Mestre Railson Railson do Carmo Domingues was born on October 15th, 1967 in Arraial d'Ajuda, in Port Seguro.
He was introduced to Capoeira in Porto Seguro at the age of 12 by his father. He had never seen a Roda before and was
excited to see people training with such high energy and intensity. The teacher at the time was Mestre Estrela. Mestre Railson trained under
Mestre Estrela for a couple of months. Mestre Estrela left and the academy soon closed. Mestre Railson then trained alone in Arraial learning
from travelers. He started to teach at random improvised location such as houses, beaches, grassy areas or parks. In five years, he acquired 20 students.
However they had no graduations nor a formal training facility.
Before Mestre Railson went to Belo Horizonte, he stopped by Salvador to try to join the army. He went to Pelourinho e ao Mercado Modelo,
but the capoeira that he saw there was not the capoeira that he desired. There the capoeira was more structured for the entertainment of tourists.
Mestre Railson was looking for something with more organization and dedication. However, at that time he did not know that in Salvador there were other
academies. So, in Belo Horizonte, he did not even look for capoeira and therefore did not know what they had there. He just went there to travel and
ended up in Praca da Liberdade where they were known to have the biggest capoeira rodas at that time. From there he started to learn about more academies.
In one of those academies, he met Mestre Mao Branca. His work, the level of his capoeira students, and their dedication impressed him.
Mestre Railson played in the roda in this academy and afterwards talked to Mestre Mao Branca and started to train there.
Mestre Railson stayed about three months training and learning capoeira. Then, he went to the national capoeira meeting in Ouro Preto.
There Mestre Railson obtained the first 2 levels( green and green/yellow) of his school at this point.
He then came back to Arraial, quit his job, and went deep into capoeira. On Oct 12, 1987 Mestre Railson started his own academy and dedication 24 hours a day to capoeira. He started to go to Belo Horizonte once a year to train and graduate. In 1990, He did his first Batizado in Porto Seguro with Mestre Mao Branco and other important Mestres. At this Batizado, his mestre gave him the Blue Cordao which represents Professor. He received his Contre Mestre Cordao in 1992, and in 1995 he became a master at the first international meeting of Capoeira Gerais. In 2005 Mestre Mao Branca graduate him with the second level of Master( White & Yellow) Link to Mestre Railson's Main Website in Brasil 
William Douglas Guimaraes, Mestre Mão Branca, was born in Belo Horizonte on the 14th of April 1960 and began playing Capoeira in the mid-70's with Mestre Jacaré (Crocodile), who he trained with for one year before moving to Rio de Janeiro and training with Mestre Gigante (Giant) for many years. It was at this time that, on a cold day when he was playing in a Roda with white gloves, that he earned the nickname “Mão Branca”, or “White hand.”
He was graduated as a Capoeira Master in 1985, and upon his return to Belo Horizonte, he founded Capoeira Gerais. Mestre Mão Branca dedicated himself to using Capoeira Gerais to better the lives of children in disadvantaged neighborhoods as well as to develop and promote Capoeira in Brazil and in the world. The Capoeira Gerais group has branches in more than 20 schools in Brazil as well as Switzerland, Germany, Spain, Chile, the U.S, and many others.
In 1992, Mestre Mão Branca was awarded the “Diploma of Honor for Merit in Sports” from the Municipal Chamber of Belo Horizonte, but also the title of “Illustrious Citizen of Belo Horizonte” for his social work with the communities of the state of Minas Gerais. He is also the President and founder of the Minas Gerais Capoeira Federation and co-founder of the Brazilian Capoeira Confederation. He still works to promote Capoeira through workshops, seminars and classes in Brazil and the rest of the world, being one of today's greatest representatives of this art.
In 2005 he graduate branco azul the 3rd Mestre's Level in our group.
Manoel dos Reis Machado was born on 23rd November 1899, in the neighbourhood of Brotas, Engenho Velho, in the city of Salvador,
state of Bahia, the son of Luis Candido Machado, batuque artist, and Dona Maria Martinha do Bonfim.
His capoeira name, Mestre Bimba, arose from a bet between his mother and the midwife as to whether he would be a boy or a girl.
Being a boy, he had a Bimba, referring to his masculine genital organs.
Mestre Bimba had various professions, but confirmed himself as a Master of Capoeira. At that time capoeiristas were marginalised. The police sergeant, Pedro de Araujo Gordilho, 'Pedrito' was for a long time the fear of Bahian capoeiristas, who began to hide themselves and disguise their capoeira, being seen merely as folklore. The fighting capoeiristas, feared, loyal and with technique gave way to the pseudo-angolan capoeira dancers. Only a few kicks remained, no more than nine, and the ginga. Feeling that capoeira was losing its characteristics, he, possessing a creative spirit and great intelligence, decided to create a particular method, known today as Regional Baiana. Excellent practitioner of capoeira and intimate with Batuque (ancient art of fighting now disused), Mestre Bimba became the great name of capoeira, being the image itself of the fight. In 1932 he founded the first specialised academy, in Engenho Velho de Brotas. At this time he also taught in people's homes, in the 'Roca do Lobo'. On 9th June 1937, he registered his Capoeira School with the Secretary of Education, Health and Public Assistance with the name : Centro de Cultura Fisica e Regional, becoming the first authorised academy to lecture capoeira. In 1939 he taught 'regional' in the army base of the CPOR. He established his second academy in 1942. On 23rd July 1953, when the President Getulio Vargas watched in the Palacio da Aclamacao, together with Dr Regis Pachecho, then Governor of Bahia, a presentation of capoeira regional by Mestre Bimba. The President confirmed that capoeira was a unique and truly national sport. He also administered his course in colleges and army and military police headquarters. In 1968 he commemorated 50 years of Capoeira Regional. The II Symposium of Capoeira took place in 1968. Mestre Bimba appeared at the event and returned before the end, disappointed. President Medice helped him in Goiania in 1971 during the Expo / Goias. In 1973 he moved to Goiania where he died, victim of a stroke followed by a heart attack, on the 5th February 1974. His remains were taken to Salvador in 1978, being installed in Jazigo no. 194 of 3rd Order of the Carmo in the Historical Centre on 5th February 1994. 
Vicente Ferreira Pastinha, son of Jose Senor Pastinha and Raimunda dos Santos, was born on April 5, 1889, in Salvador, Bahia, Brazil.
He began Capoeira when he was 10 years old with Negro Bentinho, who had watched Pastinha through his window, losing fights to
boys older than him. This made Negro Bentinho decide to teach Pastinha how to use the movement, entrances and escapes of Capoeira.
Mestre Pastinha did a little bit of everything. He joined the Marines for 8 years, he was a painter, a poet, practiced fencing, played soccer, was a shoe-shiner, a philosopher, a tailor, security at a casino, a music composer, but he always felt a strong attraction, in his heart, to Capoeira. When asked what the importance of Capoeira was for him he answered: "I was born for Capoeira, I love to play Capoeira, it's the only thing I will be left with when I die." In 1910, when Pastinha was 21 years old he opened his first academy in a place called Bigode in Campo da Polvora. In 1941 he moved his academy to a large space in the Historical Center of Pelourinho. Here Pastinha adopted the colors black and yellow, for his Capoeira uniforms, those were the colors of his favorite soccer team, Ypiranga. It was there, in his academy in Pelourinho, that Pastinha taught his technique and wisdom. He showed Capoeira to tourists from all over the world. In 1964 with the help of his good friend, and famous author, Jorge Amado, Pastinha published his first book called Capoeira Angola. 
Pastinha represented Capoeira in various states in Brazil and formed part of the delegation that represented Brazil in the first
Festival of Black Art in Senegal, Africa in 1966. In 1973, at 84 years of age, Pasinha, already famous witin and outside of Brazil,
was kicked out of the space he had used for his academy for 32 years by the state government. They transformed what had been a rich and
strong center of Capoeira into a restuarant.
This expropriation was the most difficult event for Mestre Pastinha. He was forced to move out of his academy with his wife, daughter and three grandchildren, to a small room in the Alfredo Britto street where he lived his last years forgotten. He expressed his frustration in these words: "This wood bench is all that I have. Today I am convinced that I was tricked. I gave it my all, but the truth is that I was used. No matter what, if I were to be born again, I would choose the same life: Capoeria." His wife Maria Romelia Costa Oliveira took care of him until he died. Mestre Pastinha had his first stroke on May 1978, and a second one, one month later. In 1980 he was tranferred to Dom Pedro II, a home for senior citizens. There, with many other old people and his wife, Mestre Pastinha died on November 13, 1981. He was buried in Campo Santo Cementery, on the same day. During his funeral, to accompany him in his final dream, the soft sound of berimbaus were played. "However, we don't feel sad when we think about Pastinha because he so well represented the culture and life of Brazil. With people such as Pastinha, we learn and become really wise." --Jorge Amado-- 
c. 1600: Blacks who have escaped slave labour on the sugar plantations in Pernambuco found the maroon community, or quilombo, of Palmares in theSerra da Barriga hills. The population grows incessantly, later reaching 30 thousand. For the slaves, Palmares is the Promised Land. - 1630: The Dutch invade the Northeast of Brazil. - 1644: Just as the Portuguese failed, the Dutch also fail in their attempt to destroy Palmares. - 1654: The Portuguese drive the Dutch out of the Northeast of Brazil. - 1655: Zumbi is born in one of the many settlements of Palmares. - 1662(?): Still a child, Zumbi is taken prisoner by soldiers and given to Father António Melo. He is baptised Francisco and later learns to help at mass and studies Portuguese and Latin. - 1670: Zumbi runs away and returns to Palmares. - 1675: In the battle against Portuguese soldiers commanded by Sergeant-Major Manuel Lopes, Zumbi shows himself to be a great warrior and military organiser. - 1678: Pedro Almeida, governor of the captaincy of Pernambuco, is more interested in the submission of Palmares than its destruction and approaches chief Ganga Zumba with a proposal of peace and freedom for all runaway slaves. Ganga Zumba accepts, but Zumbi is opposed to the idea; he cannot accept that some blacks should be free while others remain in slavery. - 1680: Zumbi becomes the leader of Palmares and commands the resistance movement against the Portuguese soldiers. - 1694: With the help of heavy artillery, Domingos Jorge Velho and Vieira de Mello lead the final attack against Cerca do Macaco, the main settlement of Palmares. Although wounded, Zumbi manages to escape. - November 20, 1695: Turned in by an old companion, Zumbi is hunted down, taken prisoner. He was killed and beheaded on the spot. His head was brought by the authorities to a public Plaza at the "vila do Recife" to show the people that he was not immortal. "Zumbi" is considered a national hero and warrior, a symbol of freedom; his name became a capoeira legend. 
Since he was a young boy, Manuel Henrique, son of Joao Grosso and Maria Haifa learned the secrets of capoeira in the street, with Mestre Alipio, in Santa Amrao da Purificacao. He was "baptized" into capoeira with the name "Besouro Manganga", (a large and dark species of maybug), for his flexibility and the ability to disappear when the time called for it. Strong, Black and with an adventurous spirit, he never worked in one place steadily , nor had a definitive profession. When the adversities were heavy and the advantage of the fight was with the opponent, Besouro would disappear "flying" without a trace. The belieft that he had supernatural power begam to grow. By train, by horse or on foot, depending on the circumstances, Besouro traveled from Santo Amaro to Maracanganha or vice versa, working on plantations, farms or mills. Mestre Cobrinha Verde, Besouro's cousin and capoeira student tells a story about him. One day unemployed, Besouro went to Colonia Mill (now called Santa Elizia), in Santa Amaro to look for work. He was authorized to work and beccame an employee there. One week later, on payday, the boss told all of the employees, that the work contract was "quebrado para Sao Caetano" (closed or broken for Saint Caetano). This saying was used during this time period to say that no one was going to get paid. Those who dared to challenge the boss were tied to a trunk of a tree, whipped and left there for 24 hours, but with Besouro, it was different. When the boss told him he would not pay him, Besouro grabbed him by the shirt and violently forced him to pay the money he owed him. Besouro was a revolutionary. He didn't like the police and was always involved in complications with them. More than once he used physical force to disarm the policemen. Once armed with their guns, he would use them to lock the policemen up in jail cells meant for criminals. One time, in Largo de Santa, one of the main squares of Santo Amaro, Besouro forced a soldier to drink such a large quantity of alcohol that he passed out on the ground. When the soldier woke up he went to his commander, Capitan Jose Costal, who designated 10 men to catch Besouro dead or alive. Besouro, hanging out in a local bar, had an intuition that the police were coming. He left the bar he was at and went to the main square. When the police arrived he walked up to the Christian cross that was in the square. He proceeded to spread his arms out like Jesus Christ and told the police he would not surrender to them. Violent shots were heard and the capoeirista fell to the ground. Capitan Jose Costa walked up to him and probed him with his gun, thinking the was was dead. Besouro, who was very much alive, to the great surprise of the Captain, grabbed his rifle from him. He then ordered all the policement to put down their guns and leave the square. They left unarmed and to the tune of Besouro singing a cheerful song. Besouro's fight and revolts were successive and much of the time he was in opposition with the police and owners of the farms and mill. While Besouro was working on Dr Zeca's plantation, the father of a young man called Memeu, he was marked to die. Dr. Zeca was an influential man, who wanted Besouro dead. He ordered Besouro, who didn't know how to read or write, to deliver a piece of mail to the administrator of Maracancalha mill, a friend of his. The piece of mail said: "Kill the man who is delivering this card." Dr Zeca's friend said very calmly to Besouro that he would stay the night and return to Dr. Zeca's with a response the following day. Early the next morning Besouro went to look for the man and was surrounded by a group of about 40 soldiers. They shot at him with a violent round of bullets. The capoeirista began to escape, dodgine bullets by moving his body to the rhythm of the guns. At this moment a man arrived called Eusebio de Quisaba, who violently stabbed Besouro with a knife made out of a special wood called "turcum". This wooden knife has significance in the African tradition of Candomble. Cancomble is a strong, religious tradition that was established in all Latin countries where there was commercial slave trade of Africans. The folklore says that this wood is the only way to kill a man whose body and spirit are "closed" to death. This idea that a person is unable to die was a characteristic associated with Besouro; a man that no bullet could enter. Manuel Henrique, Besouro Manganga, died in 1924, at the young age of 27, but lived on in two of his capoeira students Rafael Alves Franca, Mestre Cobrinha Verde and Siri de Mangue. Today Besouro is a capoeira symbol throughout all of Bahia. He is well known for his bravery and loyalty. The support he gave to those who were persecuted and oppressed by the police and owners of plantations was not forgotten. |
