Mestre Paraná

Mestre Paraná is a contemporary capoeira mestre from São Paulo who trained in the Praia do Sol lineage under Mestre Marcio. His lineage traces back to Mestre Limão, one of the pioneering capoeira mestres in São Paulo during the 1970s-80s. This was an era when several influential mestres had relocated from Bahia to São Paulo, bringing their traditions to the industrial capital.

In 1993, Mestre Paraná founded Caravelas Negras in São Paulo. The name "Caravelas Negras" (Black Caravels) refers to the slave ships that brought millions of Africans to Brazil, honoring the memory of those who created and preserved capoeira through centuries of oppression.

Mestre Paraná later brought Caravelas Negras to the Netherlands, where the group has become one of the most active capoeira organizations in the country. Under the leadership of Contra Mestre Miojo (Marcio Rogerio de Silva), his student who has lived in the Netherlands for over 20 years, CN Capoeira now offers classes in Amsterdam, Alkmaar, Haarlem, Aalsmeer, Amstelveen, Hoofddorp, and Zaandam.

The group's style is not exclusively Regional or Angola but a contemporary approach that values technical precision and adaptability. Mestre Paraná's philosophy emphasizes that technique is crucial not just for movement efficiency but also for maintaining physical health and preventing injuries. This practical approach has helped the group attract practitioners from diverse backgrounds across the Netherlands.

Note: This is a different person from the historical Mestre Paraná (Oswaldo Lisboa dos Santos, 1922-1972), the renowned Bahian berimbau master who was one of the four founding lineages of Contemporary Capoeira in Rio de Janeiro.