Mestre Boneco

One of three founding masters of Grupo Capoeira Brasil. He lives in Los Angeles where he is president and principle instructor of CBLA, the North American headquarters for Grupo Capoeira Brasil. Mestre Boneco is also the artistic director of Bencão Brasil, a non-profit Brazilian cultural organization that teaches and performs Capoeira throughout Southern California and offers training scholarships for under resourced youth.

Mestre Boneco

Mestre Boneco began training Capoeira at the age of eleven with Grupo Senzala in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil. In 1989, after 19 years of dedicated training, he was recognized for his outstanding achievement in the Capoeira community and awarded his black belt by a council of Brazil’s most distinguished masters. Mestre Boneco's black belt is also recognized by the Brazilian Capoeira Federation. After receiving his black belt, Mestre Boneco, along with Mestres Paulinho Sabia and Paulão, founded Grupo Capoeira Brasil, an organization that would later become one of the largest Capoeira groups in the world.

Mestre Boneco’s 37 years of experience include teaching workshops in the world’s leading universities, presenting seminars and talks at many international fitness and cultural conferences, and the production of over 20 international Capoeira festivals. Today he supervises over 70 graduated instructors with programs in South and North America, Australia, Europe, and Asia. Mestre Boneco also supervises instructors teaching at UCLA, LMU, and Cal State LA as well as Capoeira projects in various Southern California public, private, and charter schools.