Manuel dos Reis Machado
Founder of capoeira regional and modernizer of the art.
Paul R. Burley · CC BY-SA 4.0
Manuel dos Reis Machado, commonly called Mestre Bimba, was a Brazilian capoeira mestre and the founder of the capoeira regional style. He reformed traditional capoeira in the 1910s and 1920s, established an institutional teaching method, and helped legitimize the art in Brazilian society.
- born
- November 23, 1899
Lore & Background
Manuel dos Reis Machado was born in the Engenho Velho neighborhood of Salvador on November 23, 1899. He was one of 25 children from his father's three marriages, though his mother had only a few children. His nickname 'Bimba' was given by his father due to his aggressive behavior as a child; 'bimba' is a slang term for penis, but the popular bet story between his mother and midwife is apocryphal. He learned batuque from his father and traditional capoeira from an African stevedore named Bentinho. As a young man, he was called 'Três Pancadas' for his quick knockouts. In the 1910s and 1920s, Bimba reformed capoeira, adding movements from batuque and creating new ones. He named his style Luta Regional de Bahia, later simplified to capoeira regional. Bimba had a friendly rivalry with Mestre Pastinha, who advocated capoeira Angola. In 1936, Bimba won four matches against fighters of other styles. He also reportedly survived an alleged ambush by a police chief and six policemen, disarming them, though this story is apocryphal and not universally confirmed as historical fact.
Reader's Guide
Mestre Bimba's significance lies in transforming capoeira from a marginalized street practice into a respected martial art with a formal teaching system. By adding effective kicks like martelo and queixada, and incorporating movements from batuque, he created capoeira regional, which emphasized efficacy over ritual. His insistence on clean uniforms, school attendance, and discipline attracted upper-class students, women, and professionals, helping to decriminalize capoeira. Bimba's challenges and undefeated record in public fights demonstrated the style's effectiveness. His rivalry with Mestre Pastinha preserved traditional capoeira Angola while allowing regional to flourish. Today, capoeira regional remains a major branch of the art, and Bimba is regarded as a key figure in its modernization and global spread.
Did You Know?
- Bimba's nickname was given by his father due to his aggressive behavior as a child; 'bimba' is a slang term for penis, but the bet story is apocryphal.
- He was called 'Três Pancadas' because he could knock down opponents with three blows.
- In 1936, he won four matches against fighters of other martial arts styles.
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Frequently Asked Questions
Who is Manuel dos Reis Machado?
He was a Brazilian capoeira mestre widely known by his nickname Mestre Bimba, born on November 23, 1899. He is best remembered as the person who created the capoeira regional style and structured the art into a formal system of instruction.
What is capoeira regional and who created it?
Capoeira regional is a structured style of Brazilian capoeira developed by Mestre Bimba during the 1910s and 1920s. He broke away from the older, more fluid roda traditions and built a curriculum with defined techniques and progressive levels, making the art easier to teach in a classroom setting.
Why is Mestre Bimba considered important in capoeira history?
Before his reforms, capoeira was largely an informal street practice that Brazilian authorities had effectively banned. By creating a codified syllabus and opening a public academy, he gave capoeira a legitimate institutional identity and helped bring it back into mainstream Brazilian culture.
How did Manuel dos Reis Machado change the way capoeira was taught?
He introduced a step-by-step pedagogical method that replaced the old model of learning purely through spontaneous roda play. His approach included specific drills, a graded progression of movements, and defined self-defense applications, making the art accessible to students who had never seen a roda.
What was Mestre Bimba's role in legitimizing capoeira in Brazil?
In an era when capoeira was still associated with criminality and had been outlawed, he positioned his regional style as a disciplined martial art with clear rules and structure. His public demonstrations and formal academy helped shift how Brazilian society and authorities perceived the practice.
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