Mestre (Master) Roque, nicknamed Pantera (Panther), is a native of
In 1976 at the age of 17, Roque began formally training 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 Brazilian fight-sport and educate through its intellectual, physical, and spiritual philosophy.
Roque graduated to Professor level status in 1984. 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. He became a mentor to Twin Cities Capoeira, and organized a tour for a student group that traveled to
Mestre Roque moved to the
Mestre Roque from Salvador, Bahia (Brazil) - practicing capoeira for over 30 years.
AFFILIATIONS
Bodysport Capoeira is affiliated with Grupo de Capoeira Arte Corpo (Body Art Capoeira Group) in
Mestre Maozinha of Capoeira Arte Corpo
in Salvador, Bahia