This Saturday April 11th 2026. at 7pm, Carlos Machado is promoting me to Coral Belt — 7th degree Black Belt in Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu.

It’s a rare rank. There are less than 100 Coral Belts in the world right now from the info I can find. 

I started training with Carlos Machado back in the August of 1997. I heard about him being in Texas through my South Dakota Muay Thai coach who had moved to Texas. 

Carlos had been brought to Texas by Chuck Norris. Chuck Norris met Carlos in California and asked Carlos to move to Dallas Texas to train him since he was filming the TV  show Walker Texas Ranger. When I found out Carlos  (a cousin of the Gracies) was teaching inTexas. Texas became apart of my dream. I had it narrowed down to either move to California or New York before that. Both of which were considerably more expensive than South Dakota. After learning I could move to Texas to train with Carlos I was very excited. Texas would be less of a cultural shock and financially more affordable then either New York or California  

I was in college at the time and for my last  year of college I became a National Exchange Student so I could move to Texas early and start training with Carlos.  I had heard of Foreign Exchange program but I had never heard of a national exchange program. I got lucky in that moment asking the right person that pointed me to that program. 

I had a year left of school when I moved to Texas. I found a place to live in Lewisville Texas. I would be training in Dallas and going to college in Denton at UNT. 

I met a very good friend in Bruce training with Carlos that helped me open a Jiu-Jitsu school in Fort Worth. This allowed him to save time not having to drive to Dallas as often and he could train with me. I opened my first Jiu-Jitsu school in January of 1998. It was the first Jiu-Jitsu school in Fort Worth. the third Jiu-Jitsu School in DFW. 

Carlos awarded me my Black Belt on June 1st, 2002. I was Carlos first student he had promoted to Black Belt in the world. That same day he promoted three other students to Black Belt. Tim Burrill, Clay Pittman, and William Vandry. Carlos  lineage goes back through Mitsuyo Maeda to Carlos Gracie Sr., Hélio Gracie, Rolls Gracie, and Carlos Gracie Jr. before reaching Carlos Machado himself. 

I went on to compete in the UFC,  and win The Ultimate Fighter 4. I also won the Ultimate Submission Showdown that Rorian Gracie had started. Beating one of his sons along the way in the Semi Finals. His other son lost on the other side of the bracket. Before I recieved my Black Belt I had won the National ADCC championship twice in 2000 and 2001. 

Receiving a Coral Belt from Carlos this coming weekend feels like a full circle moment. It’s not just about the belt. It’s about the time I have put in on the mats and the responsibility to keep teaching Jiu-Jitsu. 

I’ve coached hundreds of adults and families over the years here in Fort Worth. 

The experience I’ve gained — from opening the first Jiu-Jitsu school in Fort Worth back in 1998, to being Carlos’s first Black Belt. I have personally promoted 49 Black Belts in my 28 years of coaching .

Conclusion:

This Coral Belt promotion is a reminder that Jiu-Jitsu is a long road. It’s not about quick wins or flashy moves — it’s about showing up consistently, and learning. I am excited to be one of the first American Coral Belts. 

Whether you’re brand new to the mats or have trained before, the same principles that got me here apply to you: keep it simple, stay humble, and put in the work. At Team Lutter BJJ, that’s exactly what we do every day.

Location: 6913 Camp Bowie Blvd, Suite 133, Fort Worth, TX

Phone: 817-781-4243 (tel:817-781-4243)

See you on the mat.

Travis Lutter

Team Lutter BJJ

Fort Worth, Texas