INTERVIEWS

Gustavo Machado

Profile:
Name: Gustavo Machado
Weight: 160lbs.
Belt Rank: Black Belt-1st degree
Occupation: Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu Instructor
Hometown: Virginia Beach- VA

1) You have a really successful school, The Gustavo Machado Academy. Can you tell us how long your school exists and the history of your school from the beginning to the present?


Thank you. I established my first school in Virginia Beach, Virginia in 1998. At the beginning it was very challenging to introduce BJJ to the community in Virginia Beach. There were not a lot of people that were informed about BJJ. In fact, the only school in the area that offered BJJ was taught by a Blue Belt instructor.

After almost eight years of building and teaching, we have built the best BJJ school, Gustavo Machado Academy, in Virginia Beach. We have an amazing team of kids, women, and men of all ages. Also, I have three Black Belts under myself that with me started as White Belts. (Sean Wilson is in Fort Myers, FL, Jonathan Wertz, and Ivan Fanton in Virginia Beach, VA).

2) Besides your own school you have Gustavo Machado BJJ Affiliates. Can you tell us about your affiliates?

Here in the East coast I have 5 affiliate academies, Gustavo Machado Richmond –VA, North Carolina, South Carolina, Georgia and Florida. I make sure that their techniques are updated through seminars several times a year at each location.

3) You just had your DVD released, “The Half and Quarter Guard”. What is the Quarter Guard?

My instructor Roberto Correa (Gordo) is the inventor of the Offensive Half Guard positions. His Half Guard is considered to be the best in the world.

Obviously, I was inspired by him and use it as a big part of my game. The problem that I encountered was that people were hugging me and stalling from the Top Half Guard. The Quarter Guard is basically the Half Guard with the knee in the middle to avoid my opponent from hugging and stalling.

“The Quarter Guard is the future of the Half Guard”………………………..”Gordo”

Click to find out more!
Gustavo Machado Dvd

4) Could you tell us more details about your DV D? How many techniques you teach? Is the DVD good for BJJ athletes of all levels?

The DVD is great for all levels. There are 30 techniques in over 80 minutes of footage. The students will learn submissions, sweeps and how to pass the Half Guard and Quarter Guard.

5) You are the president of the Virginia Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu Federation – VABJJF. How long has the federation existed? How well is it doing? Are there any plans for the future?

The Virginia BJJ Federation was created in 2002. The federation is doing very well. We promote one tournament each year. My goal is to make BJJ a popular sport in Virginia enjoyed by kids, women and men. I promote the sport by providing a good level of BJJ competitions with high standard fighters, as well the use of Black Belt referees only.

We just had our annual tournament in November. We had 200 competitors including kids, women and men of all ages.

The plan for the future is to have 2 or more tournaments per year to keep the competition and excitement going.

6) You have been visiting and teaching seminars at the Tinguinha BJJ Academy many times. Could you tell us your impression of the TBJJ Academy? And, most importantly when are coming back to visit us?

My impression of the TBJJ Academy is that the school is AMAZING. Tinguinha is a wonderful and loyal teacher, and has many talented students. I always feel at home when I visit which gives me every reason to look forward to my next visit.
It is always an honor and a pleasure to teach at my friend Tinguinha`s academy.
I am planning on visiting again early next year.

Gustavo`s seminar at the TBJJ Academy

For more information about Gustavo Machado visit http://www.gustavomachado.com

To purchase Gustavo`s The Half and Quarter Guard Dvd visit www.fightlife.com or www.jiujitsushop.com

Quarter Guard Technique 1

Quarter Guard Technique 2

Quarter Guard Techniques

TINGUINHA BRAZILIAN JIU-JITSU SCHOOL
2970 E. La Palma Ave. Ste B
Anaheim, CA 92806
Ph: 714-630-6218
E-mail: tinguinha@tinguinha.com