10 Facts About Mestre Pastinha

Vicente Ferreira Pastinha was a mestre of the Brazilian martial art Capoeira.

Pastinha was born to Jose Pastinha was born on Pastina, and a poor Spanish immigrant who worked as a pedlar and Eugenia Maria de Carvalho Ferreira, a black Bahian homemaker.

Mestre Pastinha was exposed to Capoeira at the age of 8 by an African named Benedito.

One day Benedito saw the aggression that Mestre Pastinha suffered, and then told him to stop by his house because he was going to teach him a few things.

Mestre Pastinha continued his training with Benedito for three more years.

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In 1941, by Aberre's invitation, Pastinha went to a Sunday roda at ladeira do Gengibirra located at bairro da Liberdade, where the best Capoeira mestres would hang out.

Mestre Pastinha was then 74 years and still very much in good shape.

Mestre Pastinha participated with the Brazilian delegation of the "First International Festival de Artes Negras" in Dakar, Senegal, bringing with him Joao Grande, Gato Preto, Gildo Alfinete, Roberto Satanas and Camafeu de Oxossi.

Mestre Pastinha worked as shoeshiner, tailor, gold prospector, security guard at a gambling house and construction worker at the Porto de Salvador to support himself financially so that he could do what he loved the most, to be an Angoleiro.

Mestre Pastinha was survived by two of his most learned students, Joao Grande and Joao Pequeno who continued to share Pastinha's Capoeira Angola with the world.