In addition to celebrating Mestra’s milestone, we’re also celebrating the 70th birthday of Mestre Camisa, one of the most influential figures in modern capoeira. Born in Rio de Janeiro, Mestre Camisa trained under the legendary Mestre Bimba before emerging as an artist, teacher, and leader whose vision reshaped the global practice of capoeira.
In 1988, he founded ABADÁ-Capoeira, and we are now one of the largest capoeira organizations in the world, active in over 60 countries. Guided by his philosophy of blending tradition with innovation, Mestre Camisa created a structured methodology that honors capoeira’s Afro-Brazilian roots while making its music, movement, and philosophy accessible to new generations.
His legacy is not only measured in the tens of thousands of students who have trained under ABADÁ, but also in the culture of respect, discipline, and community that the organization embodies.
Mestre Camisa has been a guiding light for us in San Francisco since our beginning. Our President and Artistic Director Mestra Márcia Cigarra brought his teachings to the Bay Area in 1991, laying the foundation for what has become one of the most respected capoeira schools in the United States.
ABADÁ-Capoeira exists worldwide because of his leadership, and our roda here in San Francisco is a living testament to his dream. Parabéns, Mestre Camisa! Axé!