Bodysport Capoeira (Capoeira Esporte do Corpo in Portuguese) was formed in late 2006 and is located in Long Beach, CA.  The group is led by Mestre (Master) Roque, a native of the city of Salvador da Bahia, Brazil.

About Mestre Roque
Mestre Roque, nicknamed Pantera (Panther), was born in 1958 in the homeland of capoeira, Salvador da Bahia - Brazil, and grew up in one of the roughest neighborhoods of the city, Nordeste de Amaralina. 

As a young teen, Roque's father prohibited him from training capoeira, fearful that it would encourage violence and fighting.  Despite his father's wishes, Roque would often train capoeira at the neighborhood academy of Mestre Braiz and visit the rodas of the old masters such as Ezequiel, Caicara, Waldemar, and Gato. 

Roque's interest in capoeira continued, and in 1976 at the age of 17, he began to formally train capoeira under the direction of Mestre Carlos Senna (1931-2002), a former senior student of Mestre Bimba who founded the third registered capoeira academy in 1955.  The Centro de Pesquisa, Estudo e Instrução de Capoeira Senavox (Senavox) taught a highly disciplined capoeira with the objective to promote capoeira as a fight-sport and educate through its intellectual, physical, and spiritual philosophy. 

Roque thrived with the athletic challenges capoeira provided and eventually gained his father's support.  His father realized the positive changes he saw in his son were a result of the discipline, respect, and dedication that came with training capoeira.

In 1984, Roque graduated to the Professor level status.  He taught capoeira at a military academy (Colégio Militar de Salvador) as part of the physical education curriculum; he taught at Senavox, social and athletic clubs (e.g., Esporte Clube da Bahia, Baiano de Tenis) elementary schools, and gave private capoeira and fitness classes. 

When Senavox closed its doors the end of the 1990’s, Roque continued to train with his mestre friends from other groups, giving classes at Capoeira Fita Verde, Capoeira Arte Corpo, and others.    

Mestre Roque moved to the U.S. in late 2005, and formed Bodysport Capoeira a year later.  He attributes his energy, health, and physical well-being to over 30 years of training capoeira.