Mestre Bimba

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Manuel dos Reis Machado (born November 23, 1899 in Salvador da Bahia , Brazil, † February 5, 1974 in Goiânia ), also known as Mestre Bimba , was a Brazilian Capoeira master and founder of the Capoeira Regional style .

The beginning

In Brazil, at the beginning of the 20th century, the hunted down for those who practiced African rites ( candomblé , umbanda , capoeira etc.) There were dreaded police cavalry squadrons, which also had Capoeira fighters in their ranks. In the last century there was the terrorist “Black Guard” ( Guarda Negra ) in Rio , which fought against the Republicans to protect the monarchy. During this time Manuel dos Reis Machado grew up with Capoeira.

He began to train with the African Bentinho when he was about 12 years old, and at the age of 18 he was already teaching himself. But he developed the traditional Capoeira Angola further, combined it with other elements and structured his training in a way that was previously unknown among the Capoeiristas was.

Luta Regional Baiana

Getúlio Vargas took power in Brazil in 1930. At that time, Capoeira was still forbidden and was sometimes severely punished. Nevertheless, Mestre Bimba opened the first Capoeira school in Brazil in Salvador in 1937. There he taught his modified Capoeira and gave it the name "Luta Regional Baiana" (regional fight from Bahia). He took part in public fights and demonstrations with his students in order to make Capoeira better known and to ensure more acceptance. He was even allowed to show his sport in front of the then President of Brazil, Getúlio Dornelles Vargas. He was enthusiastic and later made sure that the ban on Capoeira was lifted. Bimba taught his Luta Regional Baiana , later known as Capoeira Regional, and was considered invincible in his day. Mestre Bimba was also nicknamed três pancadas ("three blows"). He was the first to introduce methodical training. This included exercises such as Seqüências , Cinturas and Desprezadas / Balãos . He also created a graduation system and special courses for his advanced students.

The nine rules of Mestre Bimba

  1. Smoking during exercise is prohibited.
  2. Do not drink. Alcohol inhibits the metabolism of the muscles.
  3. Don't try to impress your friends with capoeira outside of the roda . Always remember that in a fight, your best friend is the surprise.
  4. Don't talk while exercising. Use the time to watch the others.
  5. Always work with the ginga .
  6. Practice the basic exercises daily.
  7. Don't be afraid to get close to the enemy. With closer play you learn more.
  8. Eliminate any unnecessary tension in the body.
  9. Better to be beaten in the roda than in the street.

The last few years

This was followed by a period of intensive Capoeira practice with demonstrations and fights all over Brazil in front of large audiences. The master also came to Goiania, where he felt so comfortable that he and his family moved there. Many offers and promises were made to him, but they were often not kept, so that he did not have an easy life in Goiania. He died of a stroke just a year after moving. His body was brought back to his hometown of Salvador years later.

Web links

Individual evidence

  1. ↑ Mestre Bimba - Information from ABADÁ Capoeira
  2. ↑ Mestre Bimba - Mestre Bimbas biography of Filhos de Bimba
  3. ↑ Note: The entry in the birth register is only made in 1900, which is why this is also mentioned as the year of birth in the literature.
personal data
SURNAME Mestre Bimba
ALTERNATIVE NAMES Machado, Manuel dos Reis
BRIEF DESCRIPTION Brazilian capoeirista
DATE OF BIRTH November 23, 1899
PLACE OF BIRTH Salvador da Bahia , Brazil
DATE OF DEATH 5th February 1974
Place of death Goiânia