Carlos Machado was born on November 9, 1963, in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil, and began his martial arts journey at the remarkably young age of four. As the eldest of the five legendary Machado brothers, he shares a deep-rooted connection with the Gracie family through their cousinhood, tracing back to Luiza Machado, who was the sister-in-law of Carlos Gracie Senior.

His early training years were spent at the renowned Gracie academy under several legendary instructors, including Carlos Gracie Sr., Helio Gracie, Carlson Gracie, Rolls Gracie, Rickson Gracie, and Crolin Gracie. During his formative years, the Machado brothers trained and grew up alongside the Gracie children at the Gracie Compound, forming unbreakable bonds. A significant period in his life was from 1982 to 1987, when he lived with his uncle Carlos Gracie Sr., the founder of Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu, while attending law school. This time allowed him to gain deeper insights into the art directly from one of its creators.

As a competitor in Brazil, Carlos dominated the scene for a decade, winning the Rio de Janeiro State Championship ten consecutive years and claiming the national title. His competition success continued in the United States, where he won the Pan American Championships in 1997 and 1998, was the Super Fight winner of the Rickson Gracie Cup in the 1990s, and claimed double gold at the Master's World Championship in 2000 before retiring from competition. The Machado brothers' journey to America began in 1988, initially teaching alongside the Gracies. By 1990, they had established their own identity separate from the Gracie banner. A pivotal moment came when Chuck Norris became their student, leading to a friendship that would help propel Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu into mainstream recognition.

In 1995, Carlos moved to Dallas, Texas, where he taught at the studio where "Walker, Texas Ranger" was filmed. He eventually established his own academy and became known as the "Godfather of Jiu-Jitsu" in Texas, as most of the BJJ lineage in the Southwest can be traced back to him. Throughout his career, Carlos has trained and promoted numerous high-profile practitioners to black belt, including Rafael Lovato Junior (Bellator Champion), Travis Lutter (The Ultimate Fighter winner), Anthony Perosh, Elvis Sinosic (UFC veterans), and Stephen "Wonderboy" Thompson (UFC fighter). His teaching philosophy focuses on helping the "Average Student" become "Above Average," and he leads one of the largest Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu organizations globally - the Carlos Machado Jiu-Jitsu Association.

Today, Carlos Machado holds the prestigious rank of 8th-degree coral belt in Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu and continues to run BJJ schools across the United States, Australia, Canada, the United Kingdom, Mexico, the Dominican Republic, and Guam. His legacy extends beyond his personal achievements, as he has been instrumental in growing the sport globally. Carlos is an established author and has been inducted into no less than eight Martial Arts Halls of Fame for his various contributions to martial arts and Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu.

Most recently, Machado served as a coach on season 7 of the Professional Grappling Federation in November 2024, leading the Intrana team alongside other prestigious coaches like Dean Lister, Pedro Sauer, and Roger Gracie. His continued involvement in the sport demonstrates his ongoing commitment to developing and promoting Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu at the highest levels.