JIU-JITSU ENTERED RENATO'S LIFE AT A YOUNG AGE; HIS FATHER, CARLOS MAGNO, USED TO TRAIN WITH THE GRACIE FAMILY. HOWEVER, RENATO FIRST BEGAN HIS MARTIAL ARTS JOURNEY WITH JUDO AND WON SEVERAL TOURNAMENTS. AFTER HIS FIRST EXPERIENCE WITH JIU-JITSU, RENATO BECAME ENTHRALLED WITH THE ART AND DEDICATED HIMSELF TO MASTER IT. HIS DEVELOPMENT AS AN ATHLETE WAS INFLUENCED BY MASTERS GASTÃO GRACIE JR., CARLOS GRACIE JR., AND THE MACHADO BROTHERS. IT WAS THE MACHADOS WHO CONVINCED RENATO MAGNO TO MOVE FROM BRAZIL TO THE UNITED STATES - WHERE HE ARRIVED IN 1991 - AS AN INSTRUCTOR AT THEIR ACADEMIES. RENATO IS OFTEN CALLED THE “SIXTH MACHADO BROTHER”, AS HE IS THE ONLY BLACK BELT TO RECEIVE HIS BELT FROM ALL 5 BROTHERS. RENATO WAS ALSO THE HEAD INSTRUCTOR AT JEAN JACQUES MACHADO ACADEMY. IN 1998 RENATO OPENED HIS OWN ACADEMY, STREET SPORTS LOCATED IN SANTA MONICA, WHERE HE HAS STUDENTS RANGING IN AGE FROM 6 TO 65. RENATO IS NOW ONE OF THE FEW CORAL (RED AND BLACK) BELTS IN THE WORLD, MEANING HE WAS A BLACK BELT FOR OVER 31 YEARS. HE IS THE FIRST CORAL BELT UNDER THE MACHADO LINEAGE.

LAW ENFORCEMENT EXPERIENCE: RENATO HAS MANY LAW ENFORCEMENT STUDENTS. AS A "DEFENSIVE TACTICS CONSULTANT", HE TAUGHT JIU-JITSU TO THE LAPD (LOS ANGELES POLICE DEPARTMENT) AND THE NYPD (NEW YORK POLICE DEPARTMENT). HE HAS TAUGHT MORE THAN EIGHT THOUSAND OFFICERS AND RECEIVED A PRIZE FOR THIS SERVICE. THROUGH JIU-JITSU AND RENATO'S PROJECTS WITH THE LOS ANGELES POLICE DEPARTMENT AND ORANGE COUNTY SHERIFF REGIONAL TRAINING ACADEMY, JIU-JITSU HAS CONTINUED TO BE APPLIED AS THE NON-VIOLENT APPROACH TO RESOLVE CONFRONTATION.

FILM AND TV EXPERIENCE: RENATO HAS PARTICIPATED IN SEVERAL CINEMA AND TV PRODUCTIONS. HIS MOST IMPORTANT ROLE WAS PERFORMING AS AN ACTOR, TECHNICAL CONSULTANT, AND FIGHT CHOREOGRAPHER FOR "RED BELT", A MOVIE BY DAVID MAMET STARRING CHIWETEL EJIOFOR AND ALICE BRAGA WHICH OPENED IN MAY 2008. IMDB PROFILE.

COMPETITION HISTORY & JIU-JITSU STYLE: RENATO IS A MULTIPLE-TIME IBJJF PAN AMERICAN GOLD MEDALIST, A MULTIPLE-TIME U.S. OPEN GOLD MEDALIST, AND HAS WON MANY OTHER TOURNAMENTS. HE HAS A HEAVY TAKEDOWN AND TOP-PRESSURE GAME WITH A SPECIALITY FOR SUBMITTING OPPONENTS WITH CHOKES. FOR HIS HEAVY TAKEDOWN STYLE, RENATO COMBINES HIS JUDO (BLACK BELT) AND HIS HIGH-LEVEL WRESTLING. RENATO HONED HIS WRESTLING BY CONTINUOUSLY STUDYING WITH HIS GREAT FRIEND AND LEGENDARY WRESTLER RICO CHIAPPARELLI. HIS TOP-PRESSURE CAN BE FELT INSTANTLY AND HAS HELPED HIM PASS COUNTLESS LEGENRDAY GUARDS. MOST IMPORTANTLY IF YOU DECIDE TO ENTER STREET SPORTS YOU WILL FIND A DOWN-TO-EARTH, LAID-BACK GUY WHO WILL BRING JIU-JITSU TO YOUR LEVEL WHILE MAKING SURE THAT YOU ARE HAVING FUN WITH IT.