Marinaldo Martins Pereira

(better known as Mestre Marinaldo) was born in Porto Seguro, Bahía, Brazil. He started capoeira training with Mestre Walter in 1977. In Salvador de Bahía he met Mestre Ferro Velho with whom he completed his formatura, becoming a capoeira teacher. In Eunapolis he founded his own capoeira group, Capoeira Esporao, combining elements from two traditional styles: Capoeira Regional and Capoeira Angola. In 1994 he gained his white cord (cordao branco) and the title of Mestre. Since 1988 he has regularly visited Europe, giving classes and shows, including in France (at the opening ceremony of the FIFA World Cup in 1998), United Kingdom (London) and Spain (Barcelona, Cartagena). He is currently teaching master classes in Warsaw.