Born on March 9, 1977 in Salvador, Brazil, Chinzo began training in karate at age 4 under the tutelage of his father, Master Yoshizo Machida, a legendary Shotokan coach and head of JKA Brazil.
Over a competitive career spanning decades, Chinzo has won over a dozen Brazilian national kumite championships and earned a silver medal at the JKA World Championships, establishing himself as one of the most decorated karate competitors from his generation.
In addition to his traditional karate accolades, Chinzo pursued professional mixed martial arts, compiling performance experience in organisations including Bellator MMA and Karate Combat — blending his karate roots with broader striking and competitive combat environments.
Head Coach & Machida Karate System Architect
Today, Chinzo is the head instructor of the Machida Karate Academy in Lomita, California, which he co-founded with his brother, former UFC Light Heavyweight Champion Lyoto Machida, and where he oversees training, development and curriculum for students ranging from beginners to elite athletes.
He holds a 6th Dan in Shotokan Karate and a black belt in Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu, bringing decades of martial arts depth to his coaching. His influence extends beyond karate to striking mechanics, footwork, timing and strategic control — crucial components that helped shape his brother Lyoto’s legendary elusive striking style in MMA.
Chinzo’s coaching attracts practitioners across karate, MMA, kickboxing and other striking arts, with fighters and students seeking his deep insight into distance management, timing, interception tactics and feint systems — the building blocks of elite‐level karate-derived striking.
He is also a popular instructor on the Warrior Collective YouTube channel, where his contributed training content has garnered strong viewership from martial artists worldwide.
Instructional Volume on Warrior Collective
Chinzo brings his first full-length instructional volume to Warrior Collective, sharing his step-by-step approach to the Machida Karate System — a practical, combat-ready karate methodology that can elevate striking across martial arts disciplines:
📘 The Machida Karate System – Training Elusive Fighters
This comprehensive course covers Chinzo’s core systems and drills, including:
Distance Management & Range as a Weapon — controlling spacing to dominate exchanges
The Art of Zanshin & Controlled Aggression — body awareness and measured attack timing
Tai Sabaki (Body Movement) & Footwork — evasion and positioning fundamentals
The Three Types of Timing — mastering reactive and proactive striking timing
Low Kick Feints & Intercepting Strikes — deceptive setups that create openings
Effective Karate Kicks, Side Kicks & Back Kicks — powerful, precision striking mechanics
Stance Changing Angles & Full-Body Feints — advanced movement and rhythm systems
Kuzushi Aza & Kyo Concepts — off-balancing opponents and attacking weakness with intent
Download The Machida Karate System – Training Elusive Fighters on Warrior Collective to train with the same elite karate-derived striking systems Chinzo teaches his fighters — ideal for anyone serious about improving precision, timing, range control and fight-ready technique.
