I Trained Under Jean Jacques Machado, BJJ legend

In this article, I would like to share my experience training under Jean Jacques Machado.

How I Discovered Jean Jacques Machado

I first learned about Jean Jacques Machado (JJM) through his official YouTube channel.

[embed]JeanJacquesMachado Welcome to the Official YouTube Channel for Jean Jacques Machado. One of the pioneers of the art of Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu…youtube.com

I had already heard some incredible stories about him at my local gym — like how once he grips you, you simply can’t break free. Despite being born with only partial fingers on his left hand, JJM became a legend in Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu. It’s also well known that he mentored Eddie Bravo, founder of 10th Planet Jiu-Jitsu.

The Connection Between JJM and Eddie Bravo

The way JJM and Eddie Bravo met was quite unexpected. In fact, Eddie wasn’t initially interested in Jiu-Jitsu at all — he was a huge Karate fan, heavily influenced by Bruce Lee. One day, however, a bandmate told him about a Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu fighter who defeated a Karate-based fighter at the UFC. That fighter was Royce Gracie.

Upon hearing this, Eddie thought,

“If that’s true, Karate isn’t enough. I need to learn Jiu-Jitsu.”

He immediately searched for a Jiu-Jitsu gym in Los Angeles and joined.

But…

The gym was not what he expected.

Eagerly waiting for his first Jiu-Jitsu class, Eddie was shocked when the training started: black gi uniforms, kung fu-style drills, and no ground grappling at all.

Confused, he asked the instructor, “Is this Jiu-Jitsu?”

The instructor replied,

“Ah, you’re talking about Gracie Jiu-Jitsu.”

The style Eddie wanted to learn was Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu, and this gym wasn’t it. However, the instructor happened to be a cousin of Jean Jacques Machado and gave Eddie his contact information. Even though Eddie politely told the instructor, “I like this kind of Jiu-Jitsu,” deep down, he couldn’t stop thinking about Jean Jacques.

Eventually, Eddie joined JJM’s academy — and the rest is history. He earned his black belt under Jean Jacques.

Was Eddie’s Focus on No-Gi Inspired by JJM?

One day, JJM and Eddie attended a Gi tournament together. While watching, JJM casually commented:

“Watching Gi matches is boring.”

This simple statement had a massive impact on Eddie.

He thought:

“If JJM finds black belt Gi matches boring, how can Jiu-Jitsu ever succeed on television?”

That moment sparked Eddie’s passion for developing a No-Gi system, eventually leading to the birth of 10th Planet Jiu-Jitsu. Without that one remark from JJM, 10th Planet might not even exist today.

Hearing these stories made me want to experience their world firsthand. So, I traveled to Los Angeles to train at both JJM’s and Eddie Bravo’s gyms. (You can read about my training experience at 10th Planet LA in a separate post!)

Training at Jean Jacques Machado Academy

JJM’s academy is located about a 30-minute drive north of LAX Airport.

Important Tip: Don’t underestimate LA traffic! During rush hour, it can easily take twice as long to get anywhere. There’s even a popular joke among locals:

“The ultimate test of true love is whether your partner will pick you up from LAX.”

I learned the hard way by getting stuck in heavy traffic.

About the Academy

This was by far the largest and cleanest gym I’ve ever visited.

Walking from the entrance to the locker rooms, there’s a long hallway where a giant portrait of JJM is displayed. One of the staff members, a kind artist named Marcel, likely painted it. Marcel is very helpful and handles inquiries about drop-ins.

The atmosphere at the gym is extremely friendly. The student age range is slightly older compared to other gyms. They only offer one adult class per day, an “All Levels” class where everyone trains together regardless of belt color.

My Training Experience

On my first day, JJM wasn’t present (he travels often for seminars), so another skilled instructor led the class. We started with individual warm-ups, and when the instructor arrived, class simply began without any formal announcement. (So stay alert!)

Despite arriving in LA at 8 AM and training at 11 AM, battling jet lag and fatigue, I managed to stay focused during class.

That day’s lesson was passing against the seated guard. The class emphasized lots of detailed back-and-forth with the instructor — students asked questions freely, and everyone worked together to refine the techniques. We ended with about five rounds of sparring. I was lucky enough to roll with high-level competitors, including an ADCC Open champion. It was an incredible learning experience.

On my second day, I barely made it to class on time after getting caught in traffic again. Marcel kindly introduced me to JJM, and I finally got to meet him in person.

He was much more muscular than he appeared in videos — and incredibly kind and welcoming.

That day’s training focused on 20 minutes of mount escape drills followed by six to seven rounds of sparring.

A Memorable Encounter

Aside from JJM, I also had the chance to meet a wonderful training partner during my visit. He was also a white belt, and we quickly bonded during class. After training, he kindly offered to drive me back to my place — even though it was a 30-minute trip!

On the ride, we talked about everything from Japanese culture to mental health issues. Later, I learned he was actually the CEO of a mental healthcare company working to address depression.

When I asked about his belt goals, he simply said:

“I don’t care if I ever get promoted. I just love being able to practice Jiu-Jitsu. Though… maybe I’d feel a little weird still being a white belt in 10 years!” (laughs)

This conversation made me realize something important: When you truly love something, you don’t need external validation. You do it because your heart naturally draws you to it.

Final Thoughts

I’d like to end with one of my favorite quotes from Jean Jacques Machado:

“The more you know, the less you use. To use less, you need to know more.”

I’m deeply grateful to JJM and everyone at the academy who welcomed me with open arms.

Thank you.

Academy Information

Gym Name: Jean Jacques Machado Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu

Website: jeanjacquesmachado.com

Address: 20951 Burbank Blvd, Suite A, Woodland Hills, California 91367

Drop-in Fee: $85 (Please check the website for updates.)

Classes: All Levels (Adult), Kids Class

Features:

• No separate classes by belt level
• Opportunity to learn from world-class black belts
• Open, welcoming environment for visitors