Mestre Rã

Cássio Martinho, known as Mestre Rã (meaning "frog" in Portuguese), was born on May 23, 1959, in Jundiaí, São Paulo, Brazil. He was the son of philosopher and publicist Erazê Martinho and social worker Valdice Picchi.

Rã discovered capoeira as a teenager in Jundiaí and began training at age 14. His first teacher was Mestre Galo, who ran the Academia de Capoeira Rio Vermelho—the first capoeira academy in Jundiaí. He also trained under Mestre Tarzan, who had been sent to the Campinas region by Mestre Suassuna in 1974 to help establish capoeira in the area. Through this connection, Rã eventually trained with Mestre Suassuna himself, deepening his knowledge of Capoeira Regional through the Cordão de Ouro methodology.

His apelido "Rã" (frog) was given during his batizado ceremony at a local club. According to accounts, when he entered the roda, he "jumped and did pirouettes" with such energy that the nickname stuck. He also had a large green frog tattoo that became associated with his identity.

In the early 1980s, after both Mestre Tarzan and Mestre Galo left Jundiaí, Rã founded his own group: Capoeira Idalina. The name was a tribute to his grandmother, who had inspired him to learn capoeira. The academy formally began operations in 1984 and would become a fixture of Jundiaí's cultural landscape.

In 1988, Rã's life took a pivotal turn when Grupo Cordão de Ouro invited him to teach capoeira in the United States. What was meant to be a three-week visit turned into 17 years. That June, he moved to California, where he befriended Mestre Acordeon—one of the pioneers who had brought capoeira to the American West Coast in 1978.

The friendship between Rã and Acordeon proved transformative. In 1998, they co-founded the Capoeira Arts Café in downtown Berkeley. More than just a training space, the café was described as "a colorful multi-purpose global village where you can sip a cappuccino to the rhythmic beat of a berimbau." It served as the headquarters for the United Capoeira Association (UCA), an organization born from their shared philosophical ideals while preserving their individual identities.

The UCA was not structured as a traditional capoeira "group." As Acordeon explained, he came from a time before the modern concept of groups had developed. Instead, UCA strived to be a community of students that appreciated and respected all capoeira tendencies and approaches. Under their leadership, UCA grew to include schools across multiple American states, in Ciudad Juárez (Mexico), and academies in Brazil.

During his years in California, Rã traveled extensively, teaching and performing worldwide. He participated in folkloric shows choreographed by Mestre Jelon Vieira, won competitions at international festivals, and helped establish capoeira schools throughout the United States, including in Miami and other cities. He also collaborated musically with Acordeon, recording the CD "Cantigas de Capoeira" together.

In 2003, Rã was diagnosed with neurocysticercosis, a parasitic infection of the brain. Despite this serious health challenge, he continued teaching and participating in capoeira events.

In 2004-2005, Rã made the decision to return to his hometown of Jundiaí. His focus shifted to serving at-risk children from the city's favelas. He established a social project through Capoeira Idalina, using capoeira as a tool for character formation and community development. At his academy on Rua do Retiro, he worked with over 60 underprivileged children from peripheral neighborhoods.

In 2006, Capoeira Idalina was officially recognized as Intangible Cultural Heritage of Jundiaí (Process 19.871-7/2016, registered in Livro dos Saberes e Celebrações). This recognition acknowledged the academy's significant contribution to the city's cultural and social life since 1984.

Though based in Brazil, Rã remained connected to his American students, returning to the United States approximately five times per year for batizados and events. On one occasion, he brought 78 American capoeiristas to Brazil for training and cultural exchange.

Rã lived at Rancho Cambará (formerly Sítio Sem Fim) in Jundiaí, where he also worked with horses. He was married to Julielen Pestilo and had a daughter named Joana Idalina. He also had a "son of the heart"—Leonardo Ferreira da Silva, known as Amigo da Onça—who continues his legacy.

Mestre Rã passed away on September 10, 2024, at Hospital São Vicente in Jundiaí. He was cremated the following day in Itatiba in a private family ceremony. His dedicated students in Brazil continue his work through Capoeira Idalina, while his students in the United States uphold his teachings with love, honor, and respect.