About Professor Leo 'Gringo' Santos
Name: Leonídes Ferreira Santos
Apelido/Nickname: Gringo
Nationality: Brazilian
Date of Birth: 30/01+++
Profession: Capoeira Professor
Cord: Professor – Brown (marrom)
Email: capoeira-perth@hotmail.com
Phone: (+61) 0401 873 841
Apelido/Nickname: Gringo
Nationality: Brazilian
Date of Birth: 30/01+++
Profession: Capoeira Professor
Cord: Professor – Brown (marrom)
Email: capoeira-perth@hotmail.com
Phone: (+61) 0401 873 841
Leonídes Ferreira Santos was born into a humble family in the small farming community of Coracao de Jesus Minas Gerais, Brazil. He is one of 8 children, when Leo was 6 years old the family moved to Montes Claros. For many Sundays Leo would watch capoeira roda’s at the local park until one Sunday when he was 12; he had the opportunity to talk with a man sitting under a tree playing a berimbau this was Leo’s first ‘up close’ encounter with Capoeira. Leo realised from this chance meeting that he had to follow his life’s calling - Capoeira.
Leo began practising with his friend “Umberto” who was a capoeirista in a local school. Training for Leo was in the backyard as classes were too far away to travel to. In 1989 a new Capoeira academy under the direction of Mestre Marreta opened close to Leo’s house he joined the group and began his journey to becoming a capoeirsta. In 1993, 2 of Mestre Marreta’s international students from Europe invited Leo to travel to Sete Lagoas to visit and train with M. Marreta’s students. From there their journey took them to the state capital, Belo Horizonte (which resulted in Leo’s nickname being given to him by his close friend Gloria - today he is affectionately known in the capoeira world as ‘Gringo” which translates as foreigner - (because his friend's were foreigners, he must be too!). With an introduction from Gloria the 3 capoeiristas met Mestre Pintor, Leo realised he was ready for further development in the art, game and culture of Capoeira. It was at this time that Gringo received the 1st of several very tempting offers to teach overseas, but he felt compelled to follow his life's calling & dedicate himself to training in Brazil. 2 weeks later the European students returned home and Gringo accepted Pintor’s invitation to join his fledgling group.
After many years and enormous effort, commitment and study Gringo acquired the technical qualification necessary to teach classes in Capoeira. Now he felt he was ready to make an honest & vauable contribution to teaching & promoting Capoeira and Brazilian culture overseas. In Brazil and throughout the world, Gringo is recognised and welcomed at events run by other groups, travelling around the country and now internationally to promote the arts of our ancestors.
Since 2001 Gringo has travelled to Australia many times to promote and teach his knowledge and skills in Capoeira. He is now living in Australia permanently and is an Australian Citizen; he has a following of many dedicated young capoeiristas.We are fortunate to have Prof Leo Santos heading up WA’s Ultimate Capoeira school right here in Perth. He is celebrated nationally and internationally as a leader in his field and is recognised by his peers for contributing to raising the professional profile of Capoeira while maintaining the essence of it’s origins.
Gringo is a regular performer and teacher at West Australian Schools, Communities, Charity events, Corporate shows and Cultural festivals; travelling all around Australia to teach, and promote the many benefits of Capoeira and Brazilian culture.
Gringo was awarded with his Professor Cord in Belo Horizonte, Brazil in 2006 in recognition of his successful work promoting and developing Capoeira in Australia to the highest standards. It was Gringo’s greatest honour to receive his graduation from the Grand Mestre João Pequeno; one of the most respected Capoeira icons in the Capoeira world today.
Change is a necessary part of life to achieve growth and development; it was a heart-wrenching but courageous decision for Gringo to 'walk with his own feet' when he left his old group. His philoshopy is to always look forward with positivity and good energy.
Today Prof Leo Santos ‘Gringo’ is Grupo Ancestrais Capoeira -Brazilian Dance & Cultural Arts, once again the work is intensive and requires the highest levels of dedication, commitment and energy… Ancestrais Capoeira was founded in May 2008 with Prof Leo Santos 'Gringo'at the helm. The Ancestrais Capoeira International Headquarters is in Australia under the direction of Leo; we have groups in Holland, Germany and Brazil. Ancestrais is indeed a fledgling group and there is much work to be done, but as Leo says “we must walk before we can run - our union and dedication will be our strength”.
“my journey so far has been circlular; symbolic of a capoeira roda maintaining the energy in movement”
“Minha viagem vem sendo circular; simboliza a roda de capoeira mantendo a energia em movimento”
L. Santos ‘Gringo’ - Ancestrais Capoeira 2008
Leo began practising with his friend “Umberto” who was a capoeirista in a local school. Training for Leo was in the backyard as classes were too far away to travel to. In 1989 a new Capoeira academy under the direction of Mestre Marreta opened close to Leo’s house he joined the group and began his journey to becoming a capoeirsta. In 1993, 2 of Mestre Marreta’s international students from Europe invited Leo to travel to Sete Lagoas to visit and train with M. Marreta’s students. From there their journey took them to the state capital, Belo Horizonte (which resulted in Leo’s nickname being given to him by his close friend Gloria - today he is affectionately known in the capoeira world as ‘Gringo” which translates as foreigner - (because his friend's were foreigners, he must be too!). With an introduction from Gloria the 3 capoeiristas met Mestre Pintor, Leo realised he was ready for further development in the art, game and culture of Capoeira. It was at this time that Gringo received the 1st of several very tempting offers to teach overseas, but he felt compelled to follow his life's calling & dedicate himself to training in Brazil. 2 weeks later the European students returned home and Gringo accepted Pintor’s invitation to join his fledgling group.
After many years and enormous effort, commitment and study Gringo acquired the technical qualification necessary to teach classes in Capoeira. Now he felt he was ready to make an honest & vauable contribution to teaching & promoting Capoeira and Brazilian culture overseas. In Brazil and throughout the world, Gringo is recognised and welcomed at events run by other groups, travelling around the country and now internationally to promote the arts of our ancestors.
Since 2001 Gringo has travelled to Australia many times to promote and teach his knowledge and skills in Capoeira. He is now living in Australia permanently and is an Australian Citizen; he has a following of many dedicated young capoeiristas.We are fortunate to have Prof Leo Santos heading up WA’s Ultimate Capoeira school right here in Perth. He is celebrated nationally and internationally as a leader in his field and is recognised by his peers for contributing to raising the professional profile of Capoeira while maintaining the essence of it’s origins.
Gringo is a regular performer and teacher at West Australian Schools, Communities, Charity events, Corporate shows and Cultural festivals; travelling all around Australia to teach, and promote the many benefits of Capoeira and Brazilian culture.
Gringo was awarded with his Professor Cord in Belo Horizonte, Brazil in 2006 in recognition of his successful work promoting and developing Capoeira in Australia to the highest standards. It was Gringo’s greatest honour to receive his graduation from the Grand Mestre João Pequeno; one of the most respected Capoeira icons in the Capoeira world today.
Change is a necessary part of life to achieve growth and development; it was a heart-wrenching but courageous decision for Gringo to 'walk with his own feet' when he left his old group. His philoshopy is to always look forward with positivity and good energy.
Today Prof Leo Santos ‘Gringo’ is Grupo Ancestrais Capoeira -Brazilian Dance & Cultural Arts, once again the work is intensive and requires the highest levels of dedication, commitment and energy… Ancestrais Capoeira was founded in May 2008 with Prof Leo Santos 'Gringo'at the helm. The Ancestrais Capoeira International Headquarters is in Australia under the direction of Leo; we have groups in Holland, Germany and Brazil. Ancestrais is indeed a fledgling group and there is much work to be done, but as Leo says “we must walk before we can run - our union and dedication will be our strength”.
“my journey so far has been circlular; symbolic of a capoeira roda maintaining the energy in movement”
“Minha viagem vem sendo circular; simboliza a roda de capoeira mantendo a energia em movimento”
L. Santos ‘Gringo’ - Ancestrais Capoeira 2008
Origins of Capoeira
Capoeira, meaning “wild grass cut short” in the Tupi-guarani language of the Brazilian Native Indian.
Capoeira is an Afro-Brazilian slave ritual that has been developing in Brazil since the 1500’s when African slaves were first brought to South America. Unable to train fighting and oppressed in their daily lives Africans used Capoeira as their outlet. Within the roda of Capoeira they could tone their bodies, train their fighting skills and liberate their spirits through song and dance. Capoeira developed in the cultural melting pot that is Brazil. Africans, Portugues, native Indians and other cultures combined to create the unique ritual of Capoeira. Dance, Fighting, Theatre, Music.
In the outlaw villages of escaped slaves, the quilombos, hidden within the jungles of Brazil Capoeira started to incorporate more deadly moves and weapons, the cutthroat razor (navalha) and the machete (facao). Malicia (cunning) was a large part of the game with players trying to trick each other into giving away an advantage. Eventually slavery was abolished and because of this Capoeira is also known as the dance of liberation because the slaves used it to stay strong and survive, to become free.
Capoeira was illegal in Brazil until the 1930’s and had, and to some extent still carries, a bad reputation. Black people were, and still are, the most financially and socially disadvantaged demographic group. They were the poorer elements of society who made up the greater part of capoeiristas (practitioners of Capoeira). It was said that all people who played Capoeira were criminals and con men. To protect their identities, and evade the authorities, capoeiristas were known to each other only by nicknames.
In the early 1930’s, in Salvador, Bahia, a great fighter called Emmanuel dos Reis Machado, or Mestre Bimba, coalesced certain elements of Capoeira. He added kicks and moves from eastern martial arts and developed a series of training sequences, transforming Capoeira into a more overt fight, less of a dance, and removing certain traditional aspects of the art, which were not effective in a fight. He called this style the Regional Capoeira of Bahia.
Mestre Bimba challenged all comers to fight him and test his method. Such was his fame and reputation that both he and Capoeira were recognized by the government and Capoeira was legalized. Capoeira that descends from Mestre Bimba is now known as Capoeira Regional. Traditional Capoeira with its old customs and malandragem (cunning) is now known as Capoeira Angola.
One of the great names within Capoeira de Angola is Mestre Pastinha who was of the same epoch as Mestre Bimba. Joao Pequeno was his most senior student.
Capoeira is an Afro-Brazilian slave ritual that has been developing in Brazil since the 1500’s when African slaves were first brought to South America. Unable to train fighting and oppressed in their daily lives Africans used Capoeira as their outlet. Within the roda of Capoeira they could tone their bodies, train their fighting skills and liberate their spirits through song and dance. Capoeira developed in the cultural melting pot that is Brazil. Africans, Portugues, native Indians and other cultures combined to create the unique ritual of Capoeira. Dance, Fighting, Theatre, Music.
In the outlaw villages of escaped slaves, the quilombos, hidden within the jungles of Brazil Capoeira started to incorporate more deadly moves and weapons, the cutthroat razor (navalha) and the machete (facao). Malicia (cunning) was a large part of the game with players trying to trick each other into giving away an advantage. Eventually slavery was abolished and because of this Capoeira is also known as the dance of liberation because the slaves used it to stay strong and survive, to become free.
Capoeira was illegal in Brazil until the 1930’s and had, and to some extent still carries, a bad reputation. Black people were, and still are, the most financially and socially disadvantaged demographic group. They were the poorer elements of society who made up the greater part of capoeiristas (practitioners of Capoeira). It was said that all people who played Capoeira were criminals and con men. To protect their identities, and evade the authorities, capoeiristas were known to each other only by nicknames.
In the early 1930’s, in Salvador, Bahia, a great fighter called Emmanuel dos Reis Machado, or Mestre Bimba, coalesced certain elements of Capoeira. He added kicks and moves from eastern martial arts and developed a series of training sequences, transforming Capoeira into a more overt fight, less of a dance, and removing certain traditional aspects of the art, which were not effective in a fight. He called this style the Regional Capoeira of Bahia.
Mestre Bimba challenged all comers to fight him and test his method. Such was his fame and reputation that both he and Capoeira were recognized by the government and Capoeira was legalized. Capoeira that descends from Mestre Bimba is now known as Capoeira Regional. Traditional Capoeira with its old customs and malandragem (cunning) is now known as Capoeira Angola.
One of the great names within Capoeira de Angola is Mestre Pastinha who was of the same epoch as Mestre Bimba. Joao Pequeno was his most senior student.
