Marcos "Barrão" DaSilva

Marcos (Mestre Barrao) DaSilva is a capoeira mestre and founder of Grupo Axe Capoeira, which has schools worldwide. He began Grupo Axe officially in 1982 in Vancouver and since has had schools established around the world.

First Mestre: Mestre Pirajá

Marcos "Barrão" DaSilva was born in Recife in 1961 into a state of poverty. He displayed an early talent for the drums with which he earned his keep as a lad. At the age of 13, Pirajá (who was taught by his brother, a student of Mestre Bimba) took young Marcos under his wing and started to teach him Capoeira. An academy capoeirista by trade, Pirajá taught Barrão the techniques and discipline of Capoeira.

Second Mestre: Mestre Teté

After three years of training Barrão, Pirajá left on a sabbatical and Teté took over. Teté taught him the ways of the Street Capoeirista. It was through this training that Mestre Barrão learned the cunning needed to survive in a Capoeira and how to effectively apply his techniques to any roda.

Legacy

Mestre Barrão began to enter tournaments and was crowned the Brazilian Champion in the National Capoeira Championships in Rio de Janeiro. He opened his school, Grupo Axé Capoeira, in 1982, passing on his vast knowledge and experience. In 1987, he was given the honour and rank of 1st Degree Mestre by Pirajá. He moved to Vancouver and opened an academy there. In 2007, he launched an academy in his hometown of Recife and currently resides there.[1]

Mestre Barrão has been invited to teach, conduct workshops and conduct Batizados all over the world and is the recipient of many awards. He was instrumental in re-introducing a dance known as Coco de Roda.

Currently, he has dedicated his life to being at the forefront of the evolution of Capoeira and passes on this philosophy to all 20,000 members of his school.

Notes

  1. Abdur-Rahman, Alexander. "Trainer". Retrieved 17 March 2012.Mestre Barrão’s first student in North America was Jay “Camara” Spain who now teaches in Arizona and is a highly valued instructor in Grupo Axé Capoeira.

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