Rigan Machado
| Rigan Machado | |
|---|---|
| Born |
  Rio de Janeiro, Brazil
|
| Residence |
  Los Angeles, California, California, United States
|
| Style | RCJ Machado Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu |
| Teacher(s) | Carlos Gracie, Rolls Gracie, Carlos Gracie Jr., Rickson Gracie |
| Rank | 8th Degree Coral Belt in Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu |
| Notable students | Dan Inosanto, Erik Paulson, Chuck Norris, John Will, Bob Bass, Chris Haueter, Rick Minter, Cindy Omatsu, Rodney King |
| Website | riganbjjbevhills |
Rigan Machado (born 2 July 1966 in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil) is an 8th degree red and black 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 holds a victory over Ron Tripp, the only person to hold a documented victory in competition over Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu legend Rickson Gracie. Rigan Machado currently teaches out of his Beverly Hills California Academy and is instructor to notable students Ashton Kutcher,Vin Diesel and Charlie Hunnam from Television Show Son's of Anarchy. In January 2014 Machado converted to Islam.
Rigan is one of five brothers of the Machado family. He began training at the age of 5 with his cousins, "The Gracie Family". In an interview when asked about his exact relationship with the Gracies Rigan said "My mother's sister married the founder of Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu, Carlos Gracie." Like all children took it more as a game than really as something he wanted to do for the rest of his life. He started to take training and competing more seriously at the age of 14. This is the time where Rigan would start to train everyday on the mat. From the age of 14 through 21, he won the Brazilian National Championships every year and every belt division. He amassed a record of 365 wins and 2 losses in Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu competition. He also created a record by having 19 matches in one day and finishing all of them by submission. He remains unbeaten in Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu in more than 13 years of competition. His training sessions were all very technical and intensive under the eye of his two instructors Rolls Gracie and Carlos Gracie Jr.
Rigan 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, Rorion Gracie, Rillion Gracie, his uncle Carlos Gracie Sr, and his brothers.
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