Capoeira Besouro was founded in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil, in 1979 by Mestre Beiçola. At just 14 years old, Beiçola began teaching capoeira to other children in his neighborhood, including Mestre Batata.

What began with one young capoeirista teaching neighborhood kids grew into Associacão do Grupo Capoeira Besouro.

Today, groups descended from this tradition can be found as far-flung as Hawaii and Cape Cod, sharing the same origin and, as Mestre Beiçola describes it, a family rooted in their shared history and capoeira lineage.

Mestre Batata’s Associacão do Grupo Capoeira Besouro Espírito Santo continues to grow under the guidance of many instructors and has been dedicated to working with at-risk and underserved youth in Brazil, providing free capoeira classes in numerous communities.

Capoeira Besouro came to Los Angeles in 2002 when Mestre Batata moved here from Brazil. Today, he teaches regular classes in Santa Monica while traveling internationally to share his capoeira through workshops and events.

Capoeira Besouro teaches a contemporary style of capoeira, teaching students to play capoeira with capoeiristas from different backgrounds, be it Angola or Regional.

Thanks to Contramestre André Lima for the concise history available on his website Capoeira Besouro Cape Cod.