About Pelicano

I would like to say that my Capoeira philosophy, my experience and the people who have been with me have given me the ability to get to where I am with capoeira.

I started Capoeira at 12 years old in the area of Barracao in the street Agnelo de Brito Boca do Rio with Mestre No and Contra Mestre Nilson from Capoeira Palmares. That was around 1979 and to be honest I had no idea what I was doing, but I enjoyed it and at that time I was around great capoeristas like Bira Gaguinho, Bralio, Macaiada, China, Mao Branca, Ivan Chefe Cara Feia, Neguinho, Mestre Dalmo, and others, of whom many are now around the world doing Capoeira workshops.

Due to family problems I moved back to the neighbourhood were I was born called Nordeste de Amaralina and looked for a place to learn more Capoeira, as I did not want stop. This is when I met with Mestre Bozo (who is now the leader of the Associação de Capoeira Regional da Bahia group in Salvador and living in France) with whom I took my first steps in Capoeira Regional. That was in 1984 until 1990, and during this time I got my 1st, 2nd and 3rd graduation belt, and took part in a Capoeira tournament and performance among other things. From there I was given my Capoeira name by my Capoeira godfather (Padrinho de Capoeira) Mestre Tico Camaliao, which was thought up by capoeirista Mainar and Professora Cuanha, who today train and teach with the Filhos de Bimba and Mestre Nenel. I have had great time training with many good capoeristas from the Associação de Capoeira Regional da Bahia, like Zumbi, Bozo Branco, Falcao, Bilu, Café, Crocodilho as today with Filhos de Bimba, Ninha, Rizadinha, Dourado, Mestre Mico, and others. From 1986 to 1987 I trained capoeira regional for around 4 months with Mestre Braz who was one of Mestre Bimba’s students but then came back to training with Mestre Bozo.

In 1989 I met Professor Estagiario Truvao, who is today Mestre Truvao, who invited me to train with Filhos de Bimba at his nucleus on Engenho Velho de Federaçao. In the end of 1990 Mestre Truvao lost his training space and had to separate his students between two others: Mestre Nenel and Professor Saguin. I decided to train with Mestre Nenel in GAG in the area of Amaralina because it was near where I was living. In 1991 I got my 4th graduation belt and trained to teach Capoeira with the permission of Mestre Nenel in the neighbourhood of Barra in a kind of community hall called Sede do Amazonas, and a gym called Palm Spring in Parque Julio Seza Pituba.

After 1991 I started to take Capoeira very seriously and graduated as a Capoeira teacher (blue scarf) on 23rd April 1995, in which my opponent was Professor Crocodilho, alongside a total of 4 people so Professores: Pelicano, Crocodilho, Preguiça, and Macaquinho.

On 26th July 1998 I received the red scarf, which is a kind of specialisation course based on self-defence, fighting against more than one person and getting in and out of a place or dangerous situation. As part of this course I had to go to the forest and to do a confrontation on ambush against 3, 4 or up to 8 people. Mestre Nenel made the course in the same way that Mestre Bimba used to do it. Crocodilho and Priguiça also participated in that course.

On 21st November 2004 I received the yellow scarf, which is a course to learn how to attack and defend using weapons, and how to handle all aspects of a dangerous situation, including how to defuse it without weapons or violence. That yellow scarf means I became what is known as “Contra Mestre” in the general vocabulary of capoeira, except in Filhos de Bimba Escola de Capoeira where we only use the title “Professor” for all levels after the blue scarf.

So following the Capoeira tradition I have achieved all levels except the white scarf, which is the level to achieve the name of Mestre Charangueiro as it is known in the tradition of Mestre Bimba that is followed by Mestre Nenel.

During that time I took part in Mestre Bimba’s Sequencia Tournament, of which I was champion N 1 in July 1993, and the Sintura Desprezada Tournament, where on 6th March 1993 I was also N 1.

I have also coordinated the musical aspects of a Changara Tournament, which resulted in the recording of the CD Resistencia by Mestre Nenel.

I was one of the participants of the Project Capoeré in which I taught Capoeira to kids in Vasco da Gama Buraco da Gia, SIAC Alto de Ondina, and SIAC San Martin, from 1995 to 1998. The project was managed by Fred Abrel and coordinated by Mestre Nenel and Professor Saguin.

I have also taken part in a Berimbau workshop with Mestre Nenel and after that course I have given 5 or 6 Berimbau workshops, a Sequencia Tournament plus various Capoeira workshops in London, Edinburgh, Wales, Chillingham Dorset, Antwerp and a lot of places in the North East and Newcastle

I have organised a lot of Capoeira nickname ceremonies (or ‘Batisado’ as it is known in Brazil, meaning baptism) as well as Brazilian parties in Newcastle that bring the real traditions of Capoeira life and Brazilian people to Newcastle. As part of this I have also organised performances of Macunlele, Puxada de Rede and Samba Capoeira, with university students and in class with primary schools, middle schools, and high schools.

I have been living in Newcastle for around 8 years and have done a lot of work, including with a lot of students who learned Capoeira with me and have helped me a lot, so I would like to give my special to thanks to:

Professora Pombinha, Monitor Batuque, Monitor Topera, Balinha, Faisca and other good capoeiristas like Spinho, Calango, Trator, Furação, Jubinha, Pinguin, Tigre, Talisca, Talisman, Safira, Falcao, Torpedo, Curuja, Curinga, Cabelinho, Gigante, Serpente, Cigana, Gira Sol, Sereia, Gafonhoto, Andurinha, Abelha, Bonequinha, Jagunço, Capitão Caverna, Branca de Neve, Ferruge and many more.

The fight never stops, however, in giving to new people my experience of Filhos de Bimba and Brazilian Culture to these people and Europe.

Professor Pelicano.