Contra-Mestre Crispim

Manoel dos Reis Machado Filho, known as Crispim, was the eldest son and disciple of Mestre Bimba, the creator of Capoeira Regional. Born to Bimba's first partner, Maria dos Anjos, Crispim grew up immersed in the development of what would become Brazil's first systematically taught capoeira style.

Crispim held the rank of contramestre and played a crucial role at the Centro de Cultura Física Regional (CCFR), his father's legendary academy. According to Mestre Osvaldo Rocha de Souza, who trained in Bahia from age 13: "A minha militância na Capoeira vem desde os 13 anos, sempre estive no núcleo de bons capoeiristas na Bahia, treinei com Crispim o filho de Mestre Bimba e depois fui para a mão de Mestre Bimba que me recebeu com toda a atenção e procurou me ensinar/transmitir tudo". This testimony reveals Crispim's role as a preparatory instructor—students would train under him before advancing to receive direct instruction from Bimba himself.

Crispim was part of his father's inner circle of trusted companions, mentioned alongside Atenilo and Brás "Amansa Brabo" as Bimba's most devoted followers. This places him among a small group who had particularly close relationships with the master.

In 1954, Crispim participated in the pioneering film "Vadiação", directed by Alexandre Robatto Filho, considered the pioneer of Bahian cinema. The approximately 8-minute documentary captured a historic capoeira gathering in Salvador, featuring some of the greatest capoeiristas and mestres of Bahia at the time: Mestres Bimba and Waldemar, Traíra, Caiçara, Curió, Crispim (filho de Bimba), and Nagé, among others. The film had the collaboration of artist Carybé, who portrayed important traditional Bahian manifestations in his work. It remains a valuable document for capoeira's memory.

In 1956, Crispim was part of Bimba's grupo folclórico that traveled to Rio de Janeiro, representing Bahian capoeira culture. This participation in folkloric presentations demonstrates his role not just as an instructor but as a performer representing his father's academy.

Unlike his half-brother Nenel (Manoel Nascimento Machado, born 1960), who took over Bimba's legacy after the master's death in 1974 and founded Filhos de Bimba in 1986, Crispim's later life is less documented. His significance lies in being part of the first generation that helped establish Capoeira Regional's teaching methods and carried forward Bimba's innovations during the formative decades of the style.