Tours, France

Born on July 19, 1981 in Colinas do Tocantins, Brazil, Mestre LuizJunior began his capoeira journey in 1990 in Palmas Tocantins. His first contact with capoeira was through a class in a football field taught by Marcos Garcia Miranda, known in the capoeira world as Mestre Marcos ‘Cabeleira’. This was part of a project for underprivileged children in the then-new neighborhood of the new capital Palmas. In 1992, he received his first graduation in Capoeira with godfather Mestre Soldado, one of the finest Capoeira Masters of the time. In 1994, he represented the state of Tocantins and Tocantinense Capoeira in the Brazilian Student Games, achieving great success for capoeira and for the sport in Tocantins, ranking as the 4th best capoeirista in Brazil at that time. He began his professional life in capoeira in 1996, teaching classes to school children, forming his first group of students. As time passed, he also began teaching adults. In 2000, he joined Grupo Abada Capoeira, staying with this organization for a year. In 2007, he joined Grupo Muzenza briefly before founding his own group. Feeling the need for a new direction in his environment and in his life as a capoeirista, on November 30, 2007, he founded Grupo Capoeira Mandara in Barcelona, Spain. Today the group is a reality recognized in capoeira society worldwide, present in several countries including Brazil, Spain, Italy, France, Angola, Germany, Mozambique, and Portugal.