Mestre Bimba began Capoeira at the age of 12 at Estrada das Boiadas, today known as ” bairro da Liberdade,” in Salvador and was taught by “Bentinho”, an African who was the captain of a shipping company called the Companhia de Navegação Bahiana.

Capoeira was officially prohibited during and even after slavery. Nevertheless, it was practiced by the poorer population on public holidays, during work-free hours and similar occasions In spite of the official ban, Mestre Bimba created a new style. He incorporated new moves and techniques. He became extremely proficient in “Batuque” a type of fighting brought by Africans during their enslavement in Brazil, which he learned from his father. He later mastered Capoeira Angola, combining these two art forms to produce an exclusive Bahian Capoeira called Capoeira Regional or “Luta Regional Baiana” was then a more martial art oriented, effective, efficient and athletic style of Capoeira. The central component to teaching Capoeira Regional is the “Sequencia,” a learning process that was non-existent in Capoeira until it’s introduction by Mestre Bimba.

Mestre Bimba founded the first Capoeira school in 1932, the “Academia-escola de Capoeira Regional”, in Salvador-Bahia. As Capoeira was still heavily discriminated by upper class Brazilian society Bimba attempted to change the slyness and malicious reputation associated with Capoeira practitioners by setting new standards to the art. His students had to wear a clean, white uniform, show proof of grade proficiency from school, show good posture and many other standards. As a result, doctors, lawyers, politicians, upper middle class people, and women (until then excluded) started to join his school.

The main characteristics of Mestre Bimba’s Capoeira were: The training of the art in enclosed school facilities; the implementation of a course curriculum; the introduction of a systematic training method; a defined musical ensemble of one berimbau and two pandeiros, and an emphasis placed on the rhythms of São Bento Grande, Benguela and Iuna, which mandated specific jogos.

For these reasons Mestre Bimba was and still is so important to Capoeira because he changed its destiny. In 1942, Mestre Bimba opened his second school at the “Terreiro de Jesus – rua das Laranjeiras”; today rua Francisco Muniz Barreto, #1. He also taught Capoeira to the army and at the police academy. He was considered “the father of modern Capoeira”.

Mestre Bimba was a coalman, carpenter, warehouse man, longshoreman, horse coach conductor, but mainly capoeirista; a giant with strong personality! In 1973, Bimba was unhappy with a number of false promises and a lack of support from local authorities in Bahia. By invitation from an ex-student, he moved to Goiânia-GO in order to continue teaching Capoeira Regional, but unfortunately only a year later, on February 15th, 1974 Bimba died due to a stroke.

Four years later, at the request of his former students, his body was brought back to Salvador, where he lies in a tomb built especially for him in a public square.

(From “Bimba: Perfil do Mestre” by Raimundo Cesar Alves de Almeida, (Mestre Itapoan), 1982.)

From 1993, Borracha began to travel around Brazil, visiting Capoeira academies, teaching and appearing as a special guest at numerous Batizados or gradings. In 1997 Borracha left his homeland, bound for Sydney Australia. His goal at this time was to further his career as a teacher with Grupo Capoeira Brasil.

Annually, Borracha visits Capoeira schools and academies in cities around Australia, including: Perth, Melbourne, Gold Coast, Brisbane and Newcastle. In addition to being a professional Brazilian cultural performer, Borracha and his group regularly perform Capoeira at community festivals, Australia Day festivals and charity events in and around Sydney.

Capoeira has also provided Borracha with the opportunity to perform and teach internationally, to countries including: India, Germany, New Caledonia, USA and Belgium.

In 2005, Borracha & his associates established a new Capoeira group Capoeiracre, named after the Brazilian state in which he was born and raised. There are now numerous Capoeiracre academies in Australia, Germany & Brazil.

After pioneering Capoeira in the state of Acre for 15 years under the title of Grupo Capoeira Brasil, a conscious movement was made by the students and teachers to form a new contemporary group. Capoeiracre was founded in the city of Rio Branco (in the state of Acre, Brazil) on the 29th January 2005.

Capoeiracre was founded as an international group, with academies in Brazil, Australia and Germany. The students and teachers recognised Olho de Peixe for his contribution to Capoeira in Acre and awarded him his masters cord, acknowledging him as the headmaster of Capoeiracre. The graduation of Mestre Olho de Peixe was overseen by Mestre Pintor, Mestre Hulk, Mestre Igor and Mestre Pequinês. In addition, Capoeiracre representatives from each country were present at the foundation ceremony.

In 1997, Borracha brought the group from Acre, Brazil to Sydney Australia and quickly established students in Western Sydney, the Inner city Pyrmont and the Eastern Beaches.

Today, Capoeira Aruanda, headed by godfather Mestre Boa Gente and Contra Mestre Borracha, has branches in Australia,  Germany  lead by Professor Soldado,  and Acre Brazil lead by Contra-Mestre Geben. The change in name for the group reflects the strength of the group and the strong presence within the Australian capoeira community.