Vicente Ferreira Pastinha
Vicente Ferreira Pastinha is known as a master of Capoeira, the Brazilian martial art with African roots. He lived from 1889 to1981 in Brazil.
The Early Years
As a child, Vicente Ferreira Pastinha was often bullied in his neighbourhood. Benedito, a practitioner of Capoeira who also lived in the same neighbourhood, taught Vicente the art so that he could defend himself, which he eventually did with much success. He continued to train in Capoeira secretly, against his father’s wishes and the law – Capoeira was decalred illegal from 1888 to the 1930s.
However, this legend is disputed.
In 1942, Vicente Ferreira Pastinha opened the first Capoeira Angola school in the state of Bahia, in the historical Pillory district of the city of Salvador. There, his students, donned in black pants and yellow t-shirts, were taught a pure form of Capoeira for the purposes of self defence and exercise. He also worked other jobs at times when he did not have enough students, including teaching painting (he was a talented painter).
After a successful number of years, during which Vicente Ferreira Pastinha gained a reputation as a master (Mestre) in Brazil, the government converted the building into a restaurant in 1973. This was at time when his health was ailing and he was almost completely blind, and as a result, Vicente Ferreira Pastinha became unemployed and destitute. He passed away in a shelter in 1981, at the age of 92.
Vicente Ferreira Pastinha is remembered as the most famous teacher and master of Capoeira Angola.