of the five Machado brothers. He met Chuck Norris in 1988 and became Norris's primary BJJ instructor. Norris earned his BJJ black belt under Carlos. Carlos taught Norris on the set of Walker, Texas Ranger where he ran an academy in the same building. He also appeared in episodes of the show as a stunt coordinator and actor.

Teachers (2)

• 
  Rolls Gracie

  sports_martial_artsBrazilian jiu-jitsu Confirmed

  Confirmed

  CMJJ Gear states Carlos was taught and mentored directly by Rolls Gracie in Copacabana, training with him until Rolls' death in 1982, when Carlos was a blue belt

  The evidence establishes the claim: it is sufficient and consistent, and any conflicting evidence is resolved.

  fact_checkassessed by FSMverified

  Frederico Muñoz

  Researcher, Martialis

  2 sources expand_more

  fact_check

  CMJJ Gear states Carlos was taught and mentored directly by Rolls Gracie in Copacabana, training with him until Rolls' death in 1982, when Carlos was a blue belt

  visibilityFirst-hand

  “After moving to the southern part of Rio de Janeiro, Copacabana, Master Carlos Machado was taught and mentored directly by the legendary Rolls Gracie. Master Carlos was very close with Rolls, and trained with him until Rolls' sudden and untimely death”

  — CMJJ Gear. History of CMJJ and Statement of Doctrinelinkhistory info

  “Throughout his childhood and early life in Jiu-Jitsu, his main instructor was his cousin, Carlos Gracie Jr but he has also trained with Helio, Carlson, Rolls and Rickson Gracie at various points during his development.”

  — Lindsey, Alex. (2020). Carlos Machado Receives His Red And White Coral Belt (Jitsmagazine). Jits Magazinelink history info
• 
  Carlos Gracie Jr.

  sports_martial_artsBrazilian jiu-jitsu Confirmed

  Confirmed

  BJJ Heroes lineage lists Carlos Gracie Jr. as Carlos Machado's teacher (Maeda > Carlos Gracie Sr. > Carlos Gracie Junior > Carlos Machado); CMJJ Gear notes he continued training with the Gracie family after Rolls' death

  The evidence establishes the claim: it is sufficient and consistent, and any conflicting evidence is resolved.

  (1982)

  fact_checkassessed by FSMverified

  Frederico Muñoz

  Researcher, Martialis

  4 sources expand_more

  fact_check

  BJJ Heroes lineage lists Carlos Gracie Jr. as Carlos Machado's teacher (Maeda > Carlos Gracie Sr. > Carlos Gracie Junior > Carlos Machado); CMJJ Gear notes he continued training with the Gracie family after Rolls' death

  “A black belt under Gracie Barra founder Carlos Gracie Junior”

  — BJJ Heroes. Carlos Machado (BJJ Heroes). BJJ Heroes link history info

  visibilityFirst-hand

  “After this family tragedy, Master Carlos and his brothers continued to train with the Gracie family.”

  — CMJJ Gear. History of CMJJ and Statement of Doctrinelinkhistory info

  “Throughout his childhood and early life in Jiu-Jitsu, his main instructor was his cousin, Carlos Gracie Jr”

  — Lindsey, Alex. (2020). Carlos Machado Receives His Red And White Coral Belt (Jitsmagazine). Jits Magazinelink history info

  “His main instructor throughout his life was his cousin Carlos Gracie, Jr.”

  — Wikipedia contributors. (2026). Carlos Machado (fighter). Wikipedia (English)link history info

Lineage

• Brazilian jiu-jitsuCarlos Gracie Jr. ← Rolls Gracie ← Carlson Gracie ← Carlos Gracie · 4 generations

Ranks (1)

• sports_martial_artsBrazilian jiu-jitsu

  receipt_longRed-and-white belt, degree 8 Confirmed

  Confirmed

  Jitsmagazine reports Carlos received his coral belt from his brothers in 2020; CMJJ Gear (his own association) states he is currently an 8th degree coral belt. The belt was awarded by his brothers, not by Carlos Gracie Jr.

  The evidence establishes the claim: it is sufficient and consistent, and any conflicting evidence is resolved.

  BJJ Ranking System

  fact_checkassessed by FSMverified

  Frederico Muñoz

  Researcher, Martialis

  3 sources expand_more

  fact_check

  Jitsmagazine reports Carlos received his coral belt from his brothers in 2020; CMJJ Gear (his own association) states he is currently an 8th degree coral belt. The belt was awarded by his brothers, not by Carlos Gracie Jr.

  “Carlos Machado is the eldest of the five famous Machado brothers and was just awarded with his red and white belt, commonly referred to as the coral belt, from all four of his siblings at the same time.”

  — Lindsey, Alex. (2020). Carlos Machado Receives His Red And White Coral Belt (Jitsmagazine). Jits Magazinelink history info

  visibilityFirst-hand

  “Currently an 8th degree Coral Belt”

  — History of CMJJ and Statement of Doctrine link

  “Rank 8th deg. BJJ coral belt”

  — Carlos Machado (Wikipedia EN)link history info

Students (2)

• 
  John Carmack

  sports_martial_artsBrazilian jiu-jitsu Probable

  Probable

  Carmack states directly on JRE

  The evidence favours the claim and nothing credible contradicts it, but it falls short of establishing it.

  Private lesson location_onArmadillo Aerospace badge

  fact_checkassessed by FSMverified

  Frederico Muñoz

  Researcher, Martialis

  1 source expand_more

  fact_check

  Carmack states directly on JRE

  visibilityFirst-hand

  “My wife for Christmas one year got me a year of private lessons with Carlos Machado. [...] I was in a situation where I had Armadillo Aerospace, my rocketry company at the time, we had enough space. So I had a whole bunch of mats set out there and I would work with Carlos and one of the other guys there on Saturdays.”

  — (2019). The Joe Rogan Experiencelink info
• 
  Chuck Norris

  sports_martial_artsBrazilian jiu-jitsu Confirmed

  Confirmed

  Carlos Machado was Norris's primary BJJ instructor from 1988 onward; Norris earned his black belt under Carlos; confirmed by multiple sources

  The evidence establishes the claim: it is sufficient and consistent, and any conflicting evidence is resolved.

  (1988)

  fact_checkassessed by FSMverified

  Frederico Muñoz

  Researcher, Martialis

  2 sources expand_more

  fact_check

  Carlos Machado was Norris's primary BJJ instructor from 1988 onward; Norris earned his black belt under Carlos; confirmed by multiple sources

  “Chuck Norris went on to earn his Brazilian Jiu Jitsu Black Belt under Carlos Machado”

  — Chuck Norris sparring BJJ with Carlos Machado (MixedMartialArts.com)link

  Carlos Machado (Wikipedia EN)link history info

Sources

Identifiers