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 the original form of Capoeira as a spiritual, cultural and martial art rather than simply a sport. He opened the Centro Esportivo de Capoeira Angola in 1941, 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 practised worldwide today.