Master Bimba (1899/1974) and the Regional Capoeira

Manuel dos Reis Machado, the Master Bimba, was born in 1899, in Salvador, Bahia. 12 years old, he initiated himself on Capoeira, with the an african, Bentinho, a graduated sailor. That time, Capoeira was pursued. Bimba tells: "Capoeira was thing for heavy workers and street people". "I was one of them."

Master Bimba was the first capoeira practitioner to be received by Brazilian President, Getulio Vargas. Throughout his life, Master Bimba became one of great responsibles ones that made capoeira more known and accepted in the society. He also created a new style on capoeira, called Regional. Indeed, he created first method to teach capoeira.

The Regional Capoeira has a well-defined pattern to be trained and learned. It seems too more as a fight and also it is very pretty to see, because it involves a lot of acrobatics. Due on rhythm and music played game is faster, violent or slower and calm. The full original sequence of Regional education is formed with 17 blows, where each pupil executes 154 movements and each pair, 308.