Congratulations Master Carlos Machado
On Your Go2 Karate Lifetime Achievement Award
Introducing Master Carlos Machado
The Go2 Karate Lifetime Achievement Award Recipient
He can also be seen HERE on the Go2 Karate Home Page
He can also be seen in the G2K Recognition Award Wall Of Recipients
To all my fellow Martial Artists,
Carlos Machado: The “Godfather of Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu” in the U.S.
It is with great honor that our board has selected Master Carlos Machado for the Go2 Karate Lifetime Achievement Award.
Master Carlos Machado is widely recognized as one of the most influential figures in Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu (BJJ) and martial arts worldwide. A member of the legendary Machado family, he grew up training alongside his cousins, the Gracie’s, and helped introduce BJJ to North America in the early 1990s. Known as the “Godfather of Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu” in the U.S., Carlos blends old-school fundamentals with modern innovation, creating a system that is both effective and accessible to practitioners of all levels.
A former multiple-time Pan American and World Champion, Carlos has coached thousands of students globally, including elite competitors, law enforcement professionals, and Hollywood celebrities. His deep technical knowledge and passion for teaching earned him the rank of 8th Degree Coral Belt, a testament to decades of dedication to the art and the Martial Arts Industry.
Carlos is the founder of the Carlos Machado Jiu-Jitsu Association, with schools spanning the United States and abroad. Beyond producing champions, his mission is to empower people through the life-changing benefits of Jiu-Jitsu—instilling confidence, discipline, and resilience.
Author, mentor, and pioneer, Master Carlos Machado continues to shape the evolution of Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu, ensuring that his family’s legacy thrives while inspiring a new generation of martial artists. Please read more about him and what he does for charity below under his interview. A man who gives back and has a big heart.
Tracy Lee Thomas
8th Degree
Go2 Karate Recognition Board Member
Founder | Go2 Karate
Lifetime of Legacy
Add your voice to celebrate the award and the man behind it. We invite you to leave a congratulatory note for Master Carlos Machado in honor of his Go2 Karate Lifetime Achievement Award. Whether you are a student, an instructor, or part of the martial arts industry, your words of recognition and celebration are welcome. Share your message and join the community in honoring his lasting impact.
Stephen Oliver
9th Degree Black Belt
Mile High Karate/Martial Arts Wealth Mastery
Evergreen, Colorado
Congratulations, Master Carlos Machado.
I still remember the first time we met—sweat-soaked mats in Chuck Norris’s garage gym down in Navasota, Texas. Even then, it was obvious: you weren’t selling sizzle; you were the steak. Precision, humility, and relentless standards. That’s the DNA you’ve brought to Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu for decades.
You’re the real deal—leader, teacher, and a builder of black belts and better human beings. Congratulations on this milestone and on a lifetime of raising the bar for all of us.
Greg Moody
Chief Master
KarateBuilt Martial Arts
Cave Creek, Arizona
Congratulations to Master Carlos Machado, a true legend in martial arts. His championship record and decades of teaching have inspired students worldwide, while his leadership has shaped the growth of Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu across North America. It is an honor to recognize his lasting impact on our industry.
Denise Morin
5th Degree Black Belt
Virginia Beach, Va
Master Carlos Machado’s your lifelong dedication and legendary success in Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu continue to inspire generations. Congratulations on receiving this well deserved award!
Master Thomas
8th Degree Master Instructor
Congratulations to Master Carlos Machado on receiving the prestigious Go2 Karate Lifetime Achievement Award. Your decades of dedication, leadership, and impact on the martial arts world have inspired generations of practitioners worldwide. We proudly honor your legacy and the incredible mark you continue to leave on our community. - Tracy Lee Thomas | Go2 Karate Founder
As a martial artist, a veteran, and a woman, I want to sincerely congratulate you, Master Carlos Machado, on receiving the Lifetime Recognition Award.
You’ve long been known as the “Godfather of Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu” in the U.S., but what truly stands out is how much heart you’ve poured into sharing the art. From shaping champions and building schools to supporting veterans, empowering women, and helping communities in need, your impact goes far beyond the mat.
For me, this recognition isn’t just about your titles or accomplishments—it’s about the lives you’ve touched, the confidence you’ve inspired, and the example you’ve set for all of us. Thank you for showing what it means to lead with both strength and compassion.
Congratulations, Master Machado. This honor is so well deserved.
With respect ,
Denise Morin
5th Degree
Go2 Karate Recognition Board Member
Go2 Karate Editor
It is an honor to recognize Master Carlos Machado for his extraordinary contributions to Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu and the martial arts community worldwide. As a 10x Brazilian National Champion, 8th Degree Coral Belt, and founder of the Carlos Machado Jiu-Jitsu Association, he has dedicated his life to sharing the art with thousands of students across the globe.
I have had the privilege of watching Master Machado’s work in our industry for many years. His consistent excellence on the mat, his leadership in building one of the most respected Jiu-Jitsu associations, and his reputation as the “Godfather of Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu in the United States” have left a profound mark on martial arts.
Through his teaching, Master Machado has elevated countless practitioners—from world-class competitors to everyday students seeking confidence, discipline, and resilience. Just as importantly, he has used his influence to support charitable causes, empower veterans, and open doors for communities through Jiu-Jitsu.
Please join me in congratulating Master Carlos Machado on this well-deserved recognition. His career stands as a model of integrity, innovation, and service to martial arts worldwide.
Respectfully,
Greg Moody
8th Degree
Go2 Karate Recognition Board Member
An Interview With Carlos Machado - Go2 Karate Lifetime Achievement Award Winner
Conducted by Dr. Greg Moody, Chief Master, Go2 Karate Magazine
Interview Highlights:
Dr. Greg Moody, Chief Master, Go2 Karate Magazine:
"I'm here with Grand Master Jeff Smith, who is a Mile High Karate, Martial Arts Wealth Mastery, and a seven-time world light heavyweight kickboxing champion. Did I get all that right, sir?"
Grand Master Jeff Smith:
"Good job."
Dr. Greg Moody, Chief Master, Go2 Karate Magazine:
"We're here in Dallas, Texas and we're at the Martial Arts Wealth Mastery event, and I'm really excited about interviewing Grand Master Smith."
Grand Master Jeff Smith:
"Thank you."
Dr. Greg Moody, Chief Master, Go2 Karate Magazine:
"I've known you for many years and you've had such an incredible career in martial arts. Can you tell us about when you started and how you got into it and where it went from there?"
Grand Master Jeff Smith:
"Well, I started in Texas back in 1964 with Jhoon Rhee, who started in Texas, and one of his black belts had a program at the university in my hometown, Texas A&I University in Kingsville, Texas. I started as a white belt there under him and was able to not just get my white belt from him, but stay with him all the way till he promoted me to ninth degree black belt, which is the highest rank in Taekwondo that you can receive while you're still on this earth. And that was just a few years before he passed."
Dr. Greg Moody, Chief Master, Go2 Karate Magazine:
"Well, that's exciting. I mean, you must have learned a lot under him. What kind of lessons were important that you feel like he taught?"
Grand Master Jeff Smith:
"Well, he graduated from the University of Texas as an engineer."
Dr. Greg Moody, Chief Master, Go2 Karate Magazine:
"I didn't know that."
Grand Master Jeff Smith:
"So, he was very technical and with everything that he taught, he taught the mechanics of the movements. So, it was the laws of physics, so not just kick this way, punch this way, but how the angle was to generate more power, and he used a lot of his physics formulas to get this whole system of his. So, he was very detailed in the martial arts training, and then he was one of the first pioneers also in the martial arts business. We had 12 schools there in Washington DC when I graduated from the University of Texas A&I in 1970, I went to Washington DC and taught for him for 25 years and ran his schools and grew him from four schools then I hired the staff and got the staff from his different Jhoon Rhee schools around the country. We ended up with 12 schools over the next three years."
Dr. Greg Moody, Chief Master, Go2 Karate Magazine:
"Wow, I remember when I was in DC, it was all about Jhoon Rhee everywhere."
Grand Master Jeff Smith:
"He's everywhere. There was nobody in Washington, DC that didn't know who Jhoon Rhee was. And our telephone number, we ran these commercials on TV all the time, and his kids were on there, and his slogan was, "Nobody bothers me." His kids would say that at the end. Everybody got a big kick out of that. And then, "Call USA-1000 for more information." And so, there wasn't anybody who didn't know the number. So, every time we'd go somewhere, and I was with Jhoon Rhee, they'd go, "Oh, look. It's USA-1000.""
Dr. Greg Moody, Chief Master, Go2 Karate Magazine:
"That's pretty amazing. Well, so he actually started martial arts. He was a martial artist, of course, but very, very good at business and very, very good with you as part of his team there."
Grand Master Jeff Smith:
"Yeah. And he had four schools already when I came in 1970. But he moved to Washington DC after he graduated in 1960 and started his schools. And he didn't move to Washington to start schools. Even starting a Taekwondo program at the university. He was training out on the lawn, and some of the students saw him and wanted him to teach them. So, they did a big demonstration at the Student Union Ballroom, and he had a hundred people that wanted to train. And so, he started training all these people, and like Allen Steen and Pat Mercer are, some of his first black belts were students at the University of Texas. And then when he went to Washington DC in 1960 when he graduated, he was going to get an engineering job. That's why he went to Washington."