Our roots · Salvador, Bahia
Mestre Bimba
A legacy that moves us.
A legacy that moves us. Explore the teacher behind Capoeira Regional and the roots of our teaching lineage.
01 / A new way to teach
Tradition. Discipline. Possibility.
Manoel dos Reis Machado, known as Mestre Bimba, developed Capoeira Regional in Salvador, Bahia. His teaching brought together elements of Capoeira and batuque, with structured sequences, musical knowledge, and a clear approach to learning.
He opened his academy in 1932 and secured its official registration in 1937. His work helped expand public recognition of Capoeira as an expression of Afro-Brazilian culture.
A method for learning
Sequences give students a foundation for movement, timing, and playing with a partner.
Music at the center
Berimbau rhythms and songs are part of the practice, not a background soundtrack.
A living legacy
Knowledge continues through teachers, students, and the relationships built in the roda.
The rhythm carries forward.
02 / From teacher to student
Our connection to this history.
Mestre Bimba → Mestre Acordeon → Mestre Dondi “Enxu” → Mestre Besouro.
Mestre Bimba died in 1974. His influence continues through the people who study, teach, and carry Capoeira Regional into new generations.
Explore our UCA lineage →Historical reference: Fundação Mestre Bimba.