Mestre Pastinha

Mestre Pastinha (Vicente Ferreira Pastinha, 1889–1981) was the guardian and greatest champion of Capoeira Angola—the traditional, African-rooted style of Capoeira. Born in Salvador, Bahia, Pastinha dedicated his life to preserving Capoeira in its original form as a spiritual, cultural, and martial art rather than merely a sport. In 1941, he opened the Centro Esportivo de Capoeira Angola, which became the home of traditional Capoeira. Pastinha and Mestre Bimba represent the two great pillars of Capoeira—Angola (traditional) and Regional (modern)—and together, their legacies define the art as it is practiced worldwide today.