Manuel dos Reis Machado facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
Mestre Bimba
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O rei da Capoeira
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Manoel dos reis Machado
November 23, 1899 Salvador, Bahia, Brazil
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| Died | February 5, 1974 (aged 74) |
| Occupation | Creator of capoeira regional, teacher of capoeira, musician, educator |
| Years active | 1918–74 (56 years of teaching) |
| Parent(s) | Luiz Cândido Machado (father) Maria Martinha do Bonfim (mother) |
| Relatives | Manoel Nascimento Machado (Mestre Nenel) (son) Marinalva Nascimento Machado (Dona Nalvinha) (daughter) |
Manuel dos Reis Machado, known as Mestre Bimba (born November 23, 1899 – died February 5, 1974), was a famous Brazilian capoeira master. He created the capoeira regional style. This style is one of the two main types of capoeira practiced today. Mestre Bimba helped capoeira become a respected martial art and cultural activity.
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Early Life and Capoeira Beginnings
Manoel dos Reis Machado was born in Salvador, Brazil, in 1899. He was the son of Luiz Cândido Machado and Maria Martinha do Bonfim. His nickname, "Bimba," came from a bet his mother and the midwife made about whether he would be a boy or a girl. In Brazil, "Bimba" also meant "beating," which fit his future as a martial artist.
He started learning capoeira at 12 years old. His first teacher was Bentinho, a navigation captain. At that time, capoeira was not allowed by the authorities. Despite this, Mestre Bimba continued to learn and practice. He later became one of the most important figures in modern capoeira. Another key figure was Vicente Ferreira Pastinha, who is known as the father of capoeira angola.
Before becoming a full-time capoeira master, Mestre Bimba worked many different jobs. He was a coal miner, carpenter, and even a horse coach driver. But his true passion was always capoeira.
Creating the Regional Style
When Mestre Bimba was 18, he felt that capoeira had lost its power as a martial art. He believed it had become more of a dance with only a few movements. To make it stronger, he began to change it. He brought back moves from older capoeira styles, later called Angola. He also added moves from an old African fighting style called batuque, which his father had taught him. Mestre Bimba also created new movements himself.
He was the first to create a clear way to teach capoeira. Before him, people learned just by watching and joining in the roda (the capoeira circle). This new teaching method was the start of capoeira regional.
Mestre Bimba also studied other fighting styles. He wanted to make capoeira more effective for self-defense. In 1928, he showed capoeira to the Governor of Bahia. He convinced the authorities that capoeira was important for Brazilian culture. This helped end the official ban on capoeira that had been in place since 1890.
In 1932, Mestre Bimba opened the first capoeira school in Salvador. Before this, capoeira was only practiced on the streets. However, many people still looked down on capoeira. To change this, Mestre Bimba set new rules for his students. They had to wear clean, white uniforms and show good discipline. They also needed to have good grades in school. Because of these rules, doctors, lawyers, and even women started to join his school. This helped capoeira gain respect.
Establishing Capoeira Regional
In 1936, Mestre Bimba challenged fighters from other martial arts to test his regional style. He fought four matches and won them all. He earned the nickname "Três Pancadas" (Three Hits), meaning he often won with just a few strikes.
Mestre Bimba officially registered his capoeira center in 1937. He opened a second school in 1942, which is still open today. He also taught capoeira to the army and police. He became known as "the father of modern capoeira."
In 1953, Mestre Bimba was invited to show capoeira to the President of Brazil, Getúlio Dorneles Vargas. President Vargas famously said, "Capoeira is the only sport which was truly Brazilian." Many important people in Brazilian society became Mestre Bimba's students.
Mestre Bimba's Legacy
Mestre Bimba moved to Goiânia in 1973. He died there a year later, in 1974, from a stroke.
Mestre Bimba brought back the true meaning of capoeira. He believed capoeira was a fight, but also a "cooperation" fight. This meant that the stronger player should help the weaker player improve. He worked hard his whole life to make capoeira a respected martial art. After he passed away, he was given an honorary degree from the Federal University of Bahia.
Mestre Bimba's Academy Rules
Mestre Bimba believed that capoeira was a great way to learn self-defense. He created a clear way to teach it, with rules and traditions. These are still part of capoeira regional today.
Some of his important rules for students were:
- Do not smoke or drink, as it hurts your performance.
- Do not show off your skills outside the roda. Surprise is your best friend in a fight.
- Listen and learn during training, instead of talking.
- Always keep moving in the ginga (the basic capoeira movement).
- Practice the basic moves every day.
- Keep your body relaxed.
- It is better to make a mistake in the roda than in a real fight.
- Do not be afraid to get close to your opponent. The closer you are, the more you will learn.
- Students must do well in school or have a job.
Mestre Bimba also set up principles for his teaching:
- Gingar sempre: Always keep moving.
- Esquivar sempre: Always dodge attacks.
- Every movement should have a purpose (attack and defense).
- Stay balanced on the ground; acrobatic jumps can make you vulnerable.
- Play according to the rhythm of the berimbau (a capoeira musical instrument).
- Always play close to your partner.
- Respect a player who can no longer defend an attack.
- Protect your partner's body and feelings (the stronger player helps the weaker one).
He also created traditions for his method:
- Using a chair to train new students.
- The charanga: the capoeira music group with a berimbau and two pandeiros.
- The singing: songs written by Bimba to go with the game.
- The batizado (baptism): the first time a student plays capoeira with the berimbau music.
The capoeira regional style is special because of its method:
- An admission exam with capoeira moves to check a student's skills.
- The sequência: a set of 17 basic attack and defense movements.
- Practicing different rhythms for the game.
- Specific movements for hitting, throwing, connecting, and unbalancing.
- Cintura desprezada: advanced practice for experienced students.
- Formatura: the graduation ceremony for capoeira teachers.
- Especialização and emboscada: special advanced exams.
In 2018, Google honored Mestre Bimba with a special Google Doodle to celebrate his 119th birthday.
Movies/Documentary
- Mestre Bimba: A Capoeira Illuminada (2006) is a documentary about Mestre Bimba and Capoeira.
See also
In Spanish: Mestre Bimba para niños
- Mestre Pastinha
- Mestre Sinhozinho
- Norival Moreira de Oliveira
- João Grande
- João Pequeno
- Bira Almeida (Mestre Acordeon)
