Reinaldo Ramos Suassuna
Encyclopedia
Reinaldo Ramos Suassuna also known as Mestre Suassuna ' onMouseout='HidePop("97042")' href="/topics/Ilhéus">Ilhéus
, Bahia
, Brazil
) is the founder and head of the international capoeira
organization Cordão de Ouro.
and began practicing capoeira
, in the early 1950s, initially because it was prescribed to him by a doctor, as treatment for a physical handicap in his legs. He graduated under Masters Sururu, Abine and Tonho Role in Itabuna
, and later studied under Masters Waldemar, Canjiquinha, and Bimba
.
, receiving numerous invitations to present his capoeira show in other Brazilian states and abroad. In 1965 he moved to São Paulo
with the intention of opening an academy and making a career in capoeira. In September, 1967, after some financial hardship, he met Mestre Brasilia in Ze Freita’s Academy, and together they founded Associacao de capoeira Cordão de Ouro.
As Mestre Suassuna, he has produced many capoeira shows, recorded four compact disc
s, and directed the Show Group of Cordão de Ouro. He has also contributed to the development of capoeira itself, and is the inventor of Miudinho, which is a musical rhythm, along with a distinct style in the martial art. Suassuna continues to influence the world of capoeira today, conducting workshops and seminars in several states in Brazil and around the world.
Ilhéus
Ilhéus is a major city located in the southern coastal region of Bahia, Brazil, 430 km south of Salvador, the state's capital. The city was originally founded in 1534 as Vila de São Jorge dos Ilhéus and is known as one of the most important tourism centers of the northeast of Brazil.The...
, Bahia
Bahia
Bahia is one of the 26 states of Brazil, and is located in the northeastern part of the country on the Atlantic coast. It is the fourth most populous Brazilian state after São Paulo, Minas Gerais and Rio de Janeiro, and the fifth-largest in size...
, Brazil
Brazil
Brazil , officially the Federative Republic of Brazil , is the largest country in South America. It is the world's fifth largest country, both by geographical area and by population with over 192 million people...
) is the founder and head of the international capoeira
Capoeira
Capoeira is a Brazilian art form that combines elements of martial arts, sports, and music. It was created in Brazil mainly by descendants of African slaves with Brazilian native influences, probably beginning in the 16th century...
organization Cordão de Ouro.
Early life
Suassuna was raised in ItabunaItabuna
Itabuna is a city in Bahia, Brazil. Located around , it's the 6th city in Bahia, after Salvador, Feira de Santana, Vitória da Conquista, Juazeiro and Ilhéus in size of population, with an estimative of 209,211 inhabitants in 2006. The city covers a total area of 443.2 km².Itabuna became a city...
and began practicing capoeira
Capoeira
Capoeira is a Brazilian art form that combines elements of martial arts, sports, and music. It was created in Brazil mainly by descendants of African slaves with Brazilian native influences, probably beginning in the 16th century...
, in the early 1950s, initially because it was prescribed to him by a doctor, as treatment for a physical handicap in his legs. He graduated under Masters Sururu, Abine and Tonho Role in Itabuna
Itabuna
Itabuna is a city in Bahia, Brazil. Located around , it's the 6th city in Bahia, after Salvador, Feira de Santana, Vitória da Conquista, Juazeiro and Ilhéus in size of population, with an estimative of 209,211 inhabitants in 2006. The city covers a total area of 443.2 km².Itabuna became a city...
, and later studied under Masters Waldemar, Canjiquinha, and Bimba
Manuel dos Reis Machado
Manuel dos Reis Machado, commonly called Mestre Bimba , was a mestre of the Afro-Brazilian martial art capoeira.-Early life:Machado is said to have had two birth certificates, dated 1899 and 1900, respectively...
.
Professional career
In the early 1960s, Suassuna became a prominent practitioner of capoeira in BahiaBahia
Bahia is one of the 26 states of Brazil, and is located in the northeastern part of the country on the Atlantic coast. It is the fourth most populous Brazilian state after São Paulo, Minas Gerais and Rio de Janeiro, and the fifth-largest in size...
, receiving numerous invitations to present his capoeira show in other Brazilian states and abroad. In 1965 he moved to São Paulo
São Paulo
São Paulo is the largest city in Brazil, the largest city in the southern hemisphere and South America, and the world's seventh largest city by population. The metropolis is anchor to the São Paulo metropolitan area, ranked as the second-most populous metropolitan area in the Americas and among...
with the intention of opening an academy and making a career in capoeira. In September, 1967, after some financial hardship, he met Mestre Brasilia in Ze Freita’s Academy, and together they founded Associacao de capoeira Cordão de Ouro.
As Mestre Suassuna, he has produced many capoeira shows, recorded four compact disc
Compact Disc
The Compact Disc is an optical disc used to store digital data. It was originally developed to store and playback sound recordings exclusively, but later expanded to encompass data storage , write-once audio and data storage , rewritable media , Video Compact Discs , Super Video Compact Discs ,...
s, and directed the Show Group of Cordão de Ouro. He has also contributed to the development of capoeira itself, and is the inventor of Miudinho, which is a musical rhythm, along with a distinct style in the martial art. Suassuna continues to influence the world of capoeira today, conducting workshops and seminars in several states in Brazil and around the world.