It takes a Village

Dear Jiu Jitsu community-

As Jiu Jitsu practitioners we know that there is nothing more implanted in our moral compass than community and compassion. We were always told to never turn our backs, on or off the mats. It is these values that drive us to be better humans in our everyday lives and promote those values to those around us.

Gustavo Machado’s story began many years ago, as a teenager studying Brazilian Jiu Jitsu under Jean Jacque Machado, and eventually bringing his dream to the United States. It is here that he opened his first academy in Virginia Beach, VA. As his dream grew so did his community’s. He taught all of us how to be better humans. How to love one another and pass it on to others.

This past Sunday, Gustavo’s mother who was diagnosed with Alzheimer’s, fell and broke her femur. The doctors have already told Gustavo she will never walk again, let alone be able to live independently. She is in desperate need of emergency surgery and needs to be placed in a private care facility for the rest of her life. Gustavo has spent the past three decades caring for his family in Brazil financially, and as I’m sure most of you know, is no easy feat. This is something Gustavo has never complained about. In fact, it’s quite the contrary. He teaches seminars every weekend to provide extra income to support his wife, children and extended family.

Today I am asking that we all take a second to stand behind a man that we all know has always stood behind us. A man that has given us a gift that could never be repaid. He is the one that will always call everyone by name, even if he’s only met you once. He is the man that will call or text you personally and tell you to contact him anytime you need. He is the man that comes to our weddings and holds our babies during class so we can train. He is a true man of God. His legacy lives on over half our bodies in the form of tattoos but will always be ingrained in our hearts. One thing he is not, is a man of charity. Quite frankly, he had an extremely hard time allowing me to start this. I am asking you all today as a friend, student and believer in all things good, that we come together and help support someone that has given so much for this community and the foundation that it stands on.

He would do it for all of us.

With love,

Mary Andrew Gustavo Machado BJJ HQ