Mestre Bola Sete

José Luiz Oliveira Cruz, known as Mestre Bola Sete, was born on May 31, 1950, in Santo Antônio de Jesus, a town in the Recôncavo Baiano region of Bahia. His journey into capoeira began in 1962, at age twelve, when he started teaching himself the art through observation and practice on the streets of Salvador.

His formal training commenced in 1968 when he began studying under the great capoeirista Pessoa Bababá, a merchant marine sailor and disciple of Mestre Pastinha. Pessoa Bababá was known as "muito forte e valente" (very strong and brave) and a "perigoso marinheiro" (dangerous sailor). He taught the old game the old way: in a small, poorly-lit basement space, with low light, full attention, and emphasis on ritual, measure, and defense over show. Bola Sete trained under Pessoa Bababá for approximately one year.

In 1969, Bola Sete entered the academy of Vicente Ferreira Pastinha—the Centro Esportivo de Capoeira Angola (CECA) at Largo do Pelourinho—assuming the crucial role of "Fiscal de Campo" (Field Supervisor). His nickname "Bola Sete" (Seven Ball) came from his habit of training entirely dressed in black, reminiscent of the solid balls in billiards.

For thirteen years, until Pastinha's death in 1981, Bola Sete dedicated himself to learning under the master. The moment he remembers with the most affection was a chamada during which Pastinha held his head with both hands, leaned it against his own, and said: "Zé Luiz… you have a twin soul to mine!" In 1979, his unwavering dedication culminated in his graduation by Mestre Pastinha himself.

In 1980, shortly before Pastinha's death, Bola Sete founded his own academy: the Centro de Cultura da Capoeira Tradicional Bahia (Center for Traditional Bahian Capoeira Culture). The academy operates at Passeio Público grounds near Campo Grande in Salvador, with classes on Saturdays (9:30 AM - 12:00 PM) and Sundays (4:30 PM - 6:00 PM).

Mestre Bola Sete is a prolific author. His first book, "A Capoeira Angola na Bahia" (Capoeira Angola in Bahia), was published by Pallas in 1997, with subsequent editions in 2000, 2001, 2005, and 2006. The 197-page work originated from his experience practicing capoeira and knowledge acquired through contact with great capoeiristas, especially Mestre Pastinha. It includes songs (cantigas), photographs of movements, and rhythms for playing the berimbau. His second book, "Histórias e Estórias da Capoeiragem" (Stories and Tales of Capoeiragem), published in 2006 by P555 Edições in Salvador, seeks to preserve the history of capoeira and the names of capoeiristas who might otherwise be forgotten, such as Pessoa Bababá, Bobó, and Valdomiro Malvadeza. He also wrote "Capoeira Angola do iniciante ao mestre" (Capoeira Angola from Beginner to Master) and recorded an audio CD titled "Aqui só Angola" (Here Only Angola) at his academy with his students.

In October 2006, Mestres Bola Sete and Gildo Alfinete gave a lecture at the Associação Brasileira de Capoeira Angola (ABCA) in Salvador. During this lecture, Bola Sete observed that today some people say capoeira angola is non-contact, when in the old days the games were really rough. He noted that in Pastinha's academy, each of the students had a different, unique style of playing; today many angoleiros are all playing the same way. He called capoeira Brazilian since it arose on Brazilian soil, although its roots are African. He also explained that the term "angola" did not arise in the 1930s to differentiate traditional capoeira from Bimba's style—the term "capoeira de angola" appears in manuscripts from 1920 and earlier, and referred to the fact that practitioners were mainly Africans from the Angolan region.

Mestre Bola Sete emphasizes that "humility was the greatest lesson I learned in those 37 years of Capoeira Angola". He criticizes modern practice: "The capoeira practiced today is not authentic, because it is done just to impress people with its acrobatic and aggressive flips". For him, "defense, not attack" remains capoeira's primary fundamental principle.

Today, Mestre Bola Sete holds the esteemed position of President of the Council of Mestres of the Associação Brasileira de Capoeira Angola (ABCA), founded in 1987. Through his continuous efforts in teaching, writing, and advocacy, he has played a pivotal role in safeguarding and disseminating the cultural significance of traditional Capoeira Angola to future generations. He was listed among the habilitados (qualified candidates) for the "Prêmio Viva Meu Mestre" (Live My Master Award) in 2010, awarded by Brazil's Institute of National Historical and Artistic Heritage (IPHAN).