Mestre Pintor
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
Paulo Cesar Leite dos Santos, or Mestre Pintor as he is known within Brazilian martial art (Capoeira) circles, is the founder of Grupo Bantus Capoeira (Bantus from Bantu) in Brazil.
He started playing Capoeira in the neighborhoods of Santa Tereza and Floresta with his friends. As a teenager, he went to Bahia to further his knowledge under the guidance of various Capoeira Mestres. Mestres such as: Atenilo, Waldemar, Canjiquinha, Curio, Caicara, Gigante, João Grande, Boa Gente, Bom Cabrito, Medicina, and Papo de Santo Amaro.
After many years he settled on the teaching and practice of the famous Mestre João Pequeno da Pastinha in Salvador, Bahia. It was Mestre João Pequeno who in 1989 graduated Pintor as Mestre with the Grupo Macaco of Escola de Educacao Fisica in Belo Horizonte. A few years later he was also graduated as Mestre of Capoeira Angola.
On the 20th of May, 1991 Mestre Pintor founded Grupo Bantus Capoeira. There are now a number of schools in Belo Horizonte and the state of Minas Gerais as well as instructors teaching in China, Japan, Australia, Germany, Netherlands, Malaysia, Singapore and Israel.
Mestre Pintor shares his positive energy and outlook along with his knowledge of Capoeira and directs the development of the Bantus Capoeira group. Although Pintor's training was within Capoeira Angola, his school practices both Angola and Regional styles. In general it is the contemporary style of Capoeira that exists in today's world, a mix of Capoeira's varying historical influences.
Today Mestre Pintor travels the world to offer his experience and teachings to all those interested in Capoeira and Brazilian Culture. Mestre Pintor is also an expert in Maculelé, Samba de Roda, and Forró.
