He is the mestre of Sinha Bahia de Capoeira – Indonesia. With 27 years of capoeira, he has visited many countries to spread the art. For us, he is a strict but also patient teacher, who pushes his students to be their best. A fair and compassionate mestre, he seeks to contribute for a better world through the art of capoeira. PHOTO

Capoeira entered my life even before I entered the world. I, Alessandro Gomes de Reis, was born in November 1974 but those close to me say that the tiny Mestre (Master) Cicatriz was doing ginga in the womb long before that. I can't remember that far back, but I probably enjoyed the echoes of the atabaque and the berimbau just as much as my pregnant mother’s habit of watching rodas that my older brother participated.

Capoeira has always been part of my life. My obsession with the sport turned into an addiction in 1982, when I was eight years old. Seeing my older brothers arrive home, sweaty and exhausted, made me realize that Capoeira was not only a physical challenge but a psychological one as well. It not only disciplined my brothers to survive the most dangerous of rodas, but to survive the great roda of life and fight for their own place in this world. It gave them a second family, friends and positive role models to look up to. This social aspect and unity is what I value in Capoeira. Many people do not realize it, but Capoeira does not limit itself to kicks and esquivas. It's not just a fight, a simple dance or a martial art pretty to see. Capoeira is all this and much more. It's a psychological discipline, a philosophy, a physical challenge and a social encounter. Its teachings, if used with good intentions, can be applied to many aspects of life.

My success in Capoeira has much to do with the support I have received from those closest to me. This of course refers to my Masters who have been there for me from the beginning till this very day. Mestre Lotar has had a double dose of me - both as a student and as an annoying child who imposed himself as a permanent visitor in his house. Considering him a fatherly figure after the loss of my own father, I feasted, slept, played and trained under the roof of Mestre Lotar and without fail, I put up a fight when my mother came to reclaim her son and drag him home. The same goes for Mestre Cabeca and without the two of them I would have lost many a battle which I have triumphed by means of their guidance and advice. Of course I miss my masters and being able to train with them but in return I have gained a whole new family of students in Australia, Indonesia and Thailand.

My mother too, has always been a Capoeira goer as well as my number one fan! Of the five brothers that I have, four have crossed paths with Capoeira. Professor Tata now teaches here in Sydney while Mestre Torpedo has taken Sinhá Bahia to Thailand. As brothers and fellow capoeiristas, we were more than ready to enter any roda, play any game and take any risk. We travelled every inch of Rio until we assured ourselves there was no roda we had not set foot in. And so it went, until the day when Alessandro and Renato died and Master Cicatriz and Master Torpedo were born.

Renato's name is very reflective of his fast paced style of play and torpedo-like movements, while mine better describes my attitude that has led me to carry the scar I have imprinted across my chest. As an adolescent I found myself on the streets of Rio parading the new bike that my father had given me. It was a worthless gift but one of the few I had received in my life. It represented the fruit of my father's labour and therefore I decided it was worth my life. As it was, I was assaulted by two hooligans who, unable to release my grip of the bike, thought it might help to cut my chest open with a knife. Well it did help: the blood scared them away while I tightened my grip on the toy. The fact that my intestines were on display was of no importance. The fact I had not lost my bike, was. And so I went home fearing nothing but my father's condolence of my foolish bravery. I therefore decided to hide the blood cascading from my chest under a white sheet and sleep the night away I don't give in. You can hurt me, but I know the pain will go and the wounds will scar - that's why I am Mestre Cicatriz!

My life's worth of experience in Capoeira has led me to Paraguay, Argentina, Venezuela, Chile and the United States. I have queixadad the Caribbean, exchanged the ginga for sushi in Japan and finally came to settle down in Australia, where I continue to learn through my teaching. In all honesty, I believe I will never stop being a student - there will always be something else to conquer. Capoeira is not a picture that you can finish with one stroke of the paintbrush, hang up on the wall and admire for years on end. Capoeira is an art that needs to be retouched and perfected continuously. It is an ever-evolving phenomenon for the perfection of which even a lifetime is insufficient.

One of the self-set challenges which I really want to accomplish is to share my love and knowledge of Capoeira with the world. I want others to experience the adrenalin, the pride, the fear, the joy, the strife, the highs, the lows, the suffering and the well being that Capoeira has brought into my life and I want them to become better people because of it. It is a great challenge but one that we can achieve together with the students and the community. In fact it is one that we have already begun to accomplish. Grupo Bahia has grown into an affiliated International Association (Sinhá Bahia) with branches in Brasil, Australia, Thailand and Indonesia. This has required the dedication of many parties including Mestre Binha in Belo Horizonte, Mestre Cabeca in Macao, Ms. Diah and all the students in Indonesia as well as numerous others whom I would like to thank for their hard work. Our Capoeira festival in Jakarta for example, has attracted much attention from the community and media alike and set strong foundations for the future growth of the group. More importantly, the participants have learnt much about each other's cultures and established strong international ties through Capoeira. My dream is of a Sinhá Bahia family. I have dedicated my life, my work, my world, my energy and myself to this cause and hope that amongst the hundreds of students of Sinhá Bahia, at least a few share my dream.

Through capoeira, he found his self-esteem and his calling . As a kid in Rio de Janeiro, he met Mestre Poeira giving a capoeira demonstration. Bedazzled by the art, the young Nilson trained hard by himself, and was accepted to be Mestre Poeira’s student at the age of eight, for his dedication and sheer will. He was formed a mestre on 15 November 1984. In 1981, when he was a contra-mestre, he formed Associacao Grupo Bahia de Capoeira, that later became Sinha Bahia de Capoeira. Living in Natividade, state of Rio de Jeneiro, he commits his school and the art of capoeira toward community development. PHOTO

O apelido nasceu nas rodas de Capoeira formadas nas ruas de Campo Grande, Zona Oeste do Rio de Janeiro, quando os policiais perguntavam quem era o cabeça- o responsável pelos capoeiristas. Sempre apontado, o jovem Nilson ganhou novo nome e fama. Nascido em Bangu –RJ, Mestre Cabeça iniciou-se em 1970 na arte da Capoeira, pelas mãos de Mestre Poeira. Formou-se como mestre em 15 de novembro de 1984.
Em sua caminhada como mestre formou vários mestres, hoje em atividades dentro e fora do país, como: Mestre Lotar; Mestre Tainã; Mestre Gegê; Mestre Torpedo; Mestre Cicatriz ; Mestre Binha.

Mudou-se para Natividade, noroeste fluminense, e nesta cidade instalou a sede da Associação Grupo Bahia de Capoeira ( fundada em 1981 no Rio quando ainda era contra-mestre) Em Natividade trabalhou em vários projetos como o Curumim, o da APAE e atuou como educador social no Movimento Nacional de Meninos de Rua. Inclusive desenvolvendo o projeto Cultura na Comunidade na cidade.

Morando em Macaé desde 2003, transferiu sua sede para esta cidade. Em 2004 em parcerias com a Associação de Capoeira Raízes de Aruanda do qual o presidente é o Mestre Dengo ,organizaram á primeira integração internacional de Capoeira , e a unificação do Sinhá Capoeira e o grupo Bahia, formando o á associação Sinhá Bahia de Capoeira. Participa do projeto ArtLuz.

Mestre Cabeça já viajou para o exterior diversas vezes para participar de eventos, mostras, palestras, etc. Entre os países onde o Mestre Cabeça foi representar a Capoeira podemos citar:Paraguai,Uruguai,Argentina, França, Espanha,Portugal, Holanda , Malásia e Indonésia.

He was trained in many martial arts. But for him, capoeira is special for it healed him from a mysterious medical condition and has given him strength and courage. His posture and martial arts skills belied his gentleness and compassion toward his students and those around him. He helped paved the way for many youths to find a brighter future through capoeira. PHOTO

My first steps in the world of martial arts were at the age of 12 when I sat watching a man practice Karate on a field close to my home. I was so absorbed by his art that hours would pass without taking my eyes off him. I would even turn up at his doorstep in the morning and accompany him to his place of training. One day I worked up the courage to ask him to train. At first he was reluctant to take me on as a student but when he saw my persistence he gave in.

I trained hard and by the age of 14 I started wanting to put my skills to the test. As there was a lack of Karate opponents, I started frequenting Capoeira rodas where I knew I would find subjects willing to take me on. I didn’t think highly of Capoeira and don’t understand the art form. I made jokes about the guys who ‘threw their legs and arms aimlessly’ never engaging in any real combat. Being a brute, I even told the Capoeiristas that if we ever got into a brawl, I would stomp on their heads.

However, one day I went to a holiday roda in which I saw Mestre Cabeça playing and I couldn’t take my eyes of him. I spend dawn till dusk watching him execute his movements to perfection in a tactful yet charming game. He was like an elastic band and could bend his spine so easily as he could fold a piece of paper. I was so impressed that I asked him where he gave classes and decided to do some training with him.

Capoeira conquered me within an instant, and before I knew it I was a Capoeirista myself. I trained Karate in the morning and Capoeira in the evening. On the days when there was no Capoeira class I would accompany Mestre Cabeça to a roda carrying the atabaque drum on my back.

Soon enough, Capoeira changed my whole life. It cured me from a mysterious medical condition, which caused me to faint all the time. While I was training Karate I still frequently blacked out and remember waking up in hospital with all sorts of medical equipment connected to me and the doctors shaking their heads unable to explain my condition. However, from the time I started doing Capoeira, my blackouts became less and less frequent until one day they finally stopped. This means that I could stop taking the medications I was on. In fact, Capoeira cured me from a lot of things, from the loss of my mother at an early age. Playing instruments, singing and doing acrobatics made me happy and gave me a lot to live for.

Even though I had fallen in love with Capoeira I never let go of Karate and even became interested in other martial arts. I started boxing and because of my cross training I was able to progress very quickly. Being of solid build, at the age of 24 I entered and won two heavyweight championships. In 1990 I also started training Kungfu but after 3 years I stopped due to the misfortunate death of my beloved Master.

I continued my Capoeira training and was encouraged by Mestre Cabeça and Mestre Gegê to participate in a Capoeira Championship. I was not sure about it, but due to the persistence of them I soon found myself standing in a big hall full of well-known capoeiristas. I was not nervous, I trained hard and hit hard and being hard headed. I knew that I could resolve anything with a fight. In fact that is how I got my Capoeira name. At the time there was a cartoon about a magician and his assistant. The magician, much like Mestre Cabeça, resolved everything in a peaceful and tactful manner. His assistant on the other hand, incidentally a black, bold guy like myself, always resorted to violence. That is why I did not feel nervous. Not until the names of the heavyweight competitors were announced.

For lack of heavier competitors I was announced to be Mestre Hulk’s opponent! That is when I began to worry. I was not even a graduado and he was already a well-respected and well-known Capoeirista. However, I did not have much time to fret as I was already standing in the middle of the roda listening to the rules of the game: best of three rounds; the competitor that managed to force the other out of the roda with tactical fighting and skillful game would win each round.

Then it began. I used all my force and kicked in every direction possible. But it was all in vain. Mestre Hulk was nailed to the ground. His base was rock solid and he took me out in the first round. Somehow in the second I managed to push him out of the roda but he came back fighting for glory in the third. At that point I realized that my size and strength were not particularly advantageous in that game and I resorted to using technique I had learned from Mestre Cabeça. I was amazed that pure technique allowed me to stretch the last round out to the fifth and final minute. However I was hit by a pisão (chapa) that awarded Mestre Hulk the game. As I listened to the presentation of the trophies, unhappy with my loss, I assured myself I had not lost to just anyone but to Mestre Hulk – a great Capoeirista. However when my name was announced as a Capoeirista who had used the best technique, my heart started to jump and I could not contain the emotions that started whizzing through my body.

When I reflect on my life as a Capoeirista, it hurts me to think that I made jokes about this art form that has given me so much. It has allowed me to travel the world, given me strength and courage, cured me of disease and opened the door for many long lasting friendships. For that I thank God and Capoeira itself. I on the other hand, gave it nothing more than hard training but wish that I could give it so much.

Luis Carlos da Silva (Mestre Lotar),?Rio de Janeiro

He got his capoeira name for his swift movements. In capoeira, his life journey started in a street of Itaguai, Rio de Janeiro, in 1980 when he saw a “roda de capoeira” for the first time. He walked the streets of many countries for capoeira. He is currently living in Manila, the Philippines, continuing his journey to fan the flames of passion for capoeira. PHOTO

Renato Gomes de Reis, known as “Mestre Torpedo”, was introduced to Capoeira in 1980 in a small town called Itaguai in the Brazilian state of Rio de Janeiro. He was walking in the street when he saw a Roda de Capoeira for the first time and was immediately amazed by the show, music and rhythm. From then on he kept on going more and more times to assists the Rodas. Traveling 40 minutes on dirt roads on bicycle, subject to rain, no lighting, always carrying with him his ambition to proceed with his journey.

It was then that Mestre Decio noticed the persistence of the child and invited him to learn Capoeira. Due to his lack of funds, he contributed by arriving earlier to clean stages, carry instruments etc. Gradually, he got to know other masters from the same linkage as Mestre Decio (Mestre Sarte, Mestre Acro-iris, etc), all of them are disciples of Mestre Georio who in turn was one of disciple of Mestre Bimba.

With 2 years experiences “student Torpedo” was introduced to Mestre Cabeça in a great Batizado event where masters bring their students, and he was rewarded the “Torpedo” nickname due to his swift and precise movement performance. In the age of 14, he was relocated together with his family to Campo Grande where he continues his career to Mestre Cabeça.

He started participating in various events in the tourist center of Ilha Grande, Ilha Martins, Ilha das Cabras, and numerous Rodas and Batizados all over Brazil (Roda da Quinta da Boavista, Encontro Itaguai, Roda da Lapa, Roda de Pé, Roda Preto Velho, etc). In 1992 he started his international tour in Spain (Madrid, Tenerife, Canary Island), Argentina, etc with one of the most respected event company in Brazil called Plataforma 1. In 1993 he started a Capoeira School along with his brother “Cicatriz” and later continued his career in Japan for 6 months.

In 1999 he had his Mater Level along with his brother “Mestre Cicatriz” and Mestre Binha. He returned to Brazil in 2004 and together with Mestre Cabeça, Mestre Lotar and Mestre Binha they traveling throughout Brazil. He has been promoting Capoeira in other regions of Asia mainly Thailand (2005 – 2008), Taiwan, Indonesia, Maldives and Cambodia.

Mestre Torpedo currently living in the Manila, Philippine since November 2008. This is where he plans to continue his life’s journey to fan the flames of passion for Capoeira in the hearts of Filipinos as he promises to elevate their game by seeing great potential in Filipinos abilities and make them worthy family members of Internacional Sinhá Bahia de Capoeira.

Robston Mateus da Silva started learning capoeira in 1976, when he was 14 years old. Mestre Binha believes that capoeira can play an important role in social life, that's why he strives to spread the art to various levels of the society. He is involved in many social projects in the state of Minas Gerais, Brazil.

Eu Robston Mateus Da Silva conhecido nas Rodas de Capoeira como Mestre Binha Me iniciei na Capoeira em 1976 aos 14 anos. Em 1990 me tornei a contra-Mestre pelo Mestre Dunga que tambem era Mestre do Mestre Chuvisco.Em busca de novos horizontes e novos comhecimentos,fui para o Rio de Janeiro, Com o tempo junto do Mestre Cabeça presidente da associaçao Grupo Bahia. Em 1999 me tornei a Mestre pelo Mestre Cabeça,Logo em seguida prosseguir para uma turne na Europa e Ásia. Atualmente estou em Belo horizonte com varios projetos Estaduais,Municipais e Federais na área social,me tornei diretor da FEDERAÇÃO ESTADUAL DE CAPOEIRA em MG. A grande uniao do grupo SINHÁ CAPOEIRA E o Grupo BAHIA transformou-se em ASSOCIAÇÃO SINHÁ BAHIA DE CAPOEIRA atuando no Brasil,Australia, Indonesia,Tailandiae Malasia dirigido pelos ilustres Mestres; MESTRE CABEÇA, MESTRE CICATRIZ, MESTRE TORPEDO E MESTRE LOTAR. PHOTO