Carlos Machado Jiu-Jitsu

“Two years ago, my husband and I were looking for a place to enroll our daughter in Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu (BJJ) training. We found a highly reputable academy with amazing reviews—and that decision changed our lives in ways we never could have imagined. From the very beginning, Coach Ray, Coach Kieran, Coach Josiah, and Coach Nick have been nothing short of phenomenal with the Jaguars program. Our daughter went from having zero confidence to truly living her best life. Jiu-Jitsu saved her. Inspired by her journey, my husband—who grew up practicing martial arts—decided to give it a try himself a year ago. There were moments he wanted to quit, but the incredible support and strength of this family-like community kept him going. Watching their dedication, I was in awe. As someone who has always been pretty sedentary, I never thought I’d step onto the mats, but I joined the MMA Fit class with Professor Malek, and he is absolutely amazing. If I can find motivation and joy here, anyone can. Now, our entire family trains in BJJ, and we couldn’t be happier. This place has become more than just a gym—it’s our home.”

“I knew I was signing my daughter up the first time I brought her. I took everything into consideration from how much attention each couch took with each child, was their favorites, how involved/friendly where the other parents, was I going to pay for a glorified babysitter or where they going to implicate discipline in these little wild children lol. There wasn’t a box left unchecked!! This place is awesome can’t wait for my soon to be 3 year old son to start!!!”

“Outstanding experience. Carlos and his team are top notch and the facilities are great. Whether you want to "bully-proof" your kids and teach them more self-control and instill confidence, or you want to learn what it means to be able to safely and effectively handle situations yourself - this is the place to go. The large number of high-level practitioners who show up on the mats every day is testimony enough. This is the spot.”

“We love Carlos Machado Jujitsu. We have been here 10 years and wouldn’t go anywhere else! The teaching is top notch. Integrity is high! They teach character and integrity. Our whole family of 7 participates. Holly is loving Coach Malek’s get fit class. It’s truly a home away from home.”

“By good fortune, at age 19 I was introduced to Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu at Carlos Machado Jiu-Jitsu, where I began my journey as a white belt. Over the years, I trained consistently and earned my brown belt—but the belt color is only a small part of what I gained. Through each class, I developed resilience, mental discipline, and the ability to stay calm under pressure—skills that became the foundation of my success in medical school. The intensity and humility of training, the perseverance through setbacks, and the constant learning on the mats directly mirrored my path to becoming a physician. During long nights of studying, stressful exams, and high-pressure clinical rotations, I often drew on the mindset I built at Carlos Machado Jiu-Jitsu. More than anything, it was the people—my teammates, instructors, and Professor Carlos Machado himself—who created an environment of encouragement and growth. The friendships I formed over the years gave me strength during challenging moments and reminded me of the importance of community, both in medicine and in life. Carlos Machado Jiu-Jitsu was never just a place to train. It was a place that shaped my character and helped me become the man—and physician—I am today.”