About Mestre Acordeon
Ubirajara Almeida, student of legendary Mestre Bimba, is an author, musician, and historian. One of the pioneers to bring Capoeira to the western United States in early 1980's. Today Mestre Acordeon has established the United Capoeira Association with schools in numerous states and Mexico.
About Mestre Rã
Mestre Rã (Cassio Martinho) played Capoeira for the majority of his life. He began his capoeira path in his hometown of Jundiaí as a young teenager. SP, Brazil with Mestre Tarzan and Mestre Galo. After both Mestre Tarzan and Mestre Galo left Jundiaí, Mestre Rã founded his group Capoeira Idalina as homage to his grandmother that inspired him to learn capoeira. In June of 1988, Mestre Rã moved to the US where he befriended Mestre Acordeon and the seeds that lead to the founding of the United Capoeira Association were born. Mestre Rã has performed and taught all over the world. Mestre Rã returned to his hometown of Junidaí in 2004 where his focus was to attend to the needs of at risk children from the favelas of Jundiai. He taught with his heart and strength, he remained connected with his students in the United States as well as giving a 100 percent to Idalina and the Capoeira programming in his hometown. He simultaneously built a horse farm and dedicated time and love to his horse farm. In 2024 Mestre Râ moved on from this world. His dedicated students in Brazil continue his work and his students in the United States uphold his teachings with love, honor and respect.
About Mestra Suelly
The first American woman to earn the title of mestre, has played a vital role for women in Capoeira. She began her career in capoeira in 1982, as a part of Mestre Acordeon's first generation of students in the U.S. Mestra Suelly has been interviewed by numerous journalists in an effort to expand awareness of capoeira here in the United States.
