Capoeira

Capoeira was created by slaves taken from Africa to Brazil in the 16th century. It combines martial arts, dance, music and ritual-like play.

The specific origins are unclear, but many believe Capoeira developed when the slaves disguised fighting moves as dance to avoid punishment. Even after Brazil abolished slavery in 1888, Capoeira was associated with a criminal underclass and practised illegally.

Manuel dos Reis Machado, known as Mestre Bimba, started learning Capoeira aged 12. As a young man he began to restore movements from traditional Capoeira fights and developed his own teaching method known as Capoeira Regional. Bimba eventually won approval from the authorities and in 1932, he opened the first Capoeira academy in Salvador, Bahia.

In the mid-1970s, Capoeira Mestres began to emigrate and teach Capoeira in the United States. Today, Capoeira groups are found the world over and attract students from all ages, backgrounds and nationalities.

Abolição Oxford Capoeira and Contra-Mestre Negão

José Luis Correia do Patrocínio ('Negão') was born in Salvador, Bahia on 31st October 1968.

In 1985 he began to learn street capoeira with his friends of the Rua Alto do Abaeté in Itapuã, Salvador.

Negão was graduated to Contra Mestre in 2005, and has been developing his work in Oxford, England. Here he founded Abolição Oxford Capoeira, with the philosophy of Capoeira Regional. He has organised workshops and classes in Universities and Colleges and in other European countries.

Negão founded The Abolição Trust in 2005 with his students and wife Suzette.