The Professor: Mestre Chão

Chão discovered capoeira on the beaches of Itaipù, Niteroi (Rio de Janeiro, Brazil) at the age of 17. Fascinated by this acrobatic and playful sport, he began taking lessons in 1988 with Professor Arruda, now Mestre, trained by Mestre Peixinho.

Chão won his blue rope in 1993. His group then became the first group of students trained by Professor Arruda. This rope offers them the opportunity to give lessons under the guidance of their teacher. Chão therefore began at this time to make capoeira his profession and developed numerous works in different communities, schools and academies, thus gradually gaining in maturity and experience.

After a few years of working as a capoeira teacher, Chão decided to build his own course space in Pendotiba (Niteroi), a group that still exists today. In 1995, he won his green rope and in 1998, left for 3 months in Europe to learn about the development of capoeira abroad. Crossing several countries (Holland, France, Switzerland, Denmark), he participated in many shows, festivals and baptisms of European capoeira.

Back in Brazil, he began studying Physical Education at university to improve his teachings and continued to develop the work begun in his own academy. It was in 1999 that Chão obtained his purple rope (Trained teacher) and in 2000 he was offered the opportunity to travel to Europe again, through a tour of shows organized by Mestres Toni, Peixinho and Ramos, in Finland. It was on this occasion that he was offered to come and work in Lyon, within the association Cores Vivas, a group supervised by Maître Sorriso (Senzala Montpellier).

Professor Chão organizes, in June 2001, his first Capoeira Festival, during which the baptism and the change of rope of more than 50 students take place. During this festival, many renowned capoeiristas from Europe and Brazil are present: Mestre Sorriso, Mestre Henrique, Contra-Mestre Arruda, Contra-Mestre Grilo, Professor Timbalada, Professor Bruzzi, Professor Caracu, Professor Luciano, Professor Boa Vida, Instructores Sapeca and Cebolinha...

Professor Chão then directs an important work of capoeira throughout the Lyon region, but also in Burgundy (Châlon-sur-Saône, Dijon...) and actively participates in the development of capoeira.

In 2007, Professor Chaõ and Mestre Arruda organize the festival "20 years of Capoeira Senzala - Região Oceanica". This festival, which brings together more than 60 capoeiristas from Europe to Niteroi, allows Chão to receive his brown rope from Contra Mestre. On this occasion, his work in France was rewarded, among other things, by obtaining the blue rope from his highest-ranking French students.

In 2010, Contra Mestre Chão celebrates its tenth anniversary in Lyon and continues its work, now assisted by its “trained” students.             

He supervises many capoeira groups in the Rhône-Alpes region.

On August 5, 2012, Contra Mestre Chão received the red rope on  dedicating Mestre during an event organized in his honor in Niteroi.

The Professor: Mestre Chão

Chão discovered capoeira on the beaches of Itaipù, Niteroi (Rio de Janeiro, Brazil) at the age of 17. Fascinated by this acrobatic and playful sport, he began taking lessons in 1988 with Professor Arruda, now Mestre, trained by Mestre Peixinho.

Chão won his blue rope in 1993. His group then became the first group of students trained by Professor Arruda. This rope offers them the opportunity to give lessons under the guidance of their teacher. Chão therefore began at this time to make capoeira his profession and developed numerous works in different communities, schools and academies, thus gradually gaining in maturity and experience.

After a few years of working as a capoeira teacher, Chão decided to build his own course space in Pendotiba (Niteroi), a group that still exists today. In 1995, he won his green rope and in 1998, left for 3 months in Europe to learn about the development of capoeira abroad. Crossing several countries (Holland, France, Switzerland, Denmark), he participated in many shows, festivals and baptisms of European capoeira.

Back in Brazil, he began studying Physical Education at university to improve his teachings and continued to develop the work begun in his own academy. It was in 1999 that Chão obtained his purple rope (Trained teacher) and in 2000 he was offered the opportunity to travel to Europe again, through a tour of shows organized by Mestres Toni, Peixinho and Ramos, in Finland. It was on this occasion that he was offered to come and work in Lyon, within the association Cores Vivas, a group supervised by Maître Sorriso (Senzala Montpellier).

Professor Chão organizes, in June 2001, his first Capoeira Festival, during which the baptism and the change of rope of more than 50 students take place. During this festival, many renowned capoeiristas from Europe and Brazil are present: Mestre Sorriso, Mestre Henrique, Contra-Mestre Arruda, Contra-Mestre Grilo, Professor Timbalada, Professor Bruzzi, Professor Caracu, Professor Luciano, Professor Boa Vida, Instructores Sapeca and Cebolinha...

Professor Chão then directs an important work of capoeira throughout the Lyon region, but also in Burgundy (Châlon-sur-Saône, Dijon...) and actively participates in the development of capoeira.

In 2007, Professor Chaõ and Mestre Arruda organize the festival "20 years of Capoeira Senzala - Região Oceanica". This festival, which brings together more than 60 capoeiristas from Europe to Niteroi, allows Chão to receive his brown rope from Contra Mestre. On this occasion, his work in France was rewarded, among other things, by obtaining the blue rope from his highest-ranking French students.

In 2010, Contra Mestre Chão celebrates its tenth anniversary in Lyon and continues its work, now assisted by its “trained” students.             

He supervises many capoeira groups in the Rhône-Alpes region.

On August 5, 2012, Contra Mestre Chão received the red rope on  dedicating Mestre during an event organized in his honor in Niteroi.