Américo Ciência

Américo Ciência (also spelled Américo Sciencia in period newspapers) was a capoeirista of Salvador, Bahia, active during the early-to-mid 20th century. He belonged to the generation of "angoleiros de briga" (fighting angoleiros) - practitioners of traditional capoeira angola renowned for their combative prowess.

In February 1936, Américo Ciência fought Henrique Bahia in an exhibition match at the newly inaugurated Odeon Park in Salvador. The bout "ended with an undecided outcome" - a notable result given Bahia's reputation.

Later in 1936, Américo Ciência faced Mestre Bimba in the famous challenge series at Odeon Park where Bimba tested his Capoeira Regional against all comers. Bimba defeated four opponents that night - Henrique Bahia, Vítor Benedito Lopes, Américo Ciência, and José Custódio "Zé I" dos Santos - earning the nickname "Três Pancadas" (Three Hits) for his devastating efficiency.

Américo Ciência was part of the informal capoeira angola gathering at the Gengibirra/Liberdade neighborhood in Salvador, where the best capoeiristas of Bahia convened on Sundays. This group included mestres such as Antônio, Maré, Daniel, Livino Diogo, Alemão, Bulgário, Barbosa, Domingos Magalhães, Eulâmpio, and Butique. In 1941, Mestre Pastinha assumed leadership of this group, which he later formalized as the Centro Esportivo de Capoeira Angola (CECA).

In 1967, Mestre Pastinha listed Américo Ciência among the deceased practitioners of "pure Capoeira de Angola", alongside Bigode de Seda, Bugalho, Amorzinho, Zé Bom Pé, Chico Três Pedaços, and others. Pastinha remarked of these figures: "They are already dead. Each of them has history" - and noted that their apelidos themselves revealed "who they were, how they fought".