Capoeira Evolução History
Capoeira is a martial art of Afro-Brazilian origin. It is distinguished by its incorporation of acrobatic and dance movements as well as the integration of music into its practice. A capoeira match or “jogo” takes place within a circle of players called a “roda.” As members of the roda sing and play instruments, two players, called “capoeiristas,” enter and begin to spar. In the jogo, typically, there is as much emphasis on the style and expressiveness of the players as on their martial prowess. The majority of strikes involve the feet and blows are evaded rather than blocked. The result is a flowing, rhythmic and dynamic martial art.
Group Lineage
Reinaldo Ramos Suassuna
Mestre Suassuna was born in Bahia and began training capoeira as an adolescent. After achieving the rank of Mestre, he moved to São Paulo in the south of Brazil. There, in the 1960s, he formed his influential group Cordão de Ouro. Mestre Suassuna is one of the most famous of contemporary capoeira mestres. He has traveled extensively throughout Brazil, the United States, Europe and beyond, participating in events, giving exhibitions and workshops. Mestre Suassuna continues to make his home and lead his group in São Paulo.
Jurema
Mestre Jurema (Ezion Medeiros de Castro) was a student of Mestre Suassuna. He studied in São Paulo for several years and after receiving his Mestre title he moved to Campinas where he opened the “Academia de Capoeira Senhor do Bonfim” with Wilton Pereira.
Wilton Pereira
Mestre “Sapo” Wilton trained with Mestre Suassuna in São Paulo. After he moved to Campinas, Mestre Wilton studied under the supervision of Mestre Jurema. He was awarded the title of Mestre in 1984 during a batizado in Campinas, São Paulo.
Mestre
RODRIGO ZERLOTT
Mestre Rodrigo is originally from the town of Campinas in São Paulo state. He began training capoeira at the age of 13. Under Mestre Wilton, he achieved the cordão troncado of contra-mestre at the age of 20 and began teaching in various locations in the city of São Paulo. In November 1990 he emigrated to Austin, Texas and began teaching in the fall of 1991. During a return trip to Brazil in 1996, he was awarded the white corda of Mestre.
Contra Mestre Pena
Corey Goodman
Contra Mestre Pena began to practice with Mestre Rodrigo at the age of 12 and has been training for the last 15 years in technique, music, history and the roots of capoeira culture.
In 2001 Pena took his first trip to Brazil, where he trained under Mestre Wilton Pereira (Mestre Rodrigo’s mestre) and Mestre Mauro Gomez (Capoeira Berimbau) as well as various other mestres in the São Paulo and Campinas areas of Brazil. The following year Pena began to teach as an instructor and in 2004 he made another trip to Brazil for 4 months of travel, training, and learning Portuguese. He trained with several mestres along the way. Upon his return to the U.S. he was invited to do a 2-week workshop in Michigan Technological University, where he taught capoeira music, culture and history.
When he returned to Austin he began to teach capoeira full-time for the next 3 years and went to college as a film student. In 2007 Mestre Rodrigo graduated Pena to the level of Professor and since then he has been in countless events, workshops and batizados all over the U.S. In November of 2007 he moved to Florianopolis, Brazil where he continued to train capoeira. In March 2010 he received his title of Contra Mestre under Mestre Rodrigo’s tutelage. He returned to the U.S. in 2013 and settled in Fort Lauderdale, Florida.
Contra Mestre Metido
Alex Rodriguez
Contra Mestre Metido began capoeira at the early age of eleven with Mestre Rodrigo Zerlotti. Since beginning his training, Contra Mestre Metido has dedicated himself to learning the art of capoeira and teaching it with as much accuracy on technique and tradition as possible.
His time is now devoted to the growth of capoeira and its cultural diversity in Austin, Tx.
In 2001 he took his first trip to Brazil to train under Mestre Wilton Peiria (Mestre Rodrigo’s Mestre) and Mestre Mauro Gomes (Grupo Capoeira Berimbau) as well as several other mestres in the São Paulo and Campinas area of Brazil. Upon returning from Brazil, Contra Mestre Metido began to teach alongside his good friend Contra Mestre Pena (Corey Goodman) at the level of instructor and is still continually looking for methods to learn and to grow in this complex art form.
After Mestre Rodrigo’s return to Brazil in 2005, Metido spent a year training with Mestre Fran (Capoeira Maculele) in order to progress his Contemporary style of Capoeira and continues to train all styles of Capoeira (Angola, Regional, Contemporânea). Since then he has devoted his time and effort to keeping the Capoeira Evolução group growing in Austin and has taken leadership of the group.
In March 2010 he received his title of Contra Mestre under Mestre Rodrigo’s tutelage. He is currently in charge of Capoeira Evolução Austin and devotes his time to traveling, teaching workshops, and performing.
Instrutor Negro
Felipe A. Roberson
Instrutor Negro has dedicated his life to being an athlete. His first sport was Track & Field, which he started as a child, and he discovered baseball soon after. He played baseball for 12 years, eventually becoming a professional center fielder. From there he went into intense training for triathlons. In the spring of 2005, Negro first encountered capoeira. From the moment he stepped into his first Ginga, he knew he had found his true athletic and professional calling. After studying capoeira for one semester at a satellite school in Corpus Christi, Negro relocated to Austin to train directly with Mestre Rodrigo and Capoeira Evolução. Besides training with Mestre Rodrigo, Negro has trained extensively with Contra Mestre Metido and Contra Mestre Pena. He has also trained with various Mestres, Contra Mestres, Professores, and Instutores across the USA, Puerto Rico, and Brasil. In 2014, Negro earned the rank of Instrutor, the first professional cord in the sport. Also in 2014, he won All-Around Tournament Champion of the ICAPF Texas.
Negro is highly active in Capoeira Evolução, teaching adult, children’s and community classes. He plans to expand the Capoeira Evolução flag by starting a studio of his own in the Austin area in the near future. Negro continues to refine his teaching and philosophy as he grows in his own knowledge of and dedication to the practice of capoeira.
Graduado Castor
Arturo Catalan
Graduado Castor started training at Capoeira Evolucao in 2006, under Mestre Rodrigo. A year later, Castor’s son joined the group as an enthusiastic seven-year old. In 2014, Castor earned the title of Graduado, and also took 2nd Place in the ICAP Capoeira Competition. Today, both father and son continue to train and teach under the Capoeira Evolucao flag with Contra Mestre Metido north part of Austin. Due to distance of his home Castor began to teach up north of town to spread capoeira to the north community. Besides teaching he also travels regularly, and continues to hone his understanding of capoeira not only as a martial art, but as a philosophy.