By TXMMA Staff // Emil Fischer // Cover Photo via Rigan Machado
“If you love Jiu Jitsu, Jiu Jitsu will love you”
BEVERLY HILLS, CA – The world of Brazilian Jiu Jitsu has many pillars, many men and women who represent phenomenal accomplishment and prowess. Rigan Machado of the famed Machado Family is widely considered both one of the greatest practitioners as well as one of the greatest instructors that the martial art has ever known. TXMMA had an opportunity to interview Professor Rigan.
On top of his undeniably phenomenal teaching and competition record, Machado has garnered a reputation for teaching many celebrities the Gentle Art. “For me, Chuck Norris is a brother… tough as nails and an incredible person.” Everyone from the famed tough man to Kelso from That 70’s Show (aka Ashton Kutcher) “What is amazing to me is that Ashton drove two hours in traffic each way just to watch the first Jiu Jitsu World League for twenty minutes, he then had to turn back around and drive home! That’s how much he loves Jiu Jitsu.” Rigan has stated on numerous occasions that Kutcher’s strong wrestling base coupled with his passion for Jiu Jitsu has elevated him to one of his top students.
Kutcher recently earned his purple belt from Machado. Many other celebrities have trained with Rigan “The two celebrities who really caught my eye were Paul Walker (RIP) and Scott Caan; both amazingly good brown belts”. Being of BJJ Royalty, Rigan has been sought out by many actors and celebrities.
More than just the Jiu Jitsu Coach of the Stars, Rigan Machado recently founded the Jiu Jitsu World League in an effort to create a professional class of Jiu Jitsu Athletes. “I want Jiu Jitsu to be for EVERYBODY. I want it to be on the TV, I want people to be able to make millions by competing.” Common criticisms of modern Jiu Jitsu competitions are the lack of payment of high level athletes and the de-emphasis of self-defense based techniques, Rigan shared his thoughts on this “The IBJJF has done so much for Jiu Jitsu, it has really given the sport an arena to shine. I think that the Jiu Jitsu World League needs simpler rules to make it more understandable I want the rules to be aggressive.” Rather than focusing on points and advantages which may be invisible to the untrained observer, Rigan’s bold goal is create a spectator worthy version of the subtle and technical art.
Machado has nothing but praise for the IBJJF though “Carlos Jr. (Carlos “Carlinhos” Gracie Jr.) was my instructor, he spent a lot of time making me good, and he has done great things for Jiu Jitsu. The IBJJF is great for the sport, but I want there to also be a professional league that will be on the TV.” When asked about the IBJJF’s recent turn to background checks and drug testing of its athletes Rigan is definitely in agreement “I think that it’s not fair for one person to live healthy, eat well and have a disadvantage because the other person takes steroids. We (Jiu Jitsu World League) will also do drug testing and background checks”.
One of the impetuses of the Jiu Jitsu World League is to offer BJJ Athletes an opportunity to make money with their craft. Machado has stated that he doesn’t want to lose the top technicians to MMA, but rather wants them to be able to showcase their skills in a pure Jiu Jitsu atmosphere. “We’ve already signed the number 1 guy in the sport right now, Buchecha (Marcus Almeida), and we have several other big names in the works.” Rigan also intends on giving female athletes the opportunity to shine “Ronda Rousey has shown us that women belong in combat sports.” Moving forward Machado intends on placing his next event in Las Vegas, but is taking his time “I want to do everything right, I want to find the best venue and I want everything to be the best.”
In closing, Rigan wants all of TXMMA’s readers to remember one important detail “If you love Jiu Jitsu, Jiu Jitsu will love you.”
