Capoeira is a rich Afro-Brazilian art. Check out our brief welcome video below.

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Mestre Acordeon

Ubirajara Almeida, student of legendary Mestre Bimba, is an author, musician, and historian. One of the pioneers to bring Capoeira to the western United States in early 1980's. Today Mestre Acordeon has established the United Capoeira Association with schools in numerous states and Mexico. 

Mestre Rã

Cassio Marthino has been playing capoeira for over 20 years, and has trained under many Mestres throughout Brasil, such as; Mestre Tarzan, Mestre Galo, and Mestre Suassuna. Mestre Rã has performed and taught all over the world. Currently, Mestre Rã is working with Mestre Acordeon while also running his own school in Brasil. 

Mestra Suelly

Suellen Einarsen is the first American woman to earn the title of mestre and has played a vital role for women in capoeira. She began her career in capoeira in 1982 as Mestre Acordeon's first student in the U.S.. Mestra Suelly has been interviewed by numerous journalists in an effort to expand capoeira here in the United States.

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Born in Rio de Janeiro, Brasil, and educated in the San Francisco Bay Area, he holds a degree in Biology from the University of California at Berkeley, a Masters in Dramatic Art from the American Conservatory Theater in San Francisco.  

With over 20 years of experience as a health and fitness professional, 17 years in the art of capoeira, and over 10 years teaching it in Los Angeles, he shares his goal of honoring the joy, personal growth, and community that the art of capoeira offers to any willing to learn. 

In October of 2012, Mestres Acordeon, Rã, and Suelly graduated Professor Guatambu to the level of Formado.  Mestre Lobão of Capoeira Besouro Mangangá in São José dos Campos, SP, Brasil was the Paraninfo of that ceremony.  Mestre Urubu Malandro of Capoeira Ijexá in San Francisco, CA is Professor Guatambu's padrinho.  Mestre Amunka of the United Capoeira Association and Capoeira Yokayo in Ukiah, CA was the Orador.

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Mestre Acordeon and Mestre Rã created an organization where they could work together with similar philosophical ideals while preserving their own identities. Some of their American students then began teaching capoeira in different locations under the umbrella of the United Capoeira Association (UCA). As many capoeiristas and capoeira schools have embraced the system of "groups" as the paradigm of a capoeira organization, this strategy has proven to be very positive for the growth and survival of capoeira.

However, Mestre Acordeon learned Capoeira in a time when the concept of "group" was yet to be developed; therefore, UCA is not a group as understood in today's capoeira context, nor is it interested in many "chapters." UCA strives to be a community of students which appreciates and respects the collective work developing for all capoeira tendencies and approaches in Brazil and beyond.

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