Mestre Boneco began training Capoeira at the age of eleven with Grupo Senzala in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil. In 1989, after 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 Capoeira Brasil, an organization that would later become one of the largest Capoeira groups in the world.
In 1998, Mestre Boneco moved to Los Angeles and opened Capoeira Brasil’s North American headquarters: CBLA. Under the guidance of Mestre Boneco, CBLA and its non-profit partner, Benção Brasil, have grown tremendously, hosting annual festivals, youth events, art exhibits, and parties. With satellite classes, youth programs, free community programming, teaching residencies, and public and private performances, CBLA is an artist/athlete community whose work is well known throughout Southern California.
Mestre Boneco’s 45 plus years of experience includes teaching workshops in the world’s leading universities, presenting seminars and talks at many international fitness and cultural conferences, and the production of over 30 international Capoeira festivals. Teaching is his passion! Today he supervises over 100 graduated teachers with programs in South and North America, Australia, Europe, and Asia.
Mestre Boneco and CBLA have been featured on CNN, FOX news, ABC, NBC, KTLA, Telemundo and Univision news shows. He was featured on “Extra Hollywood” and VH1’s “Hollywood’s Hardest Bodies.” In print, Mestre Boneco and his group have graced the pages of Men’s Fitness, SELF, and The Los Angeles Times. And in the entertainment industry, Mestre Boneco has choreographed and trained actors for various motion pictures, national commercials, and stage productions.
Most recently, Mestre Boneco produced and hosted an eight part documentary series on Capoeira around the world and has returned to Brazil to focus on projects in his native Rio de Janeiro.
