BERIBAZU

On 11 August 1972, Antonio Batista Pinto (Mestre Zulu) founded the Beribazu group in the Agricultural College of Brasilia, Planaltina - DF.  The group grew through academies, educational institutions and universities, so that it has now spread throughout the whole of Brazil, as well as America and Europe.  In June 1994 Mestre Zulu officially stepped down from the group for personal reasons and passed on the running and leadership of Beribazu to the Council of Mestres, a body that continues to oversee the group to the present day.

In 1999 Andre Reis, an instructor from Grupo Beribazu, travelled to the UK to study for a PhD at the University of Bristol.  Whilst studying the effects of capoeira on health and social wellbeing Andre started teaching capoeira in Bristol (and in Warsaw during a year studying abroad in 2001).  During this time the group grew so that a lot of students were sad to see Andre return to Brazil in 2004 once his PhD had come to an end.  However, Andre did not leave Bristol without ensuring that a capable instructor was able to take over his work.

In 2002 Professor Claudio Campos arrived in Bristol to help Andre towards the end of his PhD and to take over teaching capoeira in Bristol from Andre when he left.  Claudio started practicing capoeira in 1991 and had taught in capoeira academies and schools in Brazil  for 5 years prior to arriving in the UK.  In 2003 Claudio started teaching capoeira classes in Cardiff and continues to teach in both Bristol and Cardiff to this day.

Amendoim started training capoeira in 2000 and joined Beribazu in 2003 whilst studying at the University of Bristol.  Amendoim started teaching classes in May 2009 in the centre of the City of London under the supervision of Claudio Campos.

The UK groups are part of the Nucleo de Capoeiragem Beribazu based in Brazilia and supervised by Mestre Luiz Renato, Mestre Jorge, Mestre Danilo and Mestre Igor.